Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-02-23
JOAN 2Hs 1H SWORD HAND
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through the press. his sword bar. in
his hand. his eyes siiI,srins with CA
eitcment. II was the Danish prisoner
of the suaTihalI at KeTnsbsrs. that
same sparhswk who had fought with
Werner Won Orseln.
The secretary placed himself back
To hack with his ally. and their two
brisht blades waved every way.
A second time III. courage of tn.
crowd worked itself up. and they
cam" an.
Those before would hay. gladly
fallen behind hut could not for the for.
ward thrust Of their friends. sun ia.
rins narrowed. and tn. pair Of gallant
fighters would doubticssiy hav" been
swept away had not n diversion come
to alter the inc. of things.
Out Of tn. gate which LED 20 III"
wing Of the paiac" occupied by the
Princess Margaret burst a little CON.
pany Of halb"rdIcrS, at sight of whom
the crowd gave suddenly hack The
Princess herself was with them.
TAX" NIL prisoners. and bring them
Within" sh" cried. My bro'hcr IL
from home. or you dare no, thus brawi
WIZ
And ut her words III. soldiers ad'
Vanc'd rapidly, \ further diversion
was cauE"d by the sparhawE sudden
~ cisavins n way through tn" crowd
and setting on ut full speed In the
direction of the river.
The Princess and her guard were
left with only the secretary and the
unconscious body OF the Prince of
MuScovy. r-H#w #|
"Slrrah." she cried severely tn the
former ). lis this the first use you make
OF our hospitality. thus to brawl In the
street underneath my very windows
with our nobl. guest the Prince ivan7
Take him to my brothers room. and
keep him safely there To await our
lords return. We shall see what th"
Prince will say To this. And as fer
this wounded man. take him to his
own apartments and let surgeon bc
sent To him
So. merely detailing half n dozen 10
carry the Prince to his chambers. the
captain OF the guard conducted the
secretary To the very room In which
an hour before he had met the brother
OF the Princess. Here he was con
aneh. with couple OF guards Mt the
door. Nor had he been long shut mp
before he heard the quick step OF the
Princess coming along the passage
way.
so" she said. as soon us the door
was shut. ''you have killed Prince
Wasp"
II trust not said the secretary
gravcly: 81 meant only to wound him.
But as he attacked me ! could not do
otherwise than defend myself"
Tut cried the Princess. Il hone
you have killed him. II will be good
radiance. and most like the Muscovitcs
will send an army which. with your
Plassenburg to help us. will make
pretty fight. II serves him right. nj
all events. for Prince Wasp must n.
ways be thrusting his sting into hon
est folk.
The laws are strict against duel
ing" she continued. The Prince Ivan
is In high favor with my elder brother
and Il will be well that you are seer
no more In Courtand-for the pros
ent. that is. But in little the Prince
Wasp will die or he will recover. IN
either case the affair will blow over
Then you will come back to teach me
more foreign customs
She smiled and held out her hand.
Johann kissed 1t. perhaps without :hc
fervor which might have been expect
ed from brisk young man thus high
ly favored by the fairest and spright-
liest Of princesses.
Tonight" she went on. there Will
be boat beneath that window Il
will be manned by those whom | can
trust. A ladder of rope will be thrown
to your easement. BY It you will de.
scerd. and with good horse and a
sufficient escort you can ride either
to Plassenburg--or to Kernsberc.
which is nearer, and tell Joan of the
Sword Hand that her sister the Priu-
cess Margaret, send you to her"
She Went to the door, and with her
fingers on the handle she turned her
head about with pretty. viXcnish
expression. 81 am so glad you sturg
the Wasp. I love you for it," she
said
At seven it grew dark and at ten
all was quiet in the city. The river
rushed swiftly beneath. and the noise
of it, as the water Tapped against the
stone foundations of the summer pal
ace, helped to disguise the noise of
oars. as the boat a dark shadow upon
Rreyish water detached itself from
the opposite shore and approached the
window from whose open easement
Joharn Pyrmont looked out.
low whistle came from under
meath, and presently followed the soft.
recving whisk of coil Of rope as it
passed through the window and fell at
his feet. The secretary looked about
for something to fasten 1t to. and final
L. decided unOn the iron unrights of