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'' , ' i. l . Vi THE BEAVER HERALD, BEAVER OKLAHOMA m -7.4 w j ifb L011 g Copyright, 10:7, ty the mieaj Conpmny WWMWWmw, THROUGH ADELBERT THE THE SECRET PASSAGE Ki r.lnta nf il, Kn.Mtlfntl.cr. 11.0 wB "".:: the marriage of i'rlnecss Ucd w iW Vi. .1 1 ... mcM80 of Archihich Annunclata, I. In ?" wt,ho hlnB of Knral". 'or whom .ho nets ns v si i ovo with the king of Knrnln, for whom .ha nets ns spV ' threatened by the committee of ten, lenders of the tcrrnriVts ' she bo vs to the committed will nnd helps to wrote he crown 'l "':"V wh0'.' Ve.ry '" dlC9' " k torn between lov a w, of duty and loyalty to his king. Without Karl's Support 0 kings death would brine the terrorists Into control. Tho terrorists fix uib tmuiiui as me nine lor Kidnaping the crown prince. CHAPTER XIV Continued. 13 Tho concierge bunt closer over tho table. "Doctor Weldcrmnn, tho king's physician, Is one of us," he whispered. "The king lives now only becnuso of stimulants to the heart. Ills body is already dead. When the stimulants cense, he will die." Old Adalbert covered bis eyes. lie had gone toy fr to retreat now. Driven by brooding nnd trouble, bo hud allied himself with tho powers of dark j .ess. ' He Fnt silent while tho concierge cleared the tnble, nnd put tho dishes in il pan for his nleco to wiis.h. And throughout tbo evening he i-nld Utile. -At roii'ethlng before midnight he mid his host were to set out on n grave mutter, nothing less than to visit the committee of ten, and Impnrt tho old soldier's discovery. In the Interval he sat waiting, and nursing his grievances o keep them warm. Black Humbert, waiting; for the hour to stnrt nnd tilling 1.1s tankard repeat edly, grew loquacious. Ho hinted of imst mntters In which he had proved his value to the cause. Old Adalbert Withered that, If ho had not nctually murdered the late crown prince nnd ills wife, he had been closely con cerned In it. His thin, old flesh crept with anxiety. It was a bad business, and ho could not withdraw. "We should have had the child, too," boasted the concierge, "and saved tnucli' bother. But he had been, un known to us, sent to the country. A matter of milk, I believe." "But you any you do not war on children I" "Ilnhl A babe of a few months. Furthermore," said the concierge, "I .have a noso for the police. I scent a spy, ns n dog scents a bone. Who, think you, discovered Hneckel?" "Hneckel I" Old Adclbert bat upright 4n his choir. "Aye, Hneckel, Haeckel tho Jovial, the archconsplrator. Who but I? i suspected him. He was too fierce. He hutl no caution. Ho was what a peace ful citizen may fancy a revolutionist to be. I wntched him. Ho was not lirave. He was reckless because he timl nothing to fear. And at last I caught him." Old Adelbert was sitting forward on the edge of his chair, his Jaw dropped. He; Rioted the Veteran Among the Graves. "And 1 what then?" ho gasped, "no was tut a boy. Perhaps you mis Judged him. Boys hro reckless." "I caught him," said the concierge, "i iinJ. finid it. Ho know much. He had n lines, maces, evcu unm For that nil iter, ho confessed." "Tilth ho is dead?'' quavereu oiu Addbc; The undergo shrogged his ehoul 'Of course." ho 6nld briefly. ders. "For a1 tlmo ho was kept here, in an upper room. Ho could have savea himself, if ho would. We could hnve iwed lira. But ho turned sulky, re fused jpeech, did not eat When ho was taken away," no aaaea wu mic tion, "it was so weak that he could mi WP """'wwwwwwtwwMmw Live the King Hm MARY ROBERTS RINEHART All Rights Iteserred COMMITTEE OF TEN LEARNS . A ." "'" """ " ."""" lo.lorm republic. His L n7. . t,,e Yng,lom' arranges for unless I.rli.co not walk." He rose and consul..! n great silver watch. "Wo can go now," ho said. "The committee likes prompt ness." They left together, the ono striding out with long steps that were sur prisingly light for his size, the other, banging back a trifle, ns ono who walks because ho must. Old Adclbrrt. who had loved his king better than his country, was 11 lagging "patriot" thut night. His breath enmo short and labored. IU3 throat wns dry. As they passed tho opera, however, ho threw his head up. Tho performance, wus over, but tho great houso was still lighted, nnd In tho foyer, struttlnu nnout, was ins successor. Old Adcl bert quickened his steps. At thy edge, of the plnce, near the statuo of the queen, they took a cur, and so reached the borders of the city. After that they walked far. Tho scent cf the earth, fresh turned by the plough, was in their nostrils. Cattle, turned out nfter the long winter, grazed or lay in the fields. Through tho oozo of tho road tho two plodded : old Adelbert struggling through with Wiiiculty, tho concierge exhorting him Impatiently to haste. At last the lender paused, nnd sur veyed ills surroundings: "Here I must cover your eyes, comrade," he said. "It Is a formality all must com ply with." Old Adclbert drew back. "I do not like your rule. I am not as other men. I must see where I go." "I shall lead you carefully. And, If you fear, I can carry you." Ho chuckled at tho thought. But old Adel bert knew well that ho could do it, knew that he was ns u child to those mighty arms, lie submitted to tho bandage, however, with nn 111 grace thnt caused tho conclergo to smile. "It hurts your dignity, eh, old rooster!" ho said Jovially. "Others, of greater dignity, have felt tho same. But all submit In tho end." Ho piloted tho veteran among tho graves with tho case of familiarity. Only onco ho spoke. "Know you whero you are?" "In n field," tnld Adclbert, "recently ploughed." "Aye, in a field, right enough. But one which sows corruption, uud raises nothing, until perhaps great St. Ga briel calls in his crop." Than, realizing tho meaning of tho mounds over which ho trod, old Adel bert crossed himself. "Only n handful know of this meet ing ulace," boasted tho concierge. "I, and a few others. Only wo may meet with tho committee faco to face." "You must hnve great Influence," ob served old Adelbert timidly. "I control tho guilds. Ho who today can 6vuy labor to his will is power ful; very powerful, comrade. Labor Is the grcnt beast which tires of car rying burdens, and Is but now learning its strength." 'Aye," said old Adelbert. "nnd I been Wise, I would have Joined n guild. Then I might lmvo kept my place ut the opera. As It Is, I stood alone, and they put mo out." "You do not stand nlono now. Stand by us, nnd we will support you. The republic will not forget its friends." Thus heartened, old Adelbert bright ened up somewhat Why should he, nn old soldier, sweat nt tho thought of blood? Great changes required heroic measures. It wns because he was old that he feared change. Ho stumped through tho passageway without urg ing, and stood erect and with shoulders squared whllo the bandage wns re moved. Ho was rather longer than Olga l.oscliek bad been lu 'comprehending his surroundings. Ills old eyes nt first saw llttlo but the table and Its candles In their gruesome holders. But when he saw the committee his hcurt failed. Here, embodied before htm, was every thing ho had loathed during all his upright and loyal years anarchy, murder, treason, nis faco worked. The cords in his neck stood oat like slilngs drawn to the breaking point Tho conclcjo was speaking. For all Ills' boasting, he was III at' ease. Ills voice had lost Its bravado, and bad taken on a fawning note. "This Is the man of whom word was sent to the committee," he jsald. "l ventured to ask that ho be allowed to come here, because be brings In formation of value." "Step forward, coaaradV aald the I 'S , Copyright, 19IT. by MarrtBoberU Riaehsrt viv.vwvvnvvw leader. "What is your narao and oc cupation?" "Adclbert, excellency. As to occu pntlon, for years I wns connected with tho opera. Twenty years, excellency. Then I grew old, and unothcr " His voice broke. "What is the Information thnt brln you here?" Suddenly old Adclbert wept, terrible tears that forced their wnj from hlt faded eyes, and ran down his checks. "I cannot, excellencies I" ho cried. "I And I cannot" Ho collapsed into tho halr, nnd throwing bis arms ncross tho table bowed his head on them. His shoul ders 'leaved under his old uniform. Tho commlttco stirred, und tb con clergo caught him b'-'illy by tho wrlRt "Dp with you I" ho snld, from clenched teeth. "What stupidity is this? Would you play with death?" But old Adelbert was beyond fear. He shook his head. "I cannot," he muttprcd, his ftco hidden. Then tho conclergo stood erect nnd folded ills arms ncrosn his chest "Ho 'tk-Mt "It Is There," He Said Thickly. Is terrified, thnt Is nil," he said. "If tho committee wishes, I enn tell them of this matter. Later, ho can bo In terrogated." Tho leader nodded. "By chance," said tho conclcrce. "this this brnyo veteran" he glunced contemptuously nt tho huddled figure In tho chair "has come ncross nn old pnssage, tho ono which rumor has said lay under tho city wall, and for which wo have ut dlffcrcut times instituted search." Ho paused, to glvo his words weight. That they wero of supreme iuterest could bo told by tho craning forward of the committee. "The entrnnco is concealed nt the baso of tho old Gate of the Moon. Our friend hero followed it and reports it in good condition. For u mlio or thereabouts it follows tho line of tho destroyed wall. Then It turns and goes to tho palnco Itself." "Into tho palace?" "By a flight of stolrs, Insldo the wall, to n door in tho roof. This door, which was locked, ho opened, having carried keys with him. Tho door no describes ns In the tower. As It wns night, ho could not see clearly, but the roof nt that point Is flat" "Stand up, Adelbert," snld tho lender sharply. "This that our comrade tells Is true?" "It Is true, excellency." "Shown n diagram of tho palace, could you Iocato this door?" Old Adclbert stared around hlni hopelessly. It wns done now. Noth- Ing that ho could say or refuse to say would change that He nodded. When, soon nfter, n chart of tho palace was placed on the table, ho In dicated the location of the door with n trembling forefinger. "It is there," he snld thickly. "And may God forclve mo for tho thing I hnve done t" CHAPTER XV. - King Karl. "They lovo us dearly I" said King Knrl. The chancellor, who sat beside him In the royal carriage, slim reed his shoulders. "They havo had ifulo rca-1 son to love, in tno past majesty," ho said briefly. Karl laughed, and watched the crowd. Ho and the chancellor1 rodo alone, Karl's entourage, a very modest one, following In another carriage. There was no military escort, np pomp. It bad been felt unwise. Karl, payins ostensibly a visit of sympathy, bad' come unofficially. The chancellor was not so calm as he appeared. He had lined the route from the station to the palace with his men; bad prepared for very con tin- gene so far as he could without call- ing out tho gunrd. As the carriage, drawn by Its four chestnut horses,' moved slowly along the streets, his eyes under their overhanging thatch were watching pheud, searching tho crowd for symptoms of urn est Anger ho saw In plenty, and suspicion. Scowling faces nnd frown ing brows. But ns yet thcro was no disorder. Ho sat with folded nrms, magnificent in his uniform beside Knrl, who wore civilian dress and looked less royal than perhaps ho felt And Karl, too, watched tho crowd, feeling its temper and feigning nn In dlffercnco he did not feel. Olgn Los click had been right Ho did not want trouble. More than that, ho was of an ago now to crave popularity. Many of tho measures which had made ,J.lm beloved In his own land had 110 higher purposo than this, tho smiles of the crowd. So ho watched and tnlked of Indifferent things. "It Is ten years slnco I hnvo been here,'' ho observed, "but thero nro few changes." "We have built no groat buildings," said Mettllch bluntly. "Wars have left cno money, mnjesty, for building I" That being a closed rond, so to spenk, Karl tried another. "Tho crown prlnco must bo quite u lad," ho experimented. "Ho was n babo in arms, then, but frnll, I thought" "Ho Is sturdy now." The chancellor relapsed Into watchfulness. "Before I see tho Princess nedwlg," Knil made niiotherntten.pt "It might be well to tell mo l.'ow she feels nbout things. I would like to feel thnt the ' prospect is nt least not disagreeable to her." The chancellor wns not listening. There v.d troublo nhend. It had come, then, ufter nil. Ho muttered some thing behind his gray mustache. Tho horses utonped, ns (I. n crowd suddenly closed In front of them. "Drive on I" he snld migrlly, and the ooachman touched his whip lo thq horses. But they only reared, to bo grasped nt the bridles by hostile hands ahead. Karl half rose from his seat "Sit still, majesty," mild tho chancel lor. "It Is tho students. They will talk, that is all." But it came perilously near to be ing n riot Led by some students, pushed by others, tho crowd sur rounded tho two cnrrlngcs, first mut tering, then yelling. A stone was hurled, nnd struck ono of tho horses. Another dented tho body of tho enr rlngo itself. A man with n handker chief tied over tho lower half of his face mounted tho shoulders of two companions, nnd hnriingued tho crowd. They wnnted no friendship with Knr nln. Were they to loso their national existence? Ho exhorted them mmfly through the handkerchief. A babel of noise, of swinging back nnd forth, of mounted police pushing through to surround the carringe, of cries nnd the dominating voices of tho student demagogues. Then nt last a scmblnnco of order, low muttering, nn escort of pollco with drawn revolvers nround the carriage, and it moved nhend. Through it oil tho chancellor had sat with folded arms. Only his livid luce told of his fury. Knrl, too, had sat im passive, picking nt his small mustache. But, as tho carrlogo moved on, ho sold : "A few moments ngo I observed Hint there had been few changes. But thero ms been, I perceive, after nil, a great ennnge." "Ono cannot Judgo tho many by tho few, majesty." But Karl only raised his eyebrows. In bis rooms, removing tho dust of his Journey, broken by tho automobile trip across tho mountains whero tho two rallronds would some day meet, Knrl reflected on tho situation. A dual monarchy, ono portion of it restless nnd revolutionary, wns less desirnble than the present peace nnd nrosnerltv of Kiirnla. And unrest was contagious. Ho might find himself in u dlillcult position. Ho glnnced about his rooms. In ono of them Prlnco Hubert had met his death. It was well enough foe Mett llch to say tho few could not speak for tho many. It took but one man to do u murder, Kurl reflected grimly. But when ho arrived for tea in tho nrchduchess' white drawing room ho was urbane nnd smiling. Ho. kissed tho hnnd of the nrchduchea:. and bent over Hcdwlg'a with n flush of white teeth. Then ho saw Olgn Loschelc, nnd his nmlle stiffened. Tho countess came forward, curtsied, nud ns he extended his hand to her, touched it lightly with her lips. They wero qulto cold. For Just an Instant their eyes met. It was, On tho surface, nn nmlnblo nnd quiet tea party. Hedwlg had taken up her position by a window, and was consoleuously silent Behind her wero the soft ring of silver against china, tho countess' gay tones, Karl's bunvo pnes, assuming gravity, as he Inquired ns to bis majesty's health; the Archduchess Annunclutn pretend ing n solicitude slio did not feel. And all forced, all artificial. "Grandmother," Hedwlg whispered from her window to the austere old bronze fluro in tho place, "was it like this with you, nt first? Did you shiver when ho touched your hand? And doesn't it mntter, after a year?" "Very feeble," said tho nrchduchess' voice, behind her, "but so brave a lesson to us all." "He has had a lqng nnd conspicuous career," Karl observed. "It Is sad, but wo must all como to it I hopo ho will bo nble to seo me." "Hedwlg I" spld her mother, sharp ly, "your tea Is getting cold." Hedwlg turned townrd the room. Listlessness gave her an added dignity, a new charm. Karl's eyes flamed as be watched her. Even her coldness appealed to him. He had a feeling that the coldness was only a young girl's armor, that under It Tvas a deep Ir'paasto&atajromaa. The thought of seeing her corao to deep, vlbrunt life In hi nrms thrilled him. When ho carried her ten to her, he bent over her. "l'lensol" ho said. "Try to like me. I" "I'm sorry," nedwlg said quickly. "Mother has forgotten tho lemon." Knrl smiled nnd, shrugging his shoulders, fetched tho lemon. "Bight, now?" ho Inquired. "And aren't wo Solng to hnvo a tnllc together?" "If you wish it, I daro say wo shall." "Majesty," Bald Hilda, frowning into her teacup.' "I seo a innrrlngo for you." Sho Ignored her mother's scowl, nnd tilted her cup to cxnmlno ,It "A marrlngel" Knrl Joined her, nnd peered with mock nnxlcty at tho ten grounds. "Strnngo thnt my fate should ho confined In so smnll a com pass I A happy marriage? Which am I?" "Tho long yellow leaf. Yes, It looks happy. But you may bo rather shocked when I tell you." "Shocked?" "I think," snld Hilda, grinning, "thnt you nro going to marry me." "Delightful 1" "And we nre going to hnve " "Hilda I" cried the nrchduchess fret fully, "Do stop that nonsense nnd let us tnlk. I wns trying to recall, this morning," sho s.i!d to Knrl, "when you last visited us." Sho knuw It qulto well, but sho preferred having Karl think sho had forcottcn. "It wns, I believe. Just before Hubert" "Yes," buld Karl gravely, "Just be fore." "Otto was a baby then." "A very small child. I remember that I wns nfrnld to handle him." "llo Is 11 curious boy, old beyond his years. Bather n llttlo prig, I think. He has nn Hugllsli governess, nnd sho has iiindo him quite n llttlo woman." Kurl laughed, but Hedwlg Hushed. "lie Is imt that sort nt nil," sl.o de clared stoutly. "Ho Is lonely nnd nnd rather pathetic. Tho truth Is th-t no one renlly cures for him, except" "Except Captain Lnrlschl" said the archduchess smoothly. "You nnd he, Hedwlg, have done your best by hlui, surely." The bit of byplay wns not lost on Knrl the sudden stiffening of lied wig's buck, Olgn'd narrowed eyes. Olgn hud been right, then. Trust her for knowing fncts when they wero dls agreeable. Ills eyes became set nnd watchful, hard, too, had any noticed. There wero ways to deal with such a situation, of course. They wero giv ing him this girl to eecuro their own safety, nnd sho knew It. Had J10 not been so mad nbout her ho might hnvo pitied her, but ho felt no pity, only a deep and resentful determination to get rid of JSlkky, nnd then to wnrm her by his own fire. Ho might hnve to break her first. After that manner had many queens of'Knrhla como to tho throne. Ho smiled behind bis smnll mustache. " When tea wns almost over, the crown prlnco wns announced. He came In, rather nervously, with his hands thrust In his trousers pockets. Babel of Noise, of Swinging Back and Forth. Ho was very shiny with soap nnd water nnd his hnlr was still damp from parting. In bis tailless black Jacket, his long gray trouse-s, and his round Klon collar, he looked Uko a very anxious little schoolboy, and not roynl nt nit Greetings over, nnd having re quested that his tea bo half milk, with four lumps of sugar, ho carried his cup over beside Hedwlg, and sat down on a chair. Followed a short silence, witl the nrchduchess busy with the tea things, Olga Loschek watching Knrl, and Karl Intently surveying he crown prince. Ferdinand William Otto, who disliked a tdlencc, broke it first "I'vo Just taken off my winter flan nels," ho observed. "I feel very smooth nnd nice underneath." Hilda giggled, but Hedwlg reached over and stroked his urm. "Of courso you do," oho said gently. "Nlkky," continued Prlnco William Otto, stirring his tea, "does not wear any flannels. Miss Bralthwalto" thinks he Is very careless." King Karl's eyes gleamed with amusement He saw the Infuriated faco of the archduchess, and bent toward the crown prince with earnest ness. "As a matter of fact," he said, "since yon hare mentioned the sub ject, I do not wear any either. Your 'Nliagr aad I sm,nwt surprising! ml -y Vv tu lmvo the same lasiei) about vurinua things." "Do you like dogs?" inquired the crown prince, much Interested. "Dogs I Why, yos. 1 have quite a number of dogs." "I should think It would bo nicer to bavo Just ono dog, nnd bo very fond of it But I supposo they would cat a great deal. Do you believe In lovo at first night?" "Otto I" said tho archduchess, ex tremely shocked. Ho turned to her npologetlcally. "I, was only trying to find out how many things ho nnd Nlkky ag'rced about," he cxplnlncd. "Nlkky believes in lovo at first sight He says it Is tho only renl kind of love, because lovo Isn't n thing you think out You only feel It" Tho nrchduchess met Karl's eyes. "You seel'' sho wild, "But It Is sound doctrine," Karl ob served, bending forwnrd nnd with a slanting glnuco nt Hedwlg. "I qulto ngrco with him ngnln. And this friend of yours, bo thinks lovo Is tho only thing In the world, I daro any?" "Well, ho thinks n great deal of It But ho snys that lovo of country comes first, before nnythlng else." Tl-.o nrchduchess glanced nt Hedwlg furiously. Tho girl had closed her eyes, nnd wna sitting detached nnd .Vnle. Sho would havo liked to box her ears. Knrl wns no fool, nnd there wns tnlk enough. Ho would henr It of course. Tell us nbout your pllgrluwgo, Otto," sho suggested. "Well, I went," said tin crow prlnco reflectively. "Wo walked a Ug time, nnd It wns very wnrm. I hnvo quite n largo blister, and tho nrua bishop had to tnko his shoes off ntfU walk In his stockings, because his feet hurt No ono saw. It wns on n coun try lane. But I'm nfrnld It didn't da very much good." Ho drew a loag breath. "No?" Knrl Inquired. Suddenly the boy's cl.bi quivered. Ho wns terribly nfrnld ho was going to cry, nnd took 1. large, sip of tea, which cleared his voice. "My grandfather Is uqt any better," ho said. "Perhaps somo ono else should havo gone. I i.tn not very cood," ho explained to Knrl. "It ought to bo a very good person. He Is very sick." "Perhaps," suggested Knrl mocking ly. with n glance at Hedwlg, "they should havo sent this 'Nlkky' of yours." Annunclata stirred restlessly. She considered this talk of Nlkky la execrable taste. "He is not particularly good." "Oil, so ho is not particularly good?" "Well, ho thinks be isn't. He says he doesn't find it easy to love his country more than anything In 'the world, for one thing. And be smokes a great many cigarettes." 'Another taste In common 1" Jeered Knrl, In his smooth, carefully Ironic tones. Annunclata was In the last stages of Irritation. Thero wns no mistaking tho sneer In Kurl'a voice. His smile was forced. Sho guessed that he had heard of Nlkky Lnilsch before, that indeed, ho knew probably more than she did. Just what, she wondered, wns thero to know? A great deal, It ono could Judgo by Hedwlg's face. "I hope you aro worklnc hard at your lessons, Otto." sho said, In) the Hovcro tono which Otto had learned that most people use when they refer to lessons. "I'm afraid I'm not dolnir vcrv nnli. Tante. But I've learned tho 'Gettys burg address.' Shall I sny It?" "Heavens, no I" sho protested. She naa not tno faintest Idea what the "Gettysburg nddress" was. Sht suspected Mr. Gladstone.,. Tho countess had relapsed Into sil ence. A little back from tho family circle, sho hud watched the whole scene stonily, nnd knowing Karl as only n woman who loves sincerely and long enn know a mun, sho know the Inner workings of his mind. Sho sew anger in the very turn of his head und set of his Jaw. But sho raw more. Jealousy, and was herself half mad with It She knew him well. Sho hnd her self, for years, held him by holding herself dear, by the very difficulty of attaining her. And now this Indiffer ent, white-faced girl, who might be his, Indeed, for tho taking, but who would offer or promise ntf lovo. was rousing him to tho Instinct of posses sion by her very indifference. Ho had told her tho truth, that night In the mountain ion. It was Iledwle ha wanted, Hedwlg herself, her heart all of her. And, If sho knew Karl, be would move heaven nnd earth to get (he thing he wunted. Sho surveyed tho group. How little they know what was In store for them I She, Olga Loschek, by the lifting of a finger, could turn their smug superi ority into tears und despair, could ruin them and send them flying for shelter to the very ends of the curth.- But when sho looked nt the little crown prlnw, legs dangling, eating his thin bread and butter us only a hun gry small boy can eat, sho shivered. By what means must sho do all this I By what unspcakablo means I Karl saw tho king that evening, a short visit marked by cxtrcmo formal ity, and, on the king's part by the keen nnd frnnk scrutiny of ono who Is near tho end and fears nothing but tho final moment. Karl found the meeting depressing. and the king's eyes disconcerting. Countess Loschek see a chance for revenge. The next Installment give the. exeltlng details. " " ,,. o a ' .x 0 uf ft n -M V r,h ' c n ft i" a a