San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-17
WHEN POSITION FAILS.
By CLINTON ROSS.

Copyright 1897, by Clinton Ross.l
as this oud pair stumDIeu on, JDe KIng
sore and sad and weak, SO that Kolinski,
he knew, would have no difficulty il
controlling him alone, the king said:
VILLAIN. you shot my servant Fe-
lixp'
II would to heaven it had been your
majesty"
And in what have I wronged you,
Kolinski?"
"As you have every Pole, by ruling
Poland for her enemy's sake. -"
Yes, granted, man. That may be the
fact. but how do you know that / may
not think it for the better?"
And why?''
Because you Poles cannot rule
yourselves, nor would you let me. "
"No, we have stolen your majesty
that you may not rule"
And how did you get into Warsaw
without arrest?' said the king, when
the other answered:
Your majesty need not suspect your
police in this matter We entered dis
guised as peasants, and some of us hid
in hay carts.
Now, in this strange conversation,
without any further appeal by the king
to his companions pity, Kolinski yet
in some way. was influenced. They both
were equally lost in the wood of Bilany,
captive and captor, and now that Ko-
linski reflected about the matter he saw
that it was equally necessary for both
Count, has not tonight proved how
much the king of Poland needs friends
strong, daring menu"
"And you are trying to gain me?"
II am trying to gain you
Count Kolinski was ever most sus-
picious. Now he saw the kings cum
ming, he thought, in endeavoring to
gain him.
And suddenly he asked himself why
would it not be better for him to side
with the king. The issue of the adven-
ture was uncertain. He was alone with
the captive, who, of course, was dis
abled with the wound in his foot and
the rough usage. He, Kolinski, easily
could let the king escape. 1t would be
easy to persuade his fellow conspirators
that he had been forced to abandon the
captive, as all the others indeed had
By aiding the king he might purchase
for himself immunity The thought
was tempting, possibly more so because
of certain dignity with which Stanis-
laus had borne himself since the first of
the adventure Kolinski felt himself,
you may see, grasping horn of the
dilemma he had not before taken. And
as he thought of his position he remem-
bered the strong oath he had taken to
carry out his object
Come" be began
But Stanislaus began.
II have sworn, sire, began Kolinski
almost bumbly, for he understood well
the significance behind the but"
Stanislaus threw himself on the
ground YEARLY
"Ah," said the other, with sudden
pity, II had forgot your wound
"Yes, Count Kolinski, you have for
got much.
"And what, sire?'
THAT he who takes an oath against
his king takes no binding one. "
'Sire, it is Poland's interest | have
sworn to protect, and yet
"And yet, Kolinski?"
This night | have grown to think
differently of you. have come to re-
spect you as a man.
B,,,o, =. - L. -
a MANI"
"The king of Poland | held less up
to this night "
"And have you changed?"
IF should free you. should be
taken-executed "
Count, said the king at this, for
Stanislaus had a shrewd wit in times of
need, "if | be more than a man,
king, my oath should be good, and
swear to you that you shall meet no
harm. Should my guards come on us
now would direct them to the road
contrary to that you take.
IF could believe you"
And why should you not?''
You have suffered so much from
me.
"You can believe me if you will re-
feet. "
And why1' asked x linski, again
wondering
Because l want your brain. your
daring. Should persuade you, should
have you as my serv INT. "
True" HoliGski reflected Some
creatures stirred in the forest A little