The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-19

YOU nave SAID I shall nave Il r&lr tflal.
That is all you can ofTer:'
THAT is all" she said shrilly, her
mind gradually Srasplng his meaning.
You will not punish the poor peo-
ple who sccrcted me in theilNhouse for
weeks. sor they are convinced Of my
innocence. Your captain here, who
found me in their house tonight, can
also speak well of them. have only
this request to make in return for what
little service I may have given you:
Forgive the old people who befriended
me. I am ready to 50 to the tower at
once, captain"
Gabriel heard this speech with
skeptical smi1n on his face.
q am no fool he said simply. "Cap-
TAIN shrewdly turning to QuinnoN,
..if he is your prisoner, why Go you
permit him to retain his rcvolver?'
The conspirators were taken by sur
prise, but Lorry had found his wits.
''It is folly, your lighneSs. to allow
this gentleman and conaucring prince
to cross examine you. I an 4 prisoner,
and that is the end Of it. What odds
is it to the Prince Of Dawsbergen how
and where I was caught or why your
officer brought me to you:'
You were ordered from my house
once today, yet you come again like
conqueror I should not spare you.
You deserve to lose your life for the ac-
tions Of tonight. Captain Quinnox, will
you kill him if 7 ask you to end his
wretched life" Yctive's eyes were
blazing with wrath, beneath which
cleaned hope that be could be fright
ened into silence.
''Willingly-w:llingly" cried Quin-
nox. Now, your highness? Twere
better in the hall!'
For Gods sake, do not murder me!
Let me go"' cringed the prince.
81 do not mean that you should kill
him now, Quinnox, but I instruct you
to do so ii he puts foot inside these
walls again. Do you understand"
Eyes, your highness."
Then you will place this prisoner in
the castle dungeon until tomorrow
morning. when he is to be taken to tie
tower. Prince Gabriel may accompa-
ny you to the dungeon cell if he likes,
after which you will escort him to the
gates. If he enters them again, you are
to Kill him. Take them both away"
Your highness, I must ask you to
write a pardon for the good people IN
whose house the prisoner was found"
suggested Qutnnox, shrewdly seeing
chance for communication unsuspected
by the prince.
"a moment, your highness;;" said the
prince, who had recovered himself
cleverly. II appreciate your position. l
have made serious charge, and now
have fair proposition to suggest TO
you. IF this man is not produced to-
morrow morning, I take it for granted
that I am liberty to tell all that has
happened in this room tonight. If he IS
produced, I shall kneel and beg your
pardon
The princess turned paler than ever
and knew not how she kept from fall
ing to the door. There was long 81
lence following Gabriel's unexpected
but fair suggestion.
.That is very fair, your highness,"
said Lorry. ''There is no reason why l
should not be prisoner tomorrow. |
don't see how can hope to escape the
inevitable. Your dungeon is strong,
and have given my word Of honor to
the captain that I shall make no fur
ther effort to eyade the law"
81 agree" murmured the princess,
ready to faint under the strain.
''I must see him delivered to Prince
Bolaroz," added Gabriel mercilessly.
ITO Bolaroz," she repeated
sYour highness, the pardon for the
poor old people," reminded QuinnoS.