Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-08


once common all over Ruritania, were
still to be found there In considerable
numbers), really because II brought us
within striking distance of the Duke
OF Strelsau's more magnificent dwell
Ing ON the other sale of the town. 4
large party of servants, with horses
and luggage. started early I'm the morn.
ing. We followed at midday. travelling
by train for thirty miles and then
mounting our horses TO ride the re
naming distance TO the chateau.
We were gallant party. Besides
Sapt and Fritz. | was accompanied by
ten gentlemen. Every one of them had
been carefully chosen and no less care
fully sounded by my two friends, and
all were devotedly attached to the per.
son of the king They were told part
OF the truth. The attempt on my life
in the summer house was revealed to
them as "A spur to their loyalty and an
indictment against Michael They were
also informed that friend OF the
kings was suspected to he forcibly
confined within the castle of Zenda.
His rescue was one OF the objects of
the expedition; but, IL was added, the
kings main desire was TO carry into
effect certain steps against his treach.
erous brother, as To the precise nature
Of which they could not at present be
further enlightened. Enough that the
king commanded their services and
would rely on their devotion when oc-
casion arose TO call for il. Young. well
bred, brave and loyal. they asked nc
more. They were ready to prove tbel
dutiful obedience ana prayed for a
fight rs the best and most exhilaratne
mode of showing it,
Thus the scene was shifted from
Strelsau to the chateau of Tarlenhelm
and castle OF Zenda which frowned al
us across the valley. | tried TO shift
my thoughts also, TO forget my love,
and TO bend all my energies to the task
before me. 1t was to get the king out
| OF the castle alive. Force was useless
f, In some trick lay the chance. and
had already an inkling of what we
must do But | was terribly ham
pered by the publicity which attended
my movements. Michael must know
by now OF my expedition, and l knew
Michael too well TO suppose that his
eyes v'ould be blinded by the felnt of
90 boar hunt. He would understand
very well what the real quarry was.
That. however must be rlsked-that
and all il might mean. for Sapt, no less
/ ho
ent state of things had become unen-
durable.
And there was one thing that |
dared TO calculate on-not, as | now
know. without warrant IL was this
that Black Michael would not believe
that | meant well by the king. He
could not appreciated will not say an
honest man. for the thoughts of my
own heart have been revealed-but a
man acting honestly. He saw my OPP
portunty as / had seen IL. as Sept had
seen IL: he knew the princess-nay
9(and / declare that sneaking sort of
! pity for him invaded mel, i'm his way
he loved her. He would think that
! Sapt and Fritz could be bribed. so the
bribe were large enough. Thinking
thus, would he kill the king. my rival
and my danger? Aye. verify. that he
would. with as little conjunction as
he would kill rat. But he would Kill
Rudolf Rassendyll first. if he could
and nothing but the certainty OF being
utterly damned by the release Of the
king alive and his restoration to the
Al. -. l.
the trump card which he held in re-
serve 10 balk the supposed game Of the
impudent impostor Rassendyll. Mus
ing on all this as rode along. | took
courage.
Michael knew of my coming sure
enough had not been in the house
an hour when an imposing embassy
arrived from him. He did not quite
reach the impudence OF sending my
would be assassins. but he sent the
other three of his famous Six-the
three Ruritanian gentlemen. Lauen-
gram. Krafsteln and Rupert Hentzau.
A fine. strapping trio they were, splen-
didly hOrsed and admirably equipped.
| Young Rupert. who looked a dare
|
than twenty-five or twenty-threc. took
the lead and made us the neatcst
speech. wherein my devoted subject
and loving brother. Michael Of Strcl-
sau. prayed me 10 pardon him for not
paying his addresses i'm person and.
further. for not putting his castle at
my disposal. the reason for both OF
nc ana several OF his servants lay sick
of scs'iict fever and were in very
sad and also IN a very infectious state.
SO declared young Rupert with an in
solent smile on his curling upper lip
and toss OF his thick hair-he was a
handsome villain. and the gossip ran
that many a lady had troubled her
heart for him already
"lf my brother has scarlet fever,
said l. "hc is nearer my complexion
than ne is wont 10 be. my lord
trust ne does not suffer-
"IIe IS able TO attend 10 his affairs.
sire"
Il hope all beneath your roof are not
lsick What Of my good friends De
IGautct. Bersonin and Detchard?
Heard tho last had suffered "A hurt"
l.auengram and Krafstcin looked
glum and uneasy. but young Ruperts
smile grew broader.
"IIe hopes soon TO find a medicine
for IL. sire" lie answered
And burst out laughing. for I knew
what medicine Detchard longed for. II
is called revenge.
You wiz dine with us. gentlemen
asked.
Young Rupert was profuse in apollo
res. They had urgent duties at the
castle.
Then" said ], with a wave Of my