West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-04-11

IL Is perhaps as strange a thing AZ
has ever been I'm the history OF a coun-
try that the kings brother and the
kings personator In a time OF profound
outward peace near a placid, undis-,
turbed country town, under -~-s0iance
OF amity, should wage a desperate war
for the person and life OF the king.
Yet such was the struggle that began
now between Zenda and Tarlenheim.
When / look back on the time i seem
10 myself to have been half mad. Sapt
has told me that / suffered no Interior
ence and listened 20 no remonstrances. |
and n ever n king OF Ruritania ruled
like n despot I was In those days the
man. Look where i would, / saw moth
ing that made life sweet to me, and 1
took my life In my hand and carried
II carelessly. rs n man bangles an old
glove. At first they strove to guard
me. 10 keep me safe. TO persuade me
not 10 expose myself, but when they
saw how l was set there grew up
among them, whether they knew the
truth or not, a feeling that fate ruled
the issue and that I must be left to
play my game with Michael my W
way.
Late next night l rose from table.
where Flavia had sat by me, and CON
Quoted her to the door of her apart
ments. There 1 kissed her hand and
babe her sleep sound and wake to hap
by days. Then l changed my clothes
and went out. Sapt and Fritz were
waiting for me with three men and the
horses. over his saddle Sapt carried
n long coil OF rope, and both were
heavily armed. / had with me n
short stout cudgel and a long knife.
Making n circuit, we avoided the town
and In an hour found ourselves slowly
mounting the hill that led TO the cas-
tie Of Zenda. The night was dark and
very stormy. gusts OF wind N splits
of rain caught us as we breasted the
incline, and the great trees moaned
n sighed. When we came TO n thick
clump about u quarter OF n mile from
the castle we babe our three trends
hide there with the horses. Sapt had
n whistle, and they could rejoln us in
n few moments If danger came, but up
till nov we had met no one. 1 hoped
that Michael was still off his guard,
believing me to be safe In bed. How
ever that might be, we gained the top
/ VI III nlll Mlllbul utClutuN uuu lOillu
ourselves ON the edge of the moat
where It sweeps under the road, sep
arating the old castle from II. a tree
stood ON the edge of the bank, and
Sapt silently and diligently set TO
make fast the rope. / stripped Off my
boots, took Il pull at n flask of brandy,
loosened the knife In its sheath and
took the cudgel between my teeth.
Then / shook hands with my friends,
not needing a last look OF entreaty
from Fritz, md laid hold of the rope.
i was going to have u look at Jacobs
ladder.
Gently l lowered myself into the wa.
ter. Though the night were wild, the
day had been warm and bright and
the water was not cold. L struck out
and began to swim round the great
walls which frowned above me. /
could see only three yards ahead. /
had then good hopes OF not being seen
as l crept along close under the damp,
moss grown masonry. There were
lights from the new'part of the castle
on the other side, and now and again
/ heard laughter and merry shouts. 1
fancied 1 recognized young Rupert
A = llnkluk lOutS anu DlCluIeu
him flushed with wine.
Recalling my thoughts to the bust
ness In hand, 1 rested a moment. II
Johann's description were right, / must
be near the window now. Very slowly
1 moved, and out OF the darkness ahead
doomed a shape. 1t was the pipe, curv-
ing from the window to the water.
About two feet OF its surface was dis
played. 1t was rs big round as two
men. l was about to approach 1t when
i saw something else, and my heart
stood still. The nose OF n boat protrud-
ed beyond the pipe on the other side,
and, listening intently, 1 heard n slight
shuttle, as Of Il man shifting his posi-
ton. Who was the man who guarded
MichaeP invention2 Was he awake or
was he asleep2 1 felt If my knife were
ready and trod water. As / did so i
u bottom under my feet The foun-
dations Of the castle extended some
fifteen inches. making Il ledge. and /
stood on II, out Of water from my arm
pits upward. Then I crouched and
peered through the darkness under the
pipe, where, curving, 1t left Il space.
There was a man in the boat. a rifle
10y - I'M a 1AM lue BltdIn Oh Tie
barrel. Here was the sentinel! He sat
very still. / listened. He breathed
heavily, regularly. m-onotonously. BY
heaven, ne slept! Kneellng on the
shelf, l drew forward under the pipe
till my face was within two feet of his.
He was a big man. l saw. 1t was Max
Holt, the brother Of Johann. My hand
stole TO my belt, and / drew out my
knife. or all the deeds Of my life |
love the least TO think OF this. aud
whether IL was the act OF a man or n
traitor / will not ask. / said to myself.
1T Is war, and the kings life is at
stake And / raised myself from be-
meath toe pipe and stood up by the
boat, which lay moOred by the ledge.
Holding my breath, l marked the SPOT
and raised my arm. The great fellow
stirred. He opened his eyes wide.
wider He gasped in terror at my ftce
aud clutched az his rife. / struck home.
And ! heard the chorus of a love song
from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where he lay. a hud-
died mass, / turned 20 Jacobs Lad.
der" My time was short. THIS fell
lows turn Of watching might be over
directly. and relief would come Lean
ing over the pipe, / examined IL from
the point 80 left the water 10 the Top
most extremity. where it passed, or
seemed 90 pass, through the masonry
OF the wall. There was no break in
lt. 30 chink. Dropping on my knees.
I tested the under side. And my
breath went quick and fast. for on this
lower side. where the pipe should have
chung close 20 the masonry, there was
O CLEAN Of light That Ilght must
come from the cell Of the king! + set