Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
Being the History Of Three Months in the Life of an
English Gentleman
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Copyright b. Henry &
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Copyright. 1894. 1898. by Henry Holt Co.,

| claim a state OF siege IN Strelsau and send
| messenger to Zenda. The other three
VIII murder the king In the castle and the
duke will proclaim either himself or the
princess-himself II he is strong enough.
| ANYHOW, he'll marry her and become king
in fact and soon In name. Do you see?'
ITS pretty plot But why, madame.
Say I'm a Christian-or say I'm Jealous
Ny God! shall see him marry her? Now
go. but remember-this is what l have to
tell you-that never by night or by day
guard. Is ii not SO? Well, three follow
them. Michael's three are never 100 yards
from you. Your life is not worth mo-
Stay, the gate will be guarded by now.
Go down softly, go past the summer house.
on for hundred yards, and you'll find a
fly for your life"
And your l asked.
i have my game to play, too. IL he
finds out what / have done we shall not
meet again. IL not may yet But never
mind. Go at once"
But what will you tell him."
through the trick"
\ l took her hand and kissed it,
Madame, said /, you have served the
king well tonight. Where is he in the
CASTER"
She sank her voice to a fearful whisper.
l listened eagerly.
Across the drawbridge you come to a
heavy door; behind that lies Hark!
| What's that?"
There were steps outside
| They're coming! They're too soon!
Heavens. they're TOO soon!'' and she turned
| pale death.
They seem to me-" said I. ito be in the
| nick of time"
| CLOSE your lantern. See, there's chink
| in the door. Can you see them?'
put my eye to the chink. On the lowest
step l saw three dim figures. / cooked my
revolver. Antoinette hastily laid her hand
| on mine.
You may kill one" said she. But what
them?
A voice came from outside-a voice that
| spoke perfect English.
Mr.. Rassendyll.' it said.
! ] made no answer.
J I'VE want to talk to you. Will you
promise not to shoot tin we've done?'
Have l the pleasure of addressing Mr..
Detchard?" 1 said.
| Never mind names"
| Then let mine alone"
IAN right, sire. I've an offer for you
| l still had my eye to the chink The
| three had mounted two steps more; three
| revolvers pointed full at the door.
will you let us in? We pledge our honor
| to observe the truce"
| Don't trust them whispered Antonette.
We can speak through the door" said L.
But you might open it and fire." object
| ed Detchard, land though we should finish
| you, you might finish one OF us. VIII you
| give your honor not to fire while We talk?''
Don't trust Them whispered Antoinette
| again.
A sudden idea struck me- I considered it
| for moment 1t seemed feasible.
| Il give my honor not to fire before you
do" said /, but won't let you in. Stand
| outside and talk
| That's sensible he said.
| The three mounted the last step and
stood Just outside the door. laid my ear
| to the chink. l could hear no words. but
| Detchards head was close to that of the
| taller Of his companions Ode Gautet, L
| guessed.
l. Then 1 said aloud:
well, gentlemen, what's the offer?'
"A safe conduct to the frontier and $4,000
mo, no." whispered Antoinette in the
lowest of whispers They are treacher-
| ous.'
| That seems handsome" said l. recon-
| noiterng through the chink. They were all
close together, just outside the door now.
] / had probed the hearts of the ruffians,
and l did not need Antoinettes warning.
! They meant to rush" me as soon as
| was engaged in talk >
| Give me q minute to consider" said L;
| and l thought 1 heard a laugh outside.
l turned to Antoinette.
| Stand up close to the wall, out of the
| line of fire from the door, l whispered.
! What are you going to do?" she asked
| in fright.
you'll see." said l.
| 1 took up the little iron table. 1t was
| not very heavy for a man Of my strength,
and held 1t by the legs. The top, pro-
| truding in front of me, made complete
| screen for my head and body. / fastened
| my closed lantern to my belt and put my
| revolver in a handy pocket. Suddenly I
| saw the door move ever so slightly-per-
haps it was the wind, perhaps it was
| hand trying 1t outside
1 drew back as far as I could from the
| door, holding the table in the position that
have described Then called led out .,v,,
| on your honor. If you will open the
"Open it yourself" said Detchard.
TT opens outward" said 1. Stand back
| a little. gentlemen, or 1 shall hit you when
/ open it."
stole back to my place on tiptoe.
Il can't open t!' cried. The latch has
caught"
sense, Bersonn, why not? Are you afraid
| of one MANI"
1 smiled to myself. An instant later the
| door was flung back. The CLEAN of Ian
tern showed me the three close together
outside, their revolvers leveled. With
shout 1 charged at my utmost pace across
the summer house and through the door,
way. Three shots rang out and battered
into my shield. Another moment and L
leaped out and the table caught them full
| and square, and In tumbling, swearing,
| struggling mass they and and that brave
| table rolled down the steps Of the summer
house to the ground below. Antoinette de
Mauban shrieked. but I rose to my feet.
| De Gautet and Bersonin lay like men
stunned. Detchard was under the table.
| but 1 rose he pushed it from him and
| fired again l raised my revolver and took
a snap shot. l heard him curse, and then
| l ran like a hare laughing as went, past
| the summer house and along by the wall.
heard steps behind me, and. turning
round, 1 fired again for luck. The steps
ceased.
please God" said l. ''she told me the
truth about the ladder!" for the wall was
| high and topped with iron spikes.
Yes, there 1t was. l was up and over in
| a minute. Doubling back. saw the horses.
| Then heard shot. 1t was Sapt. He had
heard US and was battling and raging with
| the locked gate, hammering 1t and firing
! into the keyhole like a man possessed. He
had quite forgotten that he was not to take
part in the fight Whereat laughed again
and said as / clapped him on the shoulder:
Come home to bed, old chap. I've got
the finest tea-table story that ever you
, heardr'
He started and cried: You're safer and
wrung my hand. But a moment later he
added:
"And What the devil are You laughing
at?'
-Four gentlemen round a tea table, said
T. laughing still, for IL had been uncom-
monty ludicrous to see the formidable three
alto tad