Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-05


hmp. and the window went dark and
out. shriIl in the night: Help. help!
Michael, helpr' and was followed by
shrek OF utter terror.
was tingIing in every nerve.
stood on the topmost step. clinging TO
the threshold of the gate with my
right hand and holding my sword in
my left Suddenly perceived that the
gateway was broader than the bridge.
There was dark corner on the oppo-
site side where a man could stand.
darted across and stood there. Thus
placed l commanded the path, and no
man could pass between the chateau
and the old castle till he had tried con-
illusions with me.
There was another shrek. Then
door was flung open and changed
against the wall. and heard the han
Ole of a door savagely twisted.
open the door, In Gods name.
what's the matter?" cried voice, the
voice OF Black Michael himself
He was answered by the very words
| had written in my letter:
Help, Michael-IIentZauv
a fierce oath rang out from the duke,
and, with a loud thud, he threw him
self against the door At the same mo-
ment heard a window above my head
open. and voice cried. whats the
matter?" and | heard a mans hasty
footsteps | grasped my sword. If De
Gautet came my way the Six would be
less by one more.
Then ! heard the clash of crossed
swords and a tramp of feet. and-I
cannot tell the thing so quickly as il
happened. for all seemed to come Mt
once. There was an angry cry from
madam's room, the cry of wounded
man. The window was flung open.
Young Rupert stood there, sword in
hand He turned his back. and | saw
his body 90 forward to the lunge.
"Ah. Johann, there's one for you!
Come on. Michael"
johann was there. then-come to the
rescue of the duke. How would he
open The door for me. for | feared that
Rupert had slain him?
1tlp. CIltu the uuht NOlct, ldlul
and husky
! heard a stir on the stairs above me-
and | heard a stir down TO my right
In the direction Of the kings cell. But
before anything happened on my side
Of the moat ! saw five or six men
round young Rupert in the embrasure
Of madam's window. Three or four
times he lunged with Incompatible
dash and dexterity For an instant
they fell back. leaving a ring round
him. He leaped on the parapet Of the
window. laughing as he leaped, and
waving his sword in his hand He was
drunk with blood. and he laughed
again wildly as he flung himself head
long into the moat
What became of him then? / did
not see. for as he leaped De Gautet's
lean face looked out through the door
by me. and without a seconds hesita-
ton struck at him with all the
strength God had given me. and he
fell dead in the doorway without
word or a groan. / dropped on my
knees by him. Where were the keys?
found myself muttering, 1.-THE keys,
man. the keys" as though he had been
yet alive and could listen, and when
could not find them God forgive me,
1 believe | struck a dead mans face.
At last had them. There were but
three Selling the largest, | felt the
lock of the door that led to the cell.
fitted in the key. 1t was right. The
lock turned drew the door close
behind me and locked it as noiselessly
as / could. putting the key in my
pocket
/ found myself at the top of a flight
Of steep stone stairs An oil lamp
burned dimly in the bracket. | took
IT down and held it in my hand. and
stood and listened.
heard voice say.
1t came from behind door that fac
ed me at the bottom of the stairs.
And another answered.:
"Shall we kill hlmT'
| strained to hear the answer and
Detchards voice came grating and
cold:
wait a bit. There'll be trouble IL
we strike too soon"
There was a moments silence. Then
heard the bolt OF the door cautiously
drawn back. Instantly l put out the
light held, replacing the lamp in the
bracket.
Its dark - the lamps out. Have
you light?" said the other voice-Ber-
sonin's.
No doubt they had a light, but they
should not use It. IL was come TO the
crisis now, and / rushed down the
steps and flung myself against the
door. Bersonin had unbolted 1t, and
1t gave way before me- The Belgian
stood there. sword in hand. and Detch-
ard was sitting on "a couch at the side
OF the room. In establishment at see
ing me. Bersonln recoled: Detchard
jumped to his sword. rushed madly
at the Belgian. He gave way before
me, and | drove him up against the
wall. He was no swordsman. though
he fought bravely. and I'm moment he
lay on the floor before me. | turned.
Detchard was not there. Faithful to
his orders, he had not risked a fight
with me. but had rushed straight to
the door of the kings room. opened 1t
and slammed II behind him. Even
now he was at his work inside
And surely he would have killed -
king and perhaps me also had II not
ocen for one devoted man who gave
his life for the king. for when | forced
the door the sight | saw was this: The