Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-07-26


eyes meant mischief.
"You fought as brave man the 9th
err night" l said. Come, you are
young, sir. If you will deliver your
prisoner alive to me you shall come to
no hurt"
He looked at me with a hooking
smile, but suddenly he rode nearer to
me.
"I'm unarmed," he said, "and our old
Sapt there could pick me off in a
minute"
Pm not afraid" said I.
"No, curse your he answered. "Looi
here, made you proposal from the
duke once"
"rll hear nothing from Black Mich
ael," said 1.
"Then hear one from me-" He low
cred his voice to a whisper. "Attacl
the castle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlen
helm lead"
go on" said I.
Arrange the time with me-"
81 have such confidence in you, my
iordw
"Tut! I'm talking business now
Sapt there and Fritz will fall; Blaci
Michael will fall"-
+ "What!"
"Black Michael will fall, like the do:
| he is; the prisoner, as you call him
will go by Jacobs ladder-ah. yol
know that? Two men will be left--I
Rupert Hentzau, and you, the king OF
Ruritania."
He paused, and then in voice thai
0uivered with eagerness added:
isn't that hand to playa throne
and Won princess! And for me, say a
competence and your majesty's graft
tude."
"Get out of my reachv said l, and
vet in a moment I began to laugh FOL
the very audacity Of it.
"Would you turn against your mas
| teri" l asked.
He swore at Michael and said to me
in an almost confidential and appar
emily friendly tone:
"He gets in my way, you know. He's
Jealous brute! Faith, nearly stuck
q knife into him last night. He came
most cursedly NAL apr0pos."
My temper was well under control
now. 1 was learning something.
"a lady?" l asked negligently.
"Aye, and beauty" he nodded
"But you've seen her."
"Ah! Was it at tea party, when
some of your friends got on the wrong
| side of the table?"
"What can you expect Of fools like
Detchard and De Gautet? I wish I'd
been there"
"And the duke interferes?'
"Well," said Rupert meditatively
"that's hardly fair way Of putting 1T
perhaps. l want to interfere"
"And she prefers the duke?
"Aye, the silly creature! All, well
you think about my plan,' and, with q
bow, he pricked his horse and trotted
after the body of his friend.
went back to Flavia and Sapt, pom.
dering on the strangeness Of the man
Wicked men I have known in plenty
| but Rupert Hentzau remains unique in
my experience. And If there be an.
other anywhere let him be caught and
hanged out-of hand. So say l.
"He's very handsome, isn't he? said
Flavia.
We'll. Of course, she didn't know him
as / did, yet was put out, for
thought his bold glances would have
made her angry. But my dear Flavia
was woman, and sO-she was not
put out. On the contrary, she thought
young Rupert was very handsome-as
beyond question, the ruffian was.
"And how sad he looked at bis
friends deathw said she.
Hell have better reason to be sac
at his own" observed Sapt, with q
grim smile.
AS for me, grew sulky. Unreason
able it was, perhaps, for what better
business had I to look at her with love
than had even Rupert? And sulky
remained till, as evening fell and We
rode up to Tarlenheim, Sapt having
fallen behind in case any one should bt
| following us, Flavia, riding close be
side me, said softly, with little hall
ashamed laugh:
"Unless you smile, Rudolf, l cry
Why are you angry?'
at was something that fellow said Il
me-" said I, but 1 was smiling as VIZ
reached the doors and dismOunted.
There a servant handed me note
1t was unaddressed.
SIS it for meY" 1 asked.
eyes, sire; boy brought it."
/ tore it open:
:, Johann carries this for me. warnet
( you once In the name of God and II yol
! are a man, rescue me from this den o
! murderers! A. DE M.
l handed it to Sapt, but all that TIT
tough old soul said in reply to thi'
piteOus appeal was:
"Whose fault brought her thereT'
Nevertheless, not being faultless my
self, l took leave to pity Antoinette az
Mauban.
CHAPTER XVII
G T had ridden nublicly In Zen