United States or Samoa ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


As he did so the officer rode up, and at sight of Barney's face gave an exclamation of astonishment. The officer was Butzow. "Well met, your majesty," he cried saluting. "We are riding to the coronation. We shall be just in time." "To see Peter of Blentz rob Leopold of a crown," said the American in a disgusted tone. "To see Leopold of Lutha come into his own, your majesty.

It cares naught for Peter of Blentz, naught for me, naught for you. It cares only for Lutha. For strategic purposes it must have Lutha. It will trample you under foot to gain its end, and then it will cast Peter of Blentz aside. You have insinuated, sire, that I am ambitious. I am. I am ambitious to maintain the integrity and freedom of Lutha.

Not only our honor but our very existence demands that there be no Austrian troops in Lutha at the close of this war. If we cannot force them across the border we can at least make such an effort as will win us the respect of the world and a voice in the peace negotiations.

"I have never seen it, Joseph," replied the young man, "and possibly this fact may assure you where all else has failed that I am no true king of Lutha, after all."

Count Zellerndorf's parting words to the three had shown that military passes were necessary to enable one to reach Lutha. His papers were practically worthless even inside the lines. That they would carry him through the lines he had not the slightest hope. There were two things to be accomplished if possible.

He stepped quickly across the room toward her. "What is it?" he asked. "What is the matter?" For a moment he had forgotten the part that he had been playing forgot that the Princess Emma was ignorant of his identity. He had come to her to share with her the happiness of the hour the glory of the victorious arms of Lutha.

I shall give you until tomorrow morning to make a full explanation of the truth and to form some plan whereby you may utilize once more whatever influence you had over Leopold to the end that he grant to myself and my associates his royal assurance that our lives and property will be safe in Lutha." "But I tell you it is impossible," wailed the king.

Toward dusk of the day upon which the mad king of Lutha had been found, a dust-covered horseman reined in before the great gate of the castle of Prince Ludwig von der Tann. The unsettled political conditions which overhung the little kingdom of Lutha were evident in the return to medievalism which the raised portcullis and the armed guard upon the barbican of the ancient feudal fortress revealed.

You have an army at your command. Do not forget that he once saved you." The note of appeal in her voice and the sorrow in her eyes gave Barney Custer a twinge of compunction. The necessity for longer concealing his identity in so far as the salvation of Lutha was concerned seemed past; but the American had intended to carry the deception to the end.

"But your majesty," interposed Von der Tann, "all may be lost in two days." "It is the king's command," said Barney quietly. "But Peter of Blentz will rule for these two days, and in that time with the army at his command there is no telling what he may accomplish," insisted the old man. "Peter of Blentz shall not rule Lutha for two days, or two minutes," replied Barney. "We shall rule.