X
A NEW KING IN LUTHA
As the two riders approached the edge of the village of Blentz asentry barred their way. To his challenge the American replied thatthey were "friends from the castle."
"Advance," directed the sentry, "and give the countersign."
Barney rode to the fellow's side, and leaning from the saddlewhispered in his ear the word "Slankamen."
Would it pass them out as it had passed Maenck in? Barney scarcelybreathed as he awaited the result of his experiment. The soldierbrought his rifle to present and directed them to pass. With a sighof relief that was almost audible the two rode into the village andthe Austrian lines.
Once within they met with no further obstacle until they reached thelast line of sentries upon the far side of the town. It was withmore confidence that Barney gave the countersign here, nor was hesurprised that the soldier passed them readily; and now they wereupon the highroad to Lustadt, with nothing more to bar their way.
For hours they rode on in silence. Barney wanted to talk with hiscompanion, but as king he found nothing to say to her. The girl'smind was filled with morbid reflections of the past few hours anddumb terror for the future. She would keep her promise to the king;but after--life would not be worth the living; why should she live?She glanced at the man beside her in the light of the coming dawn.Ah, why was he so like her American in outward appearances only?Their own mothers could scarce have distinguished them, and yet incharacter no two men could have differed more widely. The man turnedto her.
"We are almost there," he said. "You must be very tired."
The words reflected a consideration that had never been acharacteristic of Leopold. The girl began to wonder if there mightnot possibly be a vein of nobility in the man, after all, that shehad never discovered. Since she had entered his apartments at Blentzhe had been in every way a different man from the Leopold she hadknown of old. The boldness of his escape from Blentz supposed acourage that the king had never given the slightest indication of inthe past. Could it be that he was making a genuine effort to becomea man--to win her respect?
They were approaching Lustadt as the sun rose. A troop of horse wasjust emerging from the north gate. As it neared them they saw thatthe cavalrymen wore the uniforms of the Royal Horse Guard. At theirhead rode a lieutenant. As his eyes fell upon the face of theprincess and her companion, he brought his troopers to a halt, and,with incredulity plain upon his countenance, advanced to meet them,his hand raised in salute to the king. It was Butzow.
Now Barney was sure that he would be recognized. For two years heand the Luthanian officer had been inseparable. Surely Butzow wouldpenetrate his disguise. He returned his friend's salute, looked himfull in the eyes, and asked where he was riding.
"To Blentz, your majesty," replied Butzow, "to demand an audience.I bear important word from Prince von der Tann. He has learned theAustrians are moving an entire army corps into Lutha, together withsiege howitzers. Serbia has demanded that all Austrian troops bewithdrawn from Luthanian territory at once, and has offered toassist your majesty in maintaining your neutrality by force, ifnecessary."
As Butzow spoke his eyes were often upon the Princess Emma, and itwas quite evident that he was much puzzled to account for herpresence with the king. She was supposed to be at Tann, and Butzowknew well enough her estimate of Leopold to know that she would notbe in his company of her own volition. His expression as headdressed the man he supposed to be his king was far fromdeferential. Barney could scarce repress a smile.
"We will ride at once to the palace," he said. "At the gate you mayinstruct one of your sergeants to telephone to Prince von der Tannthat the king is returning and will grant him audience immediately.You and your detachment will act as our escort."
Butzow saluted and turned to his troopers, giving the necessarycommands that brought them about in the wake of the pseudo-king.Once again Barney Custer, of Beatrice, rode into Lustadt as king ofLutha. The few people upon the streets turned to look at him as hepassed, but there was little demonstration of love or enthusiasm.
Leopold had awakened no emotions of this sort in the hearts of hissubjects. Some there were who still remembered the gallant actionsof their ruler on the field of battle when his forces had defeatedthose of the regent, upon that other occasion when this sameAmerican had sat upon the throne of Lutha for two days and had ledthe little army to victory; but since then the true king had beenwith them daily in his true colors. Arrogance, haughtiness, andpetty tyranny had marked his reign. Taxes had gone even higher thanunder the corrupt influence of the Blentz regime. The king's dayswere spent in bed; his nights in dissipation. Old Ludwig von derTann seemed Lutha's only friend at court. Him the people loved andtrusted.
It was the old chancellor who met them as they entered thepalace--the Princess Emma, Lieutenant Butzow, and the false king. Asthe old man's eyes fell upon his daughter, he gave an exclamation ofsurprise and of incredulity. He looked from her to the American.
"What is the meaning of this, your majesty?" he cried in a voicehoarse with emotion. "What does her highness in your company?"
There was neither fear nor respect in Prince Ludwig's tone--onlyanger. He was demanding an accounting from Leopold, the man; notfrom Leopold, the king. Barney raised his hand.
"Wait," he said, "before you judge. The princess was brought toBlentz by Prince Peter. She will tell you that I have aided her toescape and that I have accorded her only such treatment as a womanhas a right to expect from a king."
The girl inclined her head.
"His majesty has been most kind," she said. "He has treated me withevery consideration and respect, and I am convinced that he was nota willing party to my arrest and forcible detention at Blentz; or,"she added, "if he was, he regretted his action later and has madefull reparation by bringing me to Lustadt."
Prince von der Tann found difficulty in hiding his surprise at thisevidence of chivalry in the cowardly king. But for his daughter'stestimony he could not have believed it possible that it lay withinthe nature of Leopold of Lutha to have done what he had done withinthe past few hours.
He bowed low before the man who wore the king's uniform. TheAmerican extended his hand, and Von der Tann, taking it in his own,raised it to his lips.
"And now," said Barney briskly, "let us go to my apartments and getto work. Your highness"--and he turned toward the PrincessEmma--"must be greatly fatigued. Lieutenant Butzow, you will seethat a suite is prepared for her highness. Afterward you may callupon Count Zellerndorf, whom I understand returned to Lustadtyesterday, and notify him that I will receive him in an hour. Informthe Serbian minister that I desire his presence at the palaceimmediately. Lose no time, lieutenant, and be sure to impress uponthe Serbian minister that immediately means immediately."
Butzow saluted and the Princess Emma curtsied, as the king turnedand, slipping his arm through that of Prince Ludwig, walked away inthe direction of the royal apartments. Once at the king's deskBarney turned toward the chancellor. In his mind was thedetermination to save Lutha if Lutha could be saved. He had beenforced to place the king in a position where he would be helpless,though that he would have been equally as helpless upon his thronethe American did not doubt for an instant. However, the course ofevents had placed within his hands the power to serve not only Luthabut the house of Von der Tann as well. He would do in the king'splace what the king should have done if the king had been a man.
"Now, Prince Ludwig," he said, "tell me just what conditions we mustface. Remember that I have been at Blentz and that there the King ofLutha is not apt to learn all that transpires in Lustadt."
"Sire," replied the chancellor, "we face a grave crisis. Not onlyis there within Lutha the small force of Austrian troops thatsurround Blentz, but now an entire army corps has crossed theborder. Unquestionably they are marching on Lustadt. The emperor isgoing to take no chances. He sent the first force into Lutha tocompel Serbian intervention and draw Serbian troops from theAustro-Serbian battle line. Ser
bia has withheld her forces at myrequest, but she will not withhold them for long. We must make adeclaration at once. If we declare against Austria we are faced bythe menace of the Austrian troops already within our boundaries, butwe shall have Serbia to help us.
"A Serbian army corps is on the frontier at this moment awaitingword from Lutha. If it is adverse to Austria that army corps willcross the border and march to our assistance. If it is favorable toAustria it will none the less cross into Lutha, but as enemiesinstead of allies. Serbia has acted honorably toward Lutha. She hasnot violated our neutrality. She has no desire to increase herpossessions in this direction.
"On the other hand, Austria has violated her treaty with us. Shehas marched troops into our country and occupied the town of Blentz.Constantly in the past she has incited internal discord. She isopenly championing the Blentz cause, which at last I trust yourmajesty has discovered is inimical to your interests.
"If Austria is victorious in her war with Serbia, she will find somepretext to hold Lutha whether Lutha takes her stand either for oragainst her. And most certainly is this true if it occurs thatAustrian troops are still within the boundaries of Lutha when peaceis negotiated. Not only our honor but our very existence demandsthat 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 suchan effort as will win us the respect of the world and a voice in thepeace negotiations.
"If we must bow to the surrender of our national integrity, let usdo so only after we have exhausted every resource of the country inour country's defense. In the past your majesty has not appeared torealize the menace of your most powerful neighbor. I beg of you,sire, to trust me. Believe that I have only the interests of Luthaat heart, and let us work together for the salvation of our countryand your majesty's throne."
Barney laid his hand upon the old man's shoulder. It seemed a shameto carry the deception further, but the American well knew that onlyso could he accomplish aught for Lutha or the Von der Tanns. Oncethe old chancellor suspected the truth as to his identity he wouldbe the first to denounce him.
"I think that you and I can work together, Prince Ludwig," he said."I have sent for the Serbian and Austrian ministers. The formershould be here immediately."
Nor did they have long to wait before the tall Slav was announced.Barney lost no time in getting down to business. He asked noquestions. What Von der Tann had told him, what he had seen with hisown eyes since he had entered Lutha, and what he had overheard inthe inn at Burgova was sufficient evidence that the fate of Luthahung upon the prompt and energetic decisions of the man who sat uponLutha's throne for the next few days.
Had Leopold been the present incumbent Lutha would have been lost,for that he would play directly into the hands of Austria was not tobe questioned. Were Von der Tann to seize the reins of government astate of revolution would exist that would divide the state into twobitter factions, weaken its defense, and give Austria what she mostdesired--a plausible pretext for intervention.
Lutha's only hope lay in united defense of her liberties under theleadership of the one man whom all acknowledged king--Leopold. Verywell, Barney Custer, of Beatrice, would be Leopold for a few days,since the real Leopold had proven himself incompetent to meet theemergency.
General Petko, the Serbian minister to Lutha, brought to theaudience the memory of a series of unpleasant encounters with theking. Leopold had never exerted himself to hide his pro-Austriansentiments. Austria was a powerful country--Serbia, a relativelyweak neighbor. Leopold, being a royal snob, had courted the favor ofthe emperor and turned up his nose at Serbia. The general wasprepared for a repetition of the veiled affronts that Leopolddelighted in according him; but this time he brought with him areply that for two years he had been living in the hope of some daybeing able to deliver to the young monarch he so cordially despised.
It was an ultimatum from his government--an ultimatum couched interms from which all diplomatic suavity had been stripped. If BarneyCuster, of Beatrice, could have read it he would have smiled, for inplain American it might have been described as announcing to Leopoldprecisely "where he got off." But Barney did not have theopportunity to read it, since that ultimatum was never delivered.
Barney took the wind all out of it by his first words. "Yourexcellency may wonder why it is that we have summoned you at such anearly hour," he said.
General Petko inclined his head in deferential acknowledgment of thetruth of the inference.
"It is because we have learned from our chancellor," continued theAmerican, "that Serbia has mobilized an entire army corps upon theLuthanian frontier. Am I correctly informed?"
General Petko squared his shoulders and bowed in assent. At the sametime he reached into his breast-pocket for the ultimatum.
"Good!" exclaimed Barney, and then he leaned close to the ear of theSerbian. "How long will it take to move that army corps to Lustadt?"
General Petko gasped and returned the ultimatum to his pocket.
"Sire!" he cried, his face lighting with incredulity. "You mean--"
"I mean," said the American, "that if Serbia will loan Lutha an armycorps until the Austrians have evacuated Luthanian territory, Luthawill loan Serbia an army corps until such time as peace is declaredbetween Serbia and Austria. Other than this neither government willincur any obligations to the other.
"We may not need your help, but it will do us no harm to have themwell on the way toward Lustadt as quickly as possible. CountZellerndorf will be here in a few minutes. We shall, through him,give Austria twenty-four hours to withdraw all her troops beyond ourfrontiers. The army of Lutha is mobilized before Lustadt. It is nota large army, but with the help of Serbia it should be able to drivethe Austrians from the country, provided they do not leave of theirown accord."
General Petko smiled. So did the American and the chancellor. Eachknew that Austria would not withdraw her army from Lutha.
"With your majesty's permission I will withdraw," said the Serbian,"and transmit Lutha's proposition to my government; but I may saythat your majesty need have no apprehension but that a Serbian armycorps will be crossing into Lutha before noon today."
"And now, Prince Ludwig," said the American after the Serbian hadbowed himself out of the apartment, "I suggest that you takeimmediate steps to entrench a strong force north of Lustadt alongthe road to Blentz."
Von der Tann smiled as he replied. "It is already done, sire," hesaid.
"But I passed in along the road this morning," said Barney, "and sawnothing of such preparations."
"The trenches and the soldiers were there, nevertheless, sire,"replied the old man, "only a little gap was left on either side ofthe highway that those who came and went might not suspect our plansand carry word of them to the Austrians. A few hours will completethe link across the road."
"Good! Let it be completed at once. Here is Count Zellerndorfnow," as the minister was announced.
Von der Tann bowed himself out as the Austrian entered the king'spresence. For the first time in two years the chancellor felt thatthe destiny of Lutha was safe in the hands of her king. What hadcaused the metamorphosis in Leopold he could not guess. He did notseem to be the same man that had whined and growled at their lastaudience a week before.
The Austrian minister entered the king's presence with an expressionof ill-concealed surprise upon his face. Two days before he had leftLeopold safely ensconced at Blentz, where he was to have remainedindefinitely. He glanced hurriedly about the room in search ofPrince Peter or another of the conspirators who should have beenwith the king. He saw no one. The king was speaking. The Austrian'seyes went wider, not only at the words, but at the tone of voice.
"Count Zellerndorf," said the American, "you were doubtless aware ofthe embarrassment under which the king of Lutha was compelled atBlentz to witness the entry of a foreign army within his domain. Butwe are not now at Blentz. We have summoned you that you may receivefrom us, and transmit to your emperor, the expression of oursur
prise and dismay at the unwarranted violation of Luthanianneutrality."
"But, your majesty--" interrupted the Austrian.
"But nothing, your excellency," snapped the American. "The momentfor diplomacy is passed; the time for action has come. You willoblige us by transmitting to your government at once a request thatevery Austrian soldier now in Lutha be withdrawn by noon tomorrow."
Zellerndorf looked his astonishment.
"Are you mad, sire?" he cried. "It will mean war!"
"It is what Austria has been looking for," snapped the American,"and what people look for they usually get, especially if theychance to be looking for trouble. When can you expect a reply fromVienna?"
"By noon, your majesty," replied the Austrian, "but are youirretrievably bound to your present policy? Remember the power ofAustria, sire. Think of your throne. Think--"
"We have thought of everything," interrupted Barney. "A throne meansless to us than you may imagine, count; but the honor of Lutha meansa great deal."