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Show THE SPANISH FORK PRESS. SPANISH FORK. UTAH ByMdxy Roberts Rinehart Copyright, 1917, by the Ridgway Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright, 1917, by Mary Roberta Rinehart CHAPTER I. Not quite! At the top of the pri- casional rumble thnt told of some pal- then they were off, up nn endless, clickvate staircase reserved for the royal pitating soul being at that moment ing roadway, where at the top the car The Crown Prince Rune Away. futility a guard commonly stood. He hurled and twisted and Joyously hung for a breathless second over tho Tho Crown Irlnce eut in the royal had moved a few feet from his post, thrilled, as per the lieutenant's descrip- gulf below; then, fairly launched, out bos and ewung hla legs, Title wna however, anti wus watching the stage tion. , on a trestle, with the city far beneath Now It Is a strange thing, but true, them, uml only the red, white, and bluo door of a private burdly princely, hut the royal lege did through the hulf-openot quite reach the floor from the high loge. that one does not reach the land of lights fur company; and Into a tunnel, g crimson-velve- t Otto desire alone; because the half of filled with rourlng noises and William neat of hla choir. Prince Ferdlnnnd Trlnee Ferdlnnnd William Otto was passed behind Min with outward calm- pleasure Is the sharing of It with some shadows. Then came the end bored. Ilia royal robea, rotoriHtlng of ness. At the top of the public stair- one else, and the land of desire, alone, of all things u flying leup down, a Here, Is not the land of desire at all. Quite delirious thrill, un pair of blue aergo trousers, a abort case, however, lie hesitated. offEton Jacket, and a stiff, rolling collar everywhere, were suddenly, Prince Ferdinand 'William sweep Just as the strain wus too of white linen, Irked him. icials of the opera house. A garderobe Otto discovered thnt he was lonely. At great for endurance. He had been brought to the opera woman stared at him curiously. The that moment there was a soft whirring Above the roaring of the wind In house under a tnlHapprchenxinn. Ilia little prince looked at the woman with off to one side of him, and a yellow their eurs, neither child hnd heard the aunt, the Archduchess Annunclata, had appeal In his eyes. Then, with his bird, rising and falling erratically on flying feet of a dozen horses coming heurt thumping, he ran past her, down the breeze, careened suddenly and fell down the allee. They never knew that strongly advocated "The Flying Dutch man," and hie English governess, Mlsa the white marble staircase, to where at his feet a hutless young lieutenant, white-lippe- d Brnlthwalte, had read him some In- the great doors promised liberty. Prince Ferdlnnnd William Otto bent with feur, had checked his spiring literature about It. So here he Olga, tho wardrobe womun, came down and picked It up.' It s a small horse to Its huunches at the ticket was, and the Flying Dutchmnn was not out from behind her counter and stood toy aeroplane, with yellow felllt planes, booth, and demanded to know who was ghostly at all, nor did It fly. And In- looking down the marble staircase In the land of desire. stead of flying, after dreary eons of after the small flying figure. "Only the son of the manager, and alngtng, It waa moved off on creaky a hoy friend of his," replied Billy The old soldier who rented opera rollera by men whose shadows were glasses at the second Grimm, In whut he called the lingo of landing, and who thrown grotesquely on the sea back- hud left a leg In Bosnia, leaned over the country. "Whats wrong? Lost ing. the railing. "Look at that!" he exanybody ?" The orchestra, assisted by a bnss claimed. But Iledwlgs lieutenant hnd wheeled He will break a leg, the solo and Intermittent thunder In the young rascal t Once 1 could have-- hut his horse without a word, and, jumpwings, was ninklng a deafening din. ing him over the hedge of the allee, there, he Is safe! The good God One of the shadows on the sea hack- watches over fools and children." was off In a despairing search of the ing took out Its handkerchief and outskirts of the park, followed by his "It looked like the little prince," said wiped Its nose. the wardrobe woman. "1 have aeen cavulrynien. Prince Ferdinand William Otto lookAs the last horse leaped the hedge him often he has the same bright ed across at the other royal box, and hulr." and disappeared, the car came to a caught Ids Cousin Iledwlg's eye. She Quivering, stop at the platform. But the opera-glas- s man was not also had seen the handkerchief; she Prince Ferdlnnnd William Otto reached sausHe a drawn had long took out her own scrap of linen, and listening. down for the despised hat from one ocket and a roll from mimicked the shndow. Then. Her age "Would you like to go around the and to a far now, other, retiring Roynl Illghnesa the Archduchess An- window, he stood again? asked Bobby, quite casually. a placidly eating nunclata being occupied with the bite Ills highness gasped with joy. "If of sausnge, a bite of bread. His storm, she winked across at Prince mind was in If you would be so kind!" he said. Ms leg. And with Ilosnla, Ferdlnnnd William Otto. And at the lordly wave of Bobbys because old Adelhert's mind was In In the opposite box were his two hand, the car moved on. and because one hears with Bosnia, cousins, tho Princesses Hedwlg and the mind, and not with the ear, he did nihla, attended by Iledwlg's lady In not hear the CHAPTER II. sharp question of the waiting. Hedwlg was eighteen. The who ran down the stairs and sentry crown prince liked nedwlg better than fur a secoud at the cloak-rooDisgraced. nihla. Although she hnd been Intro- paused At eight o'clock that evening the Well for Olga, too, that old Adalbert duced formally to the court at the Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto did not hear her reply. Chrlstmas-ev- e bnll, and bad been duly approached the pnlace through the not has "He she said, passed here," preseated by her grandfather, the with wide He approached It public square. honest and with but eyes, usual of king, with the string pearls an ear for two reasons. First, he did slowly, old AdelberL toward old "Ad nnd her own cnrrlage, she still ran off not w ant to go back. Second, he was now and then to have tea with the gentleman came a moment ago and rather frightened. He had an idea a which he In had sandwich, got left crown prince and Miss Rrnlthwnlte In Did You "Geal Go thnt See It Time? That they would be disagreeable. the school room at the palace ; and she his overcoat Perhaps this Is whom There seemed to be a great deal goare you seeking?" could eat a great deal of bread and bnt guy ropes of waxed thread, and a ing on at the palace. Carriages were , The sentry cursed, and ran down the wooden ter. rudder, Its motive power In under the stone archway The crown prince yawned, although staircase, the nails In his shoes strik- vested In a tightly twisted rubber. One rolling and, discharged their contents, having It was bnt the middle of the after- ing sharply on the marble. of the wings was bent. Ferdinand mostly In uniform, were gentlemen of room the cloak noon. Catching nedwlga eye, he ran leaned over William Otto straightened It, and Olga off with a thundering of hoofs moving his Angers up through his thick yel- her checks, with her lips curved up looked around for the owner. that reached from the vaulted roof of The little onel" she low hair and grinned. Hedwlg blushed. In a smile. A small boy was standing under the the entrance. All the lights were on She had confided to him once, while thought "And such courage I lie will next gas lamp. Gee I" he said In In the wing where Ms grandfather, I a make In Let were him the gnrden at have his English. "Did you see it go that the great kiug walking they king, lived alone. As Ms grandthe amnmer pnlnce, that she was prank like the other children, and timer father hated lights, and went to bed I God him him bless love in and with a Prince Ferdinand Wllllnm Otto eyed young keep thinking of being The crown prince was just a trifle the stranger. He was about his own early, Prince Ferdinand William Otto lieutenant who was attached to the was slightly puzzled. kings suite. The prince who waa dazzled by the brilliance of his suc- age, and was dressed In a short pair He was very dirty, nis august face colled Otto, for short, by the family, cess. He paused for one breathless of corduroy trousers, much bloomed at was streaked with soot, and his aue because he actunlly had eleven names moment under the Russia-leathof the the knee, a pair of yellow hands likewise. Uls small derby the prince hnd been much Interested. opera house; then he took a long shoes that reached well to his gust For Borne time afterward he hnd both- breath, turned to the left ; and was at calves, and, over all, a shaggy white hat was carefully placed on the very ered Mlsa Rratthwnlte to define being once swallowed up In the street crowd. sweater, rolling almost to his chin. On back of his head at the angle of the In love, but he had hnd no really satis- It seemed very strange to him. Not the very back of his head he had the American hoys cap. As Ms collar had that he wus unnccustomed tq crowds. smallest cap that Prince Ferdinand scratched his neck, he had, at Bobfactory answer. by's suggestion, taken It off and In pursuance of his quest for In- Had he not, thnt very Christmas, gone William Otto had ever seen. rolled It up. He decided, as he waited hnd he formation, grown quite friendly shopping In the city, accoinpunled only This Is the best time for flying," In the squnre, to put It on ngnfit. with the young officer, whose nnme by one of his tutors and Miss Brnlth-walt- he said. In his perfect English, All was Larlsch, and hnd finally asked to nnd bought for his grandfather, the exhibition flights are at sundown, Miss Brnlthwalte was very peculiar collars. have him ride with him at the royal the king, a burnt wood box, which The boy walked slowly over and about a Came lull In the line of carriages. school. The hnd old hold neckties or either king grim riding might gloves, stood lpoklng down at him. "You ought granted the request, but It had been and for his cousins silver photograph to see It fly from the top of Pikes nPrince Ferdinand William Otto took long breuth and started forward. Peak!" he remarked. He had caught quite fruitless so fur after all. Lleu-tenn- frames? Larlsch only grow quite red ns But this was different, and for a sight of the despised derby, nnd his As he advanced he stuck his hands to the ears when love was mentioned, rather peculiar reason. Prince Ferdin- eyes widened, but with Instinctive In his pockets and swaggered a trifle. It was, as as possible, an exalthough he appeared not unwilling to and Wllllum Otto hnd never seen the good breeding he Ignored It. Thats act Imitationnearly of Bobby Thorpes walk. hack of a crowd I The public was al- Pikes Peak up there." ear Iledwlgs nnme. So now Ferdlnnnd William Otto ran ways lined up. facing Jilin, smiling nnd He Indicated the very top of the land And to keep up his courage, he quoted that young gentlemuns farewell Ms fingers through his fnlr hair, which bowing and him. Prince ot desire. The prince stured up. What d you lieutentho a Ferdinand William Otto hud never was favorite gesture of "How docs one get up?" he queried. speech to himself: Ladders. My fathers the manager. care? They wont eat you, will they? ants, and Hedwlg blushed. The arch- known the backs could be bo rigid. It Irlnee Ferdinand Wlillnm Otto stood He lets mo up sometimes." duchess, sitting well bnck, was nod- was most Interesting. The next tour was full of remarkPrince Ferdlnnnd ding. Just outside the royal box, on William Otto In the shadows and glanced across. the red velvet sofa, General Mettllch, able thlugs. For one, he dodged be- stored with new awe at the boy. lie The sentries stood like wooden men, who was the choncellor, and hnd come hind a street car and was almost run found the fact much more remarkable hut something was wrong In the court hecouse he had been Invited and stayed over by a taxicab. The policeman on than If the stranger hud stated that yard Inside. The guards were all outside because be said he liked to the corner eume out, and taking Fer- his father was the king of England. standing, and there seemed to be a hear music, noj see It, was sound dinand William Otto by the shoulder, Kings were, as you may say, directly great many of them. And Just os he asleep. Ills murtlal bosom, with Its gave him a talking to and a shaking. In Prince Ferdinand William Otto's had made up his mind to take the plunge, so to speak, a part of his own gold braid, was rising and falling Ferdlnnnd William Otto was furious, line, but scenic railroads "I hnd thought of taking n Journey regiment of cavalry came out from the peacefully. Beside him lay the prince's but policy kept him silent; which court yard with a thundering of hoofs, crown, a small black derby hat. proves conclusively that the crown on It," he said, after a second's rePrince Ferdlnnnd William Otto con- prince hnd not only Initiative witness flection. "Do you think your father wheeled at the street, and clattered off. sidered It all very wearisome. If one his flight but and di- will sell me a ticket?" could only wander around the corridor plomacy. Lucky country, to have In Very unusual, all of It. "Billy Grimm will. I'll go with or buy a sandwich from the stum!, at prospect such a king I The Crown Prince Ferdinand Otto you." the foot of the great staircase or, betThe prince rose with nlncrlty. Then felt In his pocket for his handkerchief, Prince Ferdinand William Otto had ter still, If one could only get to the the fulfillment of a great desire In his he stopped. He must, of course, ask and, moistening a comer with his street, alone, and purchase one of the small, active mind. This was nothing the strange boy to he his guest. But tongue, wiped his face. Then he wiped two tickets! Perhaps his allowance Ids shoes. Then, with his hands In tig women that 'Miss Brnlthwulte so less than a ride on the his trousers pockets, he 6uuutered InThe crown prince felt In scenic railroad, which had secured a was not sufficient despised his pocket, where his week's allow- concession In a far corner of the park. "I must see first how much It costs," to the light. ance of pocket money lay comfortably Iledwlgs lieutenant hnd described It he suld with dignity. The two sentries made no sign untouched. to him how one was taken la a srnull The other hoy laughed. "Oh, gee! when they saw Ferdinand William He meditated. He could go out car to a dizzy height, and then turned You come with me. It wont cost any- Otto npprourhtng. But one of them ho sold, nnd led the way forgot to bring his musket to salute, quickly, and be bnck before they knew loose on a track which dropped giddily thing, It. Even If he only wandered about and rose again, which hurled one toward the towering lights. lie crossed himself Instead, And the corridor, It would stretch his short through sheet-iro- n tunnels of Incredible For Bobby Thorpe to bring a smnll something strained around the other legs. And outside It was a fine duy. blackness, thrust one out over a gorge, boy to ride with hint was an everyday sentrys lower jaw suddenly relaxed It looked already like spring. whirled one In mad curves around cor- affair. Billy Grimm, at the ticket win- Into a smile as his royal highness With the trepidation of u canary ners of precipitous heights, nnd Dually dow, hardly glanced nt the hoy who drew a hand from Its refuge and sawho fiuds his cage door open, nnd, landed one, panting, breathless, shock- stood, trembling with anticipation, In luted. He glauced at one, then at the other, rather sheepishly, hesitated behopping to the threshold, surveys the ed, and reeling, but safe, at the very the shadow of the booth. world before venturing to explore It, platform where one hud purchased The car came, nnd they climbed In. tween them, clapped Ms hnt on more Irlnce Ferdinand William Otto rose ones ticket three eternities, which Perhaps, ns they moved off, Prince securely, and marched In. to his feet, tiptoed past the Arch- were only minutes, before. Ferdinand William Otto hnd a qualm, "The young rnscull" said the secAs the early sprliig twilight fell, the occasioned by the remembrance of the ond sentry to himself. And by turnduchess Annunclutu, who did not move, and looked around him from the door- gas lumps along the allee, always burn- English child who had met nn un- ing hls hend slightly for a sentry way. ing, made a twin row of pale sturs timely end ; but If he did, he plucklly learns to see all around like a horse, lie picked up his hat nnd concealed ahead. At tho end, even as the wan- hid It. without twisting hls neck he watched It by his side. Then nonchalantly, as derer gazed, he saw myriads of tiny "Put your lid on the floor of the cor," the runawuy Into the palace. If to stretch his legs by walking ten red, white, and blue lights, rising high said Bobby Thorpe, depositing his own Prince Ferdinand William Otto wont .feet up the corridor aud buck, he In the air, outlining the crags and atom there. "Father says, If you do up the stone stalrrnse. Here and passed the dressing room door. An- peaks of the sheet Iran mountain that, youre perfectly safe." there he passed gunrds who stared nnd other moment, ana he was out of sight which was Ms destination. The land Prince Ferdlnnnd William Otto di- saluted. Had he not been obsessed around a bend of the pussageway, and of desire was very near! vined that this referred to his hat, with the vision of Miss Brnlthwalte, befor hl-- lay liberty. There came to his ears, too, the oc and drew a small breath of relief. And he would have known that relief fol n swift-movin- heart-hreukln- brass-buttone- d porte-cocher- er e, up-wu- lowed In hls wake. Messengers cluttered down the staircase to the court Other messengers, breathless yard. nnd eager, flew to that lighted wing where the council eat, and where the old king, propped up In bed, waited aud fought terror. Ills eyes, weary with many year of ruling, of disappointments and bitterness, roved the room. They came to rest at last on the photograph of a young nmn, which stood on hls bedside table. Ho was a very young man, In a uniform. He was boyish, and smiling. There was a dog beside him, and Its head was on hls knee. Wherever one stood In the room, the eyes of the photograph gazed at one. The king knew this, and because he was quite old, and because there were few people to whom a king dares to speak hls Inmost thoughts, he frequently spoke to the photograph. The older he grew, the more he felt, sometimes, as though It knew what he Bald. If theyve got him," be said now to tho picture, "It Is out of my hands, and Into yours, my boy." Much of hls life had been spent In wultlng, In waiting for a son. In waiting for that son to grow to be a roan. In waiting while thut son In hls turn loved and married and begot a man-chilIn waiting, when that son had died a violent death, for the time when hls tired hands could relinquish the scepter to hls grandchild. Quite suddenly the door opened. The old man turned hls head. Just Inside stood a very dirty small boy. The Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto was roost terribly frightened. Everything was at sixes and sevens. Miss Bralthwnlte had been crying her hend off, and on seeing him had fallen In a faint. Not that he thought It was a real faint. He had unmistakably seen her eyelids quiver. And when she came to she had ordered Mm no supper, nnd four pages of German translation, and to go to bed at seven o'clock Instead of seven-thirt- y for a week. All the time crying, too. And then she had sent him to his grandfuther, and taken aromatic ammonia. Ills grandfather said nothing, but looked at him. "Here here I am, sir," said the crown prince from the door. The king drew a long breath. But the silence persisted. Prince Ferdinand William Otto furtively rubbed a dusty shoe against the back of a trousers leg. "Im afraid Im not very neat, sir," said Prince Ferdinand William Otto, and took a step forward. Until hls grandfather commanded him, he could not advance Into the room. Come here," said the king. He went to the side of the bed. "Where have you been? "Im afraid I ran away, sir." "Why? Prince Ferdinand William Otto considered. It was rather an awful moment. "I dont exactly know. I Just thought I would." You ace. It was really extremely difficult. To say thnt he was tired of d, nt g self-contr- Amc-rica- n 1 n "Her I Am, Sir," Said th Prince. Crown things as they were would sound ungrateful. Would, indeed, be most Impolite. And then, exactly why hud he run away? "Suppose," said the king, "you draw up a chulr nnd tell me about it. Wed better talk It over, I think." Ills roynl highness drew up a chair, nnd sat on It. Ills feet not reaching the floor, he hooked them around the chair rung. This was permissible because, first, the king could not eee them from hls bed. Second, it kept hls knees from shaking, "Probably you are awar" Bald th king, "that you have alarmed a great muny people." I , "Im sorry, sir. I didn't think "A prince's duty Is to think. Wber did you go? "To the park, sir. I I thought Id like to see the park by myself, in very hard to enjoy things with Miss Brnlthwalte, sir. She does not really enjoy the things I like, Nlkky and I""By Nlkky you mean Lieutenant Larlsch T "Yes, sir." "Qo on." "We like the same things, sir th t, and all thnt." The king raised himself on hls elbow. "What was that?" he demanded. IYInee Ferdlnnnd William otto blushed, and explained. It was Rob. hys name for the peak at the top of the scenic railway. He had been on the railway, ne had been hls enthusiasm carried him away, nis cheeks flushed. He sat forward on th edge of hla ehatr, and gesticulated. "I waa awfully happy, air," he ended. "It feels like flying, only safer. And the lights are pretty. It's like fairyland. There were two or three times when it seemed as if wed turn over, or leap the track. But we didnt. The king lay back and thought. Mor than anything In the world he loved tills boy. But the occasion demanded a strong hand. "You were happy." h "You were disobedient, you said. were causing grave anxiety and distress and you were hoppy 1 The first duty of a prince Is to hls country. HI first lesson Is to obey laws. He must always obey certain laws, A king Is but the servant of hls people. Some day you will be the king. You are being trained for that high office now. And yet you would set the example of Insubordination, disobedience, and reckless disregard of the feelings of Plkes-Peak-or-Bus- others." Yes, sir," said Prince Ferdinand William Otto, feeling very small and ashamed. Not only that You slipped away. Yon did not go openly. Yon sneuked off. like a thief. Are you proud of itr "No, sir. "I shall," said the king, require no promise from you. Promises are poor tMngs to hold to. I leave this matter In your own hands, Otto. You will be punished by Miss Bralthwalte, and for the .next ten days you will not visit me. You may go now." Otto got off hls chair. He was feeling exceedingly crushed. "Good night, sir," he said. And waited for hls grandfather to extend hls hand. But the old king lay looking straight ahead, with hls mouth set In grim lines, and hls hands folded over hls breast. At the door the crown prince turned and bowed. Hls grandfathers eyes were fixed on the two gold eagles over the door, but the photograph on the table appeared to be smiling at him. Until late that night General Mettllch and the king talked together. The king had been lifted from hls bed and snt propped In a great chair. Above hls shabby dressing gown hls face showed gaunt and old. In a straight chair facing him sat hls old friend and chancellor. "What It has shown Is not entirely bad, sold the king, after a pause. The boy has Initiative. And he made no attempt at evasion. He Is essentially truthful." "What It has also shown, sire, Is that .no protection Is enough. When I, who love the lad, and would when I could sleep, and let him get away, as I did "The truth Is," said the king, we are both of us getting old." lie tapped with hls gnarled fingers on the blanket that lay over hls knees. "The truth Is hlso he observed a Moment later, that the boy has very few pleasures, lie Is alone a great deal. General Mettllch raised hls shaggy head. Many years of wearing a soldiers cap had not Injured hls heavy gray hair. lie had bristling eyebrows, white now, nnd a short, fighting mustache. When he was Irritated, or disagreed with any one, hls eyebrows came down and the mustache went up. Many years of association with hls king had given him the right to talk to him as man to man. They even qunrreled now and then. It was brave man who would quarrel with old Ferdinand II. So now hls eyebrows came down nnd hls mustache went up. "How alone, sire? You do not regnrd that bigoted English woman as a companion, do you? She Is a thoughtful and conscientious woman, sire, he sold stiffly. H happened that he had selected her. She does her duty. And as to the boy being lonely, he has no time to be lonely. Ills tutors How old Is he? Ten next month." The king said nothing for a time. Then "It Is hard." he said at last, "for seventy-fou- r to see with the eyes of ten. As for this afternoon why I the name of a thousand devils did they take him to see the Flylnff Dutchman? I detest It." (TO BB CONTINUED.) . |
