The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1907-03-06


came a clamor at the outer door, the |
noise of voices, then a soldiers chal-
lenge and Max Ulrich's weird answer
"a sound almost like the howl Of a
wolf cut off short In his throat by
the hand that strangles him.
There he is at lostl" cried all In
the dining hall or grange
They waited the long moment OF sus-
penso till the door behind Werner
was thrust open and the dumb man
came in. drenched and dripping. He
was Lolding one by the arm. a man as
tall as himself, grey and gaunt, who
fronted the company with eyes ban
daged and hands tied behind mis- back.
Max Ulrich had n sharp knife In his
hand with a thin and slightly curved
blade, and as he thrust the plnioned
man before him into the full light of
the candles, he made signs that, II
his lady wished Il, he was prepared
to dispatch the prisoner on the spot
His lips moved rapidly and he seemed
to be forming words and sentences.
His mistress followed these move
ments with the closest attention.
He says" she began to translate,
that he met this man ON the further
side. He said that he had a message
| for Isle Rugen, and refused to turn
| back on any condition. So Max blind
folded, bound and gagged him, he be-
ing willing to be bound. And now he
waits our pleasure"
Let him be unloosed," said John
gazing eagerly at the prisoner, and
| Theresa made the sign.
Stolldly Ulrich unbound the broad
bandage from the mans eyes, and a
grey badgers brush of upright stub
BILE rose slowly above high narrow
brow, like laid corn that dries in the
sun.
AIT Pikker!" said Joan Of the
Sword Hand. starting to her feet.
And AIT Picker II surely was.
But the late prisoner did not speak
at once, though his captors stood back
as though TO permit him to explain
himself He was still bound and gag
ged. Discovering which. Max in a
very philosophical and leisurely man
ner assisted him to relieve himself OF
a rolled kerchief which had been plac-
ed in his mouth.
Even then his throat refused its
office till Werner Won Orseln handed
him n great cup Of wine from which
he drank deeply.
Speak" said Joan. what dlsas.
ter has brought you here? Is Kerns
berg taken?"
"The Eagles Nest is harried, my
lady, but that is not what hath
! brought me hither!"
"Have they found out this my
prison? Are they coming TO capture
me?"
Neither" returned Alt Pikker
Maurice Won Lynar is In the hand OF
his cruel enemies, and on the day
after tomorrow at sunrise. he is to be
torn to pieces by wild horses"
why? wherefore? In what place
Who would dare?' came from all
about the table; but the mother OF
J the young man sat silent as IL she
had not heard.
ITO save Kernsbcrg from sack by
the Muscovites, Maurice Won Lyman
went 20 CORTLAND IN the gulse Of the
Lady Joan. At the fords of the ALA
we delivered him upl'
Gle went for my sake!" moaned
Joan. Gle Is to die for mel"
. NAY" corrected Alt Pikker "he IL
to die for wedding the Princess Mar
! garet Of Courtlandl"
. Again they led out upon him In
utmost aston ,ment-that is, all the
men.
Maurice Won Lynar has married
the Princess Margaret of CORTLAND
Impossiblel"
! "And why should he not?" his moth
er cried out.
81 expected It from the hrstl" quot
Joan OF the Sword Hand disdalnfu
OF their masculine ignorance.
We'll" put in All Pikker, "at al
events, he hath married the Princess
or she has married him, which is The
same thing!'
But why? We knew nothing o
thisl He told us nothing. We though
he went for our lady's sake to Court
land! why did he marry her?' criet
seyerally Won Orseln and the Plassen
"Why?" said Theresa. the mother
with assurance. Because he love,
her doubtless. How? Because he wa
his fathers son!"
And Theresa being calm and still
Ing the others, AIT Pikker got time {,
tell his tale There was silence II
the grange Of Isle Ruren while II val
being told, and even when II wa
ended for a space mono coke. Bu
Theresa smiled well pleased and sai'
IN her heart, Il thank God! My Sol
also shall meet Henry the Lion fact
to face and not be ashamed
After that they made their plans.
Il will CO." said Conrad, for / hav'
} influence with my brother-or, II no
5 with him, at least with the folk o
3 Courtland We will stop this heather
p ish abominatlon."
, Il will CO." said Theresa, "becaus'
he is my son. God will show me
D way to help him"