Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-26

fsl VII was night ana ! was In the
IMlj cell wherein the king had
EsS-s-t lain in the castle Of Ienda.
Cz$zzJ The great pipe that Rupert of
Hentzau had nicknamed Jacobs lad
DER was gone. and the lights in the
room across the moat twlnkled in the
darkness. Ali was still. the din and
clash of strife were gone / had spent
the day hidden in the forest from the
time when Fritz had led me off. leav-
Ing Sapt with the princess. Under
cover Of dusk muffied up, | had been
brought TO the castle and lodged where
! now lay. Though three men had died
there-two of them by my hand-I was
not troubled by ghosts. | had thrown
myself on pallet by the window and
was looking out on the black water.
Johann. the keeper. still pale from his
wound, but not much hurt besides had
brought me supper. He told me that
the king was doing well, that he had
seen the princess; that she and he.
Sapt and Fritz had been long together
Marshal Strakencz was gone TO Strel-
sau: Black Michael lay in his coffin.
and Antolnette de Mauban watched by
him. Had not heard from the chapel
priests singing mass for him.
Outside there were strange rumors
af1oat Some said that the prisoner OF
Zenda was dead; some. that he had
vanished yet alive; some. that he was
a friend who had served the king well
In some adventure In England; others
that he had discovered the dukes
plots and had therefore been kidnapped
by him. One or two shrewd fellows
shook their heads and said only that
they would say nothing, but they had
suspicious that more was TO be known
than was known II Colonel Sapt would
tell all he knew
Thus Johann chartered till | sent him
away and lay there alone thinking not
OF the future: but. as a man Is wont TO
do when stirring things have happened
TO him, rehearsing the events OF the
past weeks and wondering how
strs NICELY they had fallen out. And
above me In the stiffness OF the night
/ heard the standards tapping against
their poles. for Black Michaers banner
hung there half mast high. and above
II the royal flag OF Ruritania, floating
for one night more over my head.
Habit grows so quick that only by
an effort did recollect that il fioated
no longer for me.
Presently Fritz Won Tarlenhelm came
into the room. ! was standing then by
the window; the glass was opened.
and was idly lingering the cement
which chung to the masonry where
Jacobs ladder" had been. He told
me briefly that the king wanted me.
and together we crossed the draw
bridge and entered the room that had
been Black Michaers
The king was lying there In bed.
Our doctor from Tarlenhelm was in
attendance on him and whispered to
me that my visit must be brief. The
king held out his hand and shook mine.
Fritz and the doctor withdrew TO the
window
took the kings ring from my finger
and placed it on his.
IL have tried not to dishonor II. SIRE -
said /.
Il can't talk much to YOU" he said ia
a weak voice. II have had great fight
with Sapt and the marshal, for we
have told the marshal everything.
wanted TO take you to Strelsau and
Keep you with me and tell every one
Of what you had done. and you would
have been my best and nearest friend.
Cousin Rgdolf. But they tell me must
not, and that the secret must be kept,
If kept It can be-"
"They are right, sire. Let me GO My
work here is done"
Eyes. IL is done as no man but you
could have done it, When they see me
again | shall have my beard on.
shall-yes, faith. shall be wasted Will
sickness. They will not wonder that
the king looks changed In face. Cousin
/ shall try To LET them find him changed
I'm nothing else. You have shown me
how TO play the king"
'Sire." said |. IL can take no praise
from you. 1t is by the narrowest grace
than your brother"
He turned inquiring eyes on me. bu
a sick man shrlnks from puzzles, anc
he had no strength to question me. Hi
glance fell on Flavia's ring. which
wore. / thought he would question m'
about Il, but after lingering II idly h
let his head fall on his pillow.
Il don't know when | shall see yo'
calm" he said family, almost list