United States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
At the words and at sight of the struggling men, the great lady swayed
helplessly, her eyes filled with terror. Her son sprang protectingly
in front of her. But the danger was past. A second policeman was now
holding the maniac by the wrists, forcing his arms above his head;
Philip's arms, like a lariat, were wound around his chest; and from his
pocket the first policeman gingerly drew forth a round, black object of
the size of a glass fire-grenade. He held it high in the air, and waved
his free hand warningly. But the warning was unobserved. There was no
one remaining to observe it. Leaving the would-be assassin struggling
and biting in the grasp of the stalwart policeman, and the other
policeman unhappily holding the bomb at arm's length, Philip sought to
escape into the Ritz. But the young King broke through the circle of
attendants and stopped him.
“I must thank you,” said the boy eagerly; “and I wish you to tell me how
you came to suspect the man's purpose.”
Unable to speak the truth, Philip, the would-be writer of fiction, began
to improvise fluently.
“To learn their purpose, sir,” he said, “is my business. I am of the
International Police, and in the secret service of your Majesty.”
“Then I must know your name,” said the King, and added with a dignity
that was most becoming, “You will find we are not ungrateful.”
Philip smiled mysteriously and shook his head.
“I said in your secret service,” he repeated. “Did even your Majesty
know me, my usefulness would be at an end.” He pointed toward the two
policemen. “If you desire to be just, as well as gracious, those are the
men to reward.”
He slipped past the King and through the crowd of hotel officials into
the hall and on into the corridor.
The arrest had taken place so quietly and so quickly that through the
heavy glass doors no sound had penetrated, and of the fact that they
had been so close to a possible tragedy those in the corridor were still
ignorant. The members of the Hungarian orchestra were arranging their
music; a waiter was serving two men of middle age with sherry; and two
distinguished-looking elderly gentlemen seated together on a sofa were
talking in leisurely whispers.
One of the two middle-aged men was well known to Philip, who as a
reporter had often, in New York, endeavored to interview him on matters
concerning the steel trust. His name was Faust. He was a Pennsylvania
Dutchman from Pittsburgh, and at one time had been a foreman of the
night shift in the same mills he now controlled. But with a roar and
a spectacular flash, not unlike one of his own blast furnaces, he had
soared to fame and fortune. He recognized Philip as one of the bright
young men of the Republic; but in his own opinion he was far too
self-important to betray that fact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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