Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-19

sau as the place And this formal act
being published far and wide, caused
great joy throughout the kingdom and
was the talk of all tongues, SO that
reckoned there We're but two men who
chafed at i'll mean Black Michael
and myself-and but one who did not
know of it-that one the man whose
name l bore. the king of Ruritania.
In truth, | heard something of the
way the news was received in the cas-
tie. for after an interval of three days
the man Johann. greedy for more mon
ey, though fearful for his life. again
found means to visit us. He had been
waiting on the duke when the tidingS
came. Black Michael's face had grown
blacker still, and he had sworn saw
agely. Nor was he better pleased when
Rupert took oath that meant to do as
l said and turning to Nine. de Maui
ban, wished her joy on 4 rival gone.
MichaerS hand stole toward his sword,
said Johann. but not bit did Rupert
care. for he rallied the duke on hav-
ing made Il better king than had reign
ed for years past in Ruritania. And"
said he. with meaning bow TO his eX-
asperatcd master. THE devil sends
the princess Il finer man than heaven
had marked out for her. BY my soul, he
does Then Michael harShly babe him
hold his tongue and leave them, but
Rupert must needs first kiss madame's
hand. which he did as though he loved
her while Michael glared at him.
This was the lighter side of the fell
lows news. but more serious came be-
hind, and it was plain that if time
pressed at Tarlenheim it pressed none
the less fiercely at Xenda. For the king
was very sick. Johann had seen him,
and he was wasted and hardly able to
move. There could he no thought Of
taking another for him now So alarm
ed We're they that they had sent for Il
physician from StrelSau. and the phySi-
clan. having been introduced into the
| kings cell, had come forth pale and
trembling and urgently prayed the
duke to let him go back and NEEDLE no
more ia the affair. But the duke would
not, and held him there prisoner, tell
| ing him his life was safe if the king
| lived while the duke desired and died
when the duke desired-not otherwise.
And, persuaded by the physician, they
had allowed Nine. de Maubau to visit
the king and give him such attendance
as his state needed and as only Il wom-
an can give. Yet his life hung in the
| balance, and | was yet strong and
whole and free Wherefore great gloom
reigned at Zenda. and save when they
| Quarreled. to which they We're very
| prone, they hardly spoke. But the
deeper the depression OF the rest,
young Rupert went about Satan's work
with Il smile in his eye and a song on
his lip, and laughed fit to burst" (said
JOHANN because the duke always set
Detchard to guard the king when Nine
de Mauban was in the cell-which pre-
caution was, indeed, not unwise in my
| careful brother Thus Johann told his
tale and seized his crowns. Yet he be
sought us to allow him to stay with us
in Tarlenheim, and not venture his
head again in the lions den, but we
| had need of him there, and, although
refused to constrain him, prevailed OIL
him by increased rewards to go back
and to carry tidings to Nine. de Mau
ban that | was working for her an6
that if she could, she should speak ont
word of comfort to the king, for, while
suspense is bad for the sick, yet de
spair is worse still, and it might bt
that the king lay dying of mere hope
lessneSS, for | could learn of no def
mite disease that afflicted him.
And how do they guard the kinl
now" l asked, remembering that twt
of the Six We're dead and Max Hol1
also.
''Detchard and Bersonin watch by
night. Rupert HentZau and Gautet b,
day. SIR he answered.
"Only two at time?'
AYE. sir. but the others rest in /,
room just above and are within SCUM,
of q cry or whistle"
"a room just above? l didn't know
of that. Is there any communicate,
between it and the room where the,
= watch:"
mo. sir. You must go down a fey
stairs and through the door by tn
4 drawbridge. and so to where tile kin.
7 is lodged"
;, "And that door is locked?"
e "Only the four lords have keys, SIR"
G / drew nearer to him.
e "And have they keys of the graf
|. ing?" l asked in n low whisper.
i 81 think, sir, only Detchard and RI
s pert
Where does the duke lodgeT''
"In the chateau on the first fool
His apartments are on the right a
. you go toward the drawbridge."
e And Nine. de Mauban?"
] "Just opposite on the left. But he
door is locked after she has entered"
ITO keep her in?''
DOUBTLESS, SIR
"And the duke, l suppose, has tn
keyT'
Yes. And the drawbridge is draw
{ back at night. and of that. too, tn
!. duke holds the key, so that it cannC
be run across the moat without appl
. | cation to him.