Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-13
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CHAPTER XIV.


THE PRISONER OF THE ROSE.
Three days passed without further
orders from my royal master.
But in the meantime Harry, who
had ridden from LISTENS on business.
heard of my presence in the town, and
you may we'll imagine the joy Of our
meeting.
But when told him that duty called
me into the saddle again, to spur in
knew not what direction. he was sorely
disappointed. It was now the second
week in December. and the Joy Of
Yuletide. he told me, warmed the old
house Of LISTENS from the stables to the
tower. Many guests were expected to
make cheer there, among these the
Lady st. Armand and others from the
court
Tom promised. in case could not
get home for the merry season, to take
my place among the ladies go far as
might be.
That evening, when we were max
ing merry together in our rooms, each
with a long pipe and glass. message
arrived with paper for me and large
package sealed. The first was addressed
I .'To Sir D'Artagan LISTENS, knight of
the Royal Order of Wassmark, and
ran:
ut is my pleasure that you ride ont
tonight to the inn Of the Three Trees
which lies some 30 miles east Of this
city, starting such time that you may
arrive at the inn shortly before dawn.
Do not enter. but wait near by until
coach, unescorted drawn by three
grays and black. arrives. From dis
crete distance you will see them change
the horses and bring refreshment out to
the inmate Of the coach.
.When they proceed on their jour
. ney. you will follow at distance Of
some ten rods. and should any one mo-
lest or threaten the vehicle, ride up and
defend it. The pace will be hard, and
at Blatenburg the horses will be again
changed, and you, too. will need fresh
mount. From there You will follow to
"a little fishing village on the coast,
distance of over IL miles You will
wait, ont Of sight. until the inmate Of
the coach has had ample time to go on
board the ship Rose, now lying ready
to sail. Then you will ride down to the
shore and signal, and the captain will
have boat ready to take yon out also
with your horse.
''Show the captain Of the vessel these
papers sealed with my seal. They will
not be opened as they do, but say that
you are ambassador to the court of
England for the court Of Wassmark.
Concerning which, hope, sir you do
not object to having the post thrust
upon you.
"After this make your presence
known to the person who rode in the
coach.
upon reaching England you will
know best what to do and how severely
to deal with your prisoner, who has
more than once threatened the peace Of
Wassmark.
THE risks you take are not great
close with my blessing on the adven-
ture.''
did not share the contents of this
letter with my comrades. but thrust it
and the package into concealed pocket
Of my coat and asked Harry to let me
: have his horse until the following day.
II want Hagart for my second mount, !"
Iexplained, land will leave him here. -
As they did not intend to start for
listens for few days Harry readily
gave me the desired permission.
Within an hour climbed to the sad
die. taking care not to wrench my new
" mended knee. The viscount's horse
was q round barreled sorrel-swift and
easy.
I rode leisurely, pondering on the
kings orders. Why, If had touched
sore his pride, had he made me a
knight, and now ambassador to the
English courtf And why the secrecy Of
this last strange venture-this riding
behind the coach. and yet not with it
For moment the thought of treachery
crossed my mind, but put 1t out with
curse, knowing that the king war
ever man to love open fighting. So
through all the remaining hours Of the
night / rode with my gloomy heart.
There were few signs of dawn in the
sky when I sighted the inn Of the
Three Trees Snow lay frozen on the
road and fanged wind started out o.
the east Shelter of some kind mean,
to have. and, looking about, I espied al
little distance from the outbuilding
Of the hostel half ruined stable On,
corner, under the roof of thatch, wal
snug enough. and here the good hors'
stood contentedly while kept watch a
the door, slapping my arms across my
y chest, after the manner Of woodchop
pers In the forests of LISTENS.
The dawn broke at last, yellow ant
red. 1t was dreary piece of country
wide meadows divided by lines of pop
lars-which stretched before the doc
Of our refuge. Away to the right tn
white and gray monotony was broker
by q wedge shaped forest of evergreens
coming down the side Of hill.
Before the sun had got his lower rim
away from the horizon a coach, draw,
swiftly by four horses three grays AM
q black appeared around turn Of tn
road. ! retired from the door. and
through crack IN the wall, watched j
draw near and pass, and in few
seconds my ears told me that it ha
stopped at the inn.
Though my knee was still somewha
stiff. I managed to crawl up to tn
edge Of a broken manger, and. throug
hole In the thatch. watched ma
change the horses, and maidservan
handed in a covered dish at the coac
window.
The ride back to Blatenburg wa
painfully uneventful. saw my charg
drawn up at an obscure house on th
edge Of the city and then made a
haste to our lodgings. handed Harry
horse over to servant and flung tn
saddle across Hagart's stout back
Harry and Tom came to the doc
while drank of cup Of mulled wins
When came again in sight of th
tavern at the edge Of the town, ii
coach was just rolling out Of the stab
yard. Upon passing the city gates an
striking the level road that rms Il