Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1902-07-30
CHAPTER XII.
A RoYal Diapilisa

MIN in ignorance of who had done it,
but a different fancy seized him as he
saw the monarch enter the dungeon
The temptation to face his deadly
enemy and let him know to what he
owed his disgrace. was too strong tc
be resisted. The thought that he could
now place his foot upon the neck o,
the king of Damascus and grant the
poor life which he had the power to
take, was not to be passed by. And
then the robber chieftain had an.
other reason for wishing to speak with
the king, since the opportunity had
thus unexpectedly offered itself Ho-
ram had come on purpose to see him
to learn some secret. Our hero had
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! Seliml' shouted the monarch,
turning his fee to the door What
is the matter here? Is not this the
He stopped, for the light of his Ian
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! Selimi"
Easy old man. Selim will NOT
come at your bidding. Let me inform
you that l am master, for the present
of this lower region, and Selim is my
slave"
Mercy" gasped the terrified king.
What hol Benonil Benonii'
"Benonl is in my power" said Ju-
liam. He is bound hand and foot, and
cannot help you And thou base,
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 have thee
as thou did'st hope to have me. Ho-
ram, am thy masterl"
The kings knees smote together
and the lantern dropped from his
hand.
Mercy he cried And then, at
though remembering that he was king
of Damascus, he clenched his hands,
and tried to speak with the voice of
authority
"yile miscreant," he said, '1et me
pass! If you dare to oppose me, you
shall be torn limb from limb"
Easy, old man am your master
now, and If you give me occasion, I
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. 81 should
scorn the deed; and I should despise
myself if did it. wish simply to do
this. l must leave this palace tonight,
and you must remain here in my place.
Some of your slaves will find you in
| lIt lOQ lAuol ollip Ol lhdt
purple robe, and that golden chain;
and. I must have the jeweled crown
from your head. Gomez have no
time to waste"
Eye gods of heavenl" calculated
Horam "how can this thing be! Who
ever heard of such a thing Who
dares to disrobe the klng?"
1 a. AZ al
Der, sternly and quickly, at the same
time taking a step forward. Remove
the garments instantly, or I shall
tear them from you"
mo, no; you dare not rob your
king"
peace, poor fool! Hesitate another
minute, and l will smite you to the
floor! OF 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 mere child, and for
the time, while unable to do evil, he
seemed an object of pity.
"If give you these things will you
spare my life?'
Il told you once-yes. ana once
more I beg you to remember that my
time is short. You will save yourself
some trouble II you obey me-"
This was spoken very slowly, each
word dropping from the robbers lips
with the weight of a death sentence;
and the lowering of the brow, the
swelling OF the broad bosom, and the
nervous working of the hands, told too
J plainly that the edict must be obeyed
(To be continued.)