Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-15
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
Being the History Of Three Months In the Lie Of an
English Gentleman.
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Copyright. 1904. 1893. By Henry Holt = o.,

I for shot: and he could have picked on
Black Michael as easily as could barn pa m
| on his arm He nodded reassuringly: he
was always ready to sacrifice inclination to
"Which wayr' asked Black Michael
ITO the castle. your highness." urged his
| truth"
For an instant the duke hesitated
y thought heard hoofs." said he.
II think not. your highness,,'
why shouldn't We 60 to the lodger
the lodge? II not it's a snare to trap U.S."
Suddenly the dukes horse neighed. In an
! Instant we folded our cloaks close round
| covered the duke and his attendant with
our revolvers. II they had found US they
had been dead men, or our prisoners.
he cried:
ITO Zenda. Them and setting spurs to
| his horse. galloped on.
.Sapt raised his weapon after him. and
there was such an expression of wistful
regret on his face that had much ado not
to burst out laughing.
For ten minutes we stayed where we
were.
You see." said sapt they've sent him
news that all is we'll"
What does that mean?' asked
God knows" said sapt. frowning heavi-
| In rare puzzle"
Then we mounted. and rode fast as our
| weary horses could lay their feet to the
ground For those last eight miles we
prehension. CAN is we'll" What did 1t
mean? Was all well with the king?
At last the lodge came in sight. Squirting
our horses to last gallop, we rode up to
! the gate. All was still and quiet Not a
soul came to meet US. We dismounted In
haste Suddenly Sapt caught me by the
arm.
Look herer' he said pointing to the
ground.
looked down. At my feet lay five or
six silk handkerchief. torn and slashed and
rent. I turned to him questioningly.
They're what I tied the old woman up
with" said he. "Fasten the horses and
come along"
The handle of the door turned without
resistance. We passed into the room which
had been the scene Of last nights bout.
1t was still strewn with the remnants OF
our meal and with empty bottles.
Come in," cried Sapt, whose marvellous
composure had at last almost given way.
We rushed down the passage toward the
cellars The door Of the coal cellar stood
wide open.
"They found the old woman" said I.
You might have known that from the
handkerchief" he said.
Then we came opposite the door Of the
wine cellar. It was shut. 1t looked in all
respects as 1t had looked when we left 1t
that morning.
Come, it's all right" said l.
loud oath from Sapt rang out. His
at the floor. From under the door a
red stain had spread over the floor of
the passage and dried there. Sapt sank
against the opposite wall. tried the
door. It was locked.
where's JOSEF" muttered Sapt.
where's the king?" responded.
lips I ran back to the dining room and
seized a heavy poker from the fireplace.
In Iay terror and excitement I rained
blows on the lock of the door, and fired
rfrfA Srn {,fn NO md
the door swung open.
''Give me light" said I; but sapt still
leaned against the wall.
He was OF course, more moved than j,
for he loved his master. Afraid for him.
self he was not-no man ever saw him
that; but to think what might lie in
mans face pale. I went myself and took
a silver candlestick from the dining ia
BILE and struck a light, and as I returned
I felt the hot wax drip on my naked
hand as the candle swayed to and fro;
SO that / cannot afford to despfse Col.
sapt for his agitation.
came to the door of the cellar. The
red stain, turning more and more to
dull brown, stretched inside. I walked
two wards into the cellar, and held the
candle high above my head l saw the
full bins of wine; 1 saw spiders crawling
on the walls: I saw. too. a couple of
empty bottles lying on the floor; and
them away in the corner. saw the body
Of man, lying fiat on his back, with his
arms stretched WlQ0, anu Crimson SdSH
across his throat. I walked to him and
knelt down beside him, and commended
to God the soul of faithful man. For
it was the body of Josef. the little serv-
ant, slain In guarding the king.
felt hand on my shoulder. and:
turning, saw Sapt's eyes, glaring and
terror-struck, beside me.
"The king! My God! the king" he
whispered hoarsely.
I threw the candles CLEAN over every
inch OF the cellar.
''The king is not here" said I.
(To be continued tomorrow.)