Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-15
CHAPTER VI.
The Secret Of q Cellar


The Secret Of a Cellar
We were in the kings dressing room
Fritz Won Tarlenheims Sapt and ]. flung
myself exhausted into an armchair. Sapt
lit his pipe. He uttered no congratulations
on the marvellous success Of our wild risk.
but his whole bearing was eloquent OF sat
isfaction. The triumph. aided perhaps by
good wine. had made a new man OF Fritx.
what q day for you to remember!' he
cried. "Gad. I'd like to be q king for
twelve hours myself! But. Rassendyn. you
mustn't throw your heart too much into the
part. don't wonder Black Michael looked
blacker than ever-you and the princess hao
so much to say to one another"
'How beautiful she is!' exclaimed:
''Never mind the woman" growled Sapt.
Are you ready to startr'
Eyes," said l. with sigh.
It was o'clock. and at IL should be no
more than Rudolf Rassendyll. I remarked
on It in Joking tone.
ly, "if you're not the-late Rudolf Rassen-
dyll. By heaven! feel my head wobbling
on my shoulders every minute you're IN
the city. Do you know, friend. that MI
chael has had news from Zenda? He went
into a room alone to read it-and he came
out looking like a man dazed."
"Im ready" said I. this news making
me none the more eager to linger.
Sapt sat down.
II must write us an order to leave the
city. Michaers governor. you know, and
we must be prepared for hindrances You
must sign the ORDER
my dear colonel, I've not been bred q
forger!'
Out of his pocket sapt produced piece Of
paper
There's the kings signature" he said.
land here" he went on, after another
ornh In lie rof SIC . a.
per. If you can't manage Rudolf in ten
minutes why-I can"
your education has been more compre-
hensive than mine." said l. You write it.
And very tolerable forgery did this YER
satile hero produce.
''Now, Fritz" said he ''the king goes to
bed. He Is upset. No one is to see him till
o o'clock tomorrow. You UNDERSTANDING
one?"
II understand" answered Fritz.
Michael may come, and claim immediate
audience. You'll answer that only princes
of the blood are entitled to it,
"That'u annoy Michael" laughed Fritz.
you quite understands asked Sapt
again. III the door of this room is opened
while we're away you're not to be alive to
tell us about it,"
II need no schooling. colonel" said Fritz,
Here. wrap yourself in this big cloak"
Sapt continued to me. land put on this
fiat cap. My orderly rides with me to the
SnOOLluR lOQSe tonight.
There's an obstacle" I observed THE
horse doesn't live than can carry me forty
miles"
"Oh. yes. he does-two Of him: one here
one at the lodge. Now are you readyT
I'm ready" said I.
Fritz held out his hand.
I'm case" said he: and we shook hands
heartily.
Cd On your sentimentr srowled sapt
He went: not to the door. but to panel
in the wall.
I'm the old kings Time" said he. 81 knew
this way we'll"
followed him. and we walked. as
should estimate. near two hundred yards
along narrow passage. Then we came to
stout oak door. Sapt unlocked it. We
quiet street that ran along the back Of the
palace gardens. man was waiting for US
with two horses. One was a magnificent
bay. up to any weight the other a sturdy
bay. Without word to the man we
mounted and rode away. The town was
full Of noise and merriment, but we took
secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped
hid every lock of my telltale hair. BY
Sapt's direction I crouched on my saddle
and rode with such a round back as hope
never to exhibit on horse again. Down a
long, narrow lane we went meeting some
wanderers and some roisterers; and as we
rode we heard the cathedral bells still
changing out their welcome to the king. 1t
was half-past and still light. At last we
came to the city wall and to a gate.
Have your weapon ready" whispered
Sapt. I'VE must stop his mouth If he
talks"
1 put my hand on my revolver. sapt
hailed the doorkeeper. The stars fought
for US! A little girl Of fourteen tripped
out.
please sir. fathers gone to see the
king"
He'd better have stayed here" said
Sapt to me. grinning.
but he said I wasn't to open the gate,
SIR
did he my dearr' said sapt, dlsmount-
ing. Then give me the key"
The key was In the child's hand. Sapt
gave her a crown.
Here's an order from the king. Show 1t
to your father. Orderly. open the sate!'
I leaped down. Between us we rolled
back the great gate. led our horses out and
closed 1t again.
II shall be sorry for the doorkeeper If
Michael finds out that he wasn't there.
Now, then, lad, for a canter. We mustn't
go too fast while we're near the town."
Once, however. outside the city we ran
little danger, for everybody else was in
side, merry-making; and as the evening
fell we quickened our pace. my splendid
horse bounding along under me as though
I had been a feather. 1t was fine night
and presently the moon appeared. We talk
ed little on the way, and chiefly about
the progress we were making.
Il wonder what the dukes dispatches told
him.! said l. once.
AYE. 1 wonder!' responded Sapt.
We stopped for a draught of wine and to
bait our horses. losing half an hour thus.
I dared not go into the inn. and stayed
with the horses In the stable. Then we
went ahead again and had covered some
five-and-twenty miles when Sapt abruptly
stopped
'Hark!' he cried.
I listened. Away. far behind us. in the
still of the evening-it was just half-past
nine-we heard the beat Of horses hoofs.
The wind. blowing strong behind us, car
ried the sound. I glanced at Sapt
Come onr' he cried. and spurred his
horse into gallon. When we next paused
to listen the hoof-beats were not audible
and we relaxed our pace. Then we heard
them again. Sapt jumped down and laid