Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
Continued from page 10

was not. lie SET OH at q round pace 10 the
guard-room; he did not stay to notice
the white rope which dangled in the air from
a second-foor window Had he stopped he
would have heard Markart's invincible drug
laden snoring.
Lepage had separated himself from his good
friend and ally, the mattress and dived under
water while the sentry bazed away. He well
coined the current which bore him rapidly
from the dangerous neighborhood of the Palace.
He came to the surface fifty yards down
stream and made for the other side. He could
manage no more than santing course; but
he was a strong swimmer, lightly dressed,
with an indoor man S light kid shoes. He felt no
distress; rather vivid, almost gleeful, excite
ment came upon him as he battled with the
strong cold stream. He began to plume him
would have thought of that! A Slavna man
would have away with unguarded tanks.
A Volsenian would have stayed to kill the
sentry, and be shot down by Sterkoff's guard.
Only Frenchman would have thought of
the mattressi
He made land quarter of a mile below the
Palace. All, it was colder on the road there
than struggling with the cold water But
his spirit was not quenched. He laughed again,
a trifle historically, perhaps. In spite OF
Sterkoff, he was spending the evening out He
set his feet for Slavna-briskly too Nay,
he ran, for war1nths sake, and because of
what the sentry might even now be reporting
to Sterkoff, and through him to General
standstill again; there might be a Gordon of
sentries across the roadl After a moments
hesitation he broke away from the main road,
struck due south, and SO when he could,
walked when he must two miles.
He was getting terribly tired now, but not
cold-rather he was feverishly hot inside his
clammy garments. He turned along country
cross-road which west and passed through
a village, leaving the Hotel de Paris on the
main road far to his right At last he reached
+Ia, and cd nm
again for Slavna and for the bridge which
crossed the South River. He passed the bridge
without being challenged, as the Cathedral
clock struck midnight from Saint MichaeIs
Square. The worst of his task was accomplish
ed. If now he could find Zerkovitchl
But he was sore spent; running was out OF
the question now he slung slowly and pain
fully along the south boulevard, clinging close
to the fences of the gardens, seeking the shelter
of the trees which overhung them.
Dragged, hatless, dirty, infinitely weary,
at last he reached Zerkovitch's house at the
corner where the boulevard and the Street
of the Fountain meet. He opened the garden
gate and walked in, Spent as he was, he
breathed "Bravo!' when he saw a light
burning in the hall He staggered on, rang the
bell and fairly fell in a lump outside the door.
He had done well-he, a man of peace, busy
with cothes-he had done well that night But
he was finished. When Zerkovitch opened the
door, he found little more than heap of dank
and dirty raiment; he hauled it in and shut
the door He supported Lepage into the
study, sat him down by the fire, and got brandy
for him to drink, pouring out full half tumbler.
Lepage took it and drank the better part of
it at gulp.
The King died at five o'clock. NJ Zerko-
vitch!" he said. He drank the rest, let the
tumber fall with a crash, buried his head on
his breast, and fell into blank Inconsistencies.
He was out of the battle-as much as Mark
art, who slept the clock round in spite of