The Lamar register., 1901-10-23

to learn some secret Our hero had q
curiosity to know what this meant.
Stay moment where you are," he
said, addressing the blacks; and thus
speaking he passed into the dungeon
just as the king had discovered that no
prisoner was there.
"Ho! Selim!" shouted the monarch,
turning his face to the door What
is the matter here? Is not this the"
He stopped, for the light of his lam
tern. falling upon the face of the man
who had followed him in. revealed an
other face than that of Selim.
"Horam," spoke the chieftain, you
find the Scourge of Damascus not quite
as powerless as you had expected"
what no! Selim! Selim!"
Easy, old man. Selim will not
come at your bidding. Let me inform
you that | am master. for the present.
of this lower region, and Selim is my
slave"
Mercy" gasped the terrified king.
What ho! Benoni! Benoni."
"Benoni is in my power" said Ju
lian. "He is bound hand and foot. and
false man-thou, too, art in my pow
er. Down in this deep dungeon. where
the light of day cannot come. and
where the noise OF the upper world
cannot penetrate. here l have thee
as thou did'st hope to have me. Ho-
ram, am thy master!"
The kings knees smote together.
and the lantern dropped from his
hand.
Mercy" he cried. And then. as
though remembering that he was king
of Damascus. he clenched his hands.
and tried to speak with the voice of
authority.
Vile miscreant," he said. ''let me
pass! If you dare to oppose me, you
shall be torn limb from limb!"
Easy. old man. | am your master
may do you harm"
There was that in the look. tone and
bearing of the stalwart chieftain which
caused Horam to quail. The lantern
had fallen in an upright position. and
its light revealed quite plainly the
features of the two men.
you will not kill me?" whispered
the king.
NO" replied Julian. II should
scorn the deed; and should despise
myself if / did it. l wish simply to do
this. must leave this palace tonight.
and you must remain here in my place.
Some of your slaves will find you in
the morning. You must strip off that
purple robe. and that golden chain;
and + must have the jeweled crown
from your head. Gomez have no
time to waste
'Ye gods of heaven!" calculated
Horam. "how can this thing be! Who
ever heard of such thing! Who
dares to disrobe the king?"
81 dare to do it," replied the rob-
ber. sternly and quickly. at the same
time taking step forward. Remove
the garments instantly. or l shall
tear them from you"
mo, no; you dare not rob your
king
Peace, poor fool! Hesitate another
minute, and | VIII smite you TO the
floor, Off with the robe!"
The trembling monarch cast one look
into the face of the man before him,
and then shrank back against the
wall He was as a mere child, and for
the time, while unable to do evil. he
seemed an object OF pity.
"If l give you these things will you
spare my life?"
81 told you once-yes. And once
more I beg you to remember that my
time is short You will save yourself
some trouble If you obey me-"
This was spoken very slowly. each
word dropping from the robbers lips
with the weight of death sentence;
and the lowering of the brow, the
swelling of the broad bosom, and the
nervous working of the hands, told too
plainly that the edict must be obeyed.
(To ha continued \