The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-10-11
CHAPTER xxxlv.


lie struck Ferdinand's cheek with
his open palm.
Dog" II was Ferdinand who spoke.
lie struggled vainly to rise
"A live dog is better than dead
lion. Ferdinand That flag at half
mast is significant OF many things II
tells It's story eloquently. that beauti-
ul hag-as clearly as the little stamp
that has frightened you so much"
Interpret the flags moving tale for
this puppet king, beseeched Bratinau,
chuckhng sayagely.
First Of all, then. your Majesty
must understand that il is the stand
ara Of England with the royal arms in
the center surrounded by a garland Of
flowers. Your Majesty knows quite as
Well as ! that when such a flag floats.
whether on sea or land II is a signal
of the presence Of an English ambas-
sador But it flies at half-mast be
cause the ambassador in this chateau
is dead-dead as YOU will be. vain
king. when the midnight hour has
struck. Pardon us if We have given a
mere ambassador precedence over a
king but you arrive a little late"
My blood boiled ! was impatient to
interrupt Starvas narrative 1t was
Loches curiosity that delayed our res
cue. He restrained me with gesture
There is plenty of time, he wins
nered 1T is hardly / now. and Ferdi-
nand is 10 die al midnight am anx-
ious to hear more concerning this flag
And remember. please. that you have
nay revolver"
was too easily persuaded ] had
listened TO DR.. Starva's words in won
der II was |. or rather fate, who had
lowered that flag at halfmast My
perplexity was not lessened as | heard
" hat followed
But when" continued Starva. Il
entered my carriage TO escort YOU
hither in state. this flag was floating
In the breeze at the head OF its flag
stan Not until your Majesty stepped
on the terrace did il fall at halfmast.
Shall tell You why? When it fell
at halt-mast IL was a signal that you
were in our power. There are others
anxious TO welcome your canning.
Ferdinand. They have watched that
flag with burning eyes. They will
come soon, the rest OF the reception
committed Listen--three raps and
silence-two and silence-one and
then three II is they, Bratinau open
the door while | guard this ass in a
lions skin that will cease to bray at
midnight
deplored my folly in delaying the
attempt at Ferdinand's rescue. Even
now. while Bratinau rushed to the
door 10 draw its bolts. | should have
fired al Starva had he not been kneel-
ing al Ferdinand's side twisting a cord
about his wrists t. fasten him in the
chair in which he sat The action ex-
posed Ferdinand Starva's body was
shielded 10y that of the king. The ad
vent Of the conspirators had taken
Locke and myself completely by sur
prise And when we had heard the
knocking on the door we had hoped
that a timely rescue had come.
counted five of them. Locke and
We're hopelessly outnumbered now. We
had missed our chance confess that
something very like fear clutched at
ms heart when ! heard the bars CRATE
back in their sockets. | know that
Locke himself was pale enough I'm
less some accident favored us, not
only was Ferdinand doomed. but per
haps ourselves as well.
But | forgot our own danger in the
extraordinary scene that followed
Siarya had sprung on chair close TO
Ferdinand With ribald jest he intro
duced each Of his confederates as they
stood about the two in a half circle
As each mans name was mentioned
he stepped in front of Ferdinand and
Knocked him
Your Majesty" cried Starva, bow
ing low "all OF your reception commit
tee is present except one He will
come presently-and his news will
arouse you from the ennui that seems
10 opprcss you In the meanwhile let
me have the honor OF introducing to
You each Of these gentlemen
Col lgnatieff. of Roumania, lie is
an admirer Of the ladies, and he will
be charmed TO present them with a
lock OF your hair as q souvenir
prefer your heart, Ferdinand. to
be preserved i'm a beautiful funeral
urn for myself" cried the ruffian
Dimitri Gortschakoff. Of Servial He
Is groom of the bedchamber of King
Alexander He should be concerned
with his own duty this night"
But ! have unselfshly sacrificed
myself to administer To your comfort :"
was the brutal comment.
Count Nicholai Piteschti. of Bosnial
You should feel at home-you see we
nave aristocrats present"
am so much OF an aristocrat that
am Jealous Of one who is above me
IN rank TO dwarf my own Importance :"
Gornji. Of Montenegro He Is only
common soldier and is better known
By his sobriquct. The Cat He will
use his claws presently"
A cat can look at king, they say.
Yes, can scratch well enough. A