The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-29

ESSf time they might prove in
GS9sg structive to people who are
not familiar with the insides of pal.
aces; if / revealed some of the secrets
I learned they might prove of interest
to the statesmen of Europe. / intend
to do neither of these things. / should
be between the Scylla of dullness and
the Charybdls of indiscretion. and !
feel that had far better confine my
self strictly to the underground drama
which was being played beneath the
surface OF RIritanian politics. i need
only say that the secret of my i'm
posture defied detection. I made mis-.
takes. had bad minutes. 1t needed
all the tact and gracioIsness whereof
! was master to smooth over some ap-
parent lapses Of memory and unmind
fulness OF old acquaintance Of which
/ was guilty. But | escaped, and l
attributed my escape, as l have said
before, most Of all to the very audac
ity of the enterprise. 1t is my belief
that, given the necessary physical like.
ness. 1t was far easier to pretend &c
be king Of Ruritania than II would
have been to personate my next door
neighbor.
One day Sapt came into my room
He threw me letter. saying:
That's for you-a woman's hand, ]
think. But I've some news for you
first" ..,,
I whats thatT'
1.-THE kings at the castle Of Zenda,"
said he.
How do you know
Because the other half Of Michaers
Six are there. l had inquiries made
and they're all there-Lauengram
Krafstein and young Rupert Hentzau-
three rogues, too, on my honor. as fine
as live in Ruritania."
"weliT'
well. Fritz wants you to march Il
the castle with horse, foot and artil
lery,"
And drag the moat?' asked.
. THAT would be about IT," grinneC
Sapt, and we shouldn't find the kings
body then"
= "You think it's certain he's there:"
"very probable. Besides the fact o.
those three being there. the drawbridg,
IS kept up and no one goes In withou
an order from young Hentzau or Blacl
J Michael himself. We must tie Fritz
up"
"fll go to Zenda," said I.
you're mad"
2 "Some day"
| ooh. perhaps. You'll very likely sta!
. there. though, II you do"
THAT may be, my friend" said
] carelessiy.
"HIs majesty looks sulky," observer
Sapt. "How's the love AFFAIR.""
Hold your tongueF' I said.
He looked ut me for a moment. The
he lii his pipe. Il was quite true tina
z was in a bad temper. and went Of
perversely:
wherever 70 I'm logged By half
I dozen fellows"
II know you are. send EN-" he re
piled composedly.
"v'hs: fOrY'
well" said sapt. putting away. ~
e wouldn't be exactly incUnvenient 70
, Black Michael II you disappeared
With you gone the old game that "
stopped would be played-or he'd hav
/, a shot at t."
q II can take care 81 myself"
de Gautet. Bers0nfn and Detchar
are In strelsau, and any one Of then
Y lad. would cut your throat as readily
q as readily az would Black Michael
and deal more treacherousIy. What
the letter.
5 opened II and read II aloud:
q n the king desires % know what
deeply concerns the king 20 know bet hli
Do az this letter bids him. A. the end (
large grounds. The house has a portic
Il with a statue % 4 nYmph IN II. A wa
Inciosss the garden: there IL a gate In "a
: wall at the back At y o'clock t8nigh
= II the king enters alone BY that gat
= turns 10 the right and walks tweni
yards he will find a summer house, 81
preached ~ q flight on EiT steps. IL
y mounts ana enters lie VIII md some %
A who will tell him what touches mo-
u dearly his life and HE throne. This
q written by a faithful friend. lie mu
be alone. n he neglscts the inyitatic
!, his life win be IN danger. let him shO
4. this n no one, or he viii ruin 4 wOrns
V who loves him-Blaek Michael does NJ
n pardon.
. mo" observed sapt AZ ended, Oh
he can dictate a very pretty letter"
\ I had arrived ut the same conclusio
8 and was about 10 throw the letter ava
10 when saw there was more writing o
the other side.
n "HeIlo. There's some more"
ID n you hesitate fthe writer continues
Is consult Colonel Eapt@
e "EhYF exclaimed that gentleman, gel
% ninety astonisbed. docs she take n
Il Tor a greater fool than your e..
waved 70 him 70 De silent.
~---- $500 -