Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-04-17


Sapt. Come along"
I He was right. The approaching par
ty must beyond doubt IL Duke Mi
chaers men. come to REMOVE the
traces OF their evil work. ! hesltated
no longer. but an irresistible desire
seized me. Pointing tosthe corpse OF
poor little Josef, said to Sapt:
Colonel. we ought to strike a blow
for him.
you'd like to give him some com
pany, Ell? But it's too risky work.
your. majesty"
Il must have slap at EN- said l.
Sapt wavercd.
"Well," said he, ITS not business.
you know; but you've been "A good boy
and if we come to grief. why. hang
me. it'll save us a lot of thinklngi
I'll show you how TO touch them"
He cautiously closed the open chink
of the door. Then we retreated through
the house and made our way to the
back entrance. Here our horses were
standing A carriage drive swept all
around the lodge.
Revolver ready?" asked Sapt.
mo; steel for me-" said l.
"Gad, you're thirsty tonight" chuc-
! kled Sapt $50 be it,
We mounted, drawing our swords,
and waited silently for a minute or
| two. Then we heard the tramp of
men on the drive the other side of the
house. They came TO stand and one
cried:
"Now, then. fetch him outw
"Nowr whispered Sapt.
Driving the spurs into our horses.
we rushed at gallop round the house.
and in a moment we were among the
ruffians. Sapt told me afterward that
he killed q man, and l believe him,
but saw no more OF him. With a cut
i split the head of a fellow on
brown horse. and he fell to the ground.
Then ! found myself opposite big
man, and ! was half conscious OF an
other to my right. 1t was too warm
to stay, and with simultaneous ac-
ton ! drove my spurs into my horse
again and my sword full into the big
mans breast. His bullet whiZZed past
my earl could almost swear ii touch
ed It, / wrenched at the sword, but il
would not come. and ! dropped IL and
galloped after Sapt, whom / now saw
about twenty yards ahead. | waved
my hand in farewell and dropped IL
second later with a yell, for a bullet
had grazed my finger and / felt the
blood. Old Sapt turned round in the
saddle. Some one fired again. but
they had no rifles. and we were out OF
range Sapt fell 10 laughing.
That's one 10 me and two TO you.
with decent luck" said he. Little
Josef will have company"
AYE, they'll be parti carree." said
/. My blood was up, and | rejoiced TO
have killed them.
"Well. pleasant nights work TO the
rest" said he. 81 wonder If they no
ticed you
The big fellow did. AS / struck him
/ heard him cry, The kingr"
Good, good! oh, We'll give Black
Michael some work before we've donew
Pausing an instant, we made band
age for my wounded finger, which was
bleeding freely and ached severely. the
bone being much bruised. Then we
rode on, asking of our good horses all
that was in them. The excitement of
the fight and of our great resolve died
away, and we rode in gloomy silence.
Day broke clear and cold. We found
farmer just up and made him give us
sustenance for ourselves and our
| horses. /, feigning a toothache. muf-
fed my face closely. Then ahead
again till StreIsau lay before us. 1t
was s o'clock or nearing q. and the
gates were all open. as they always
were save when the dukes caprice or
intrigues shut them. We rode In by
! the same way rs we had come out the
evening before all four of us-the men
and the horses wearied and jaded.
The streets were even quieter than
when we had gone-every one was
sleeping of last nights revelry-and
we met hardly a soul till we reached
the little gate of the palace. There
Sapts old groom was waiting for us.
us all well, sir?' he asked.
"All's WELL" said Sapt, and the man,
coming TO see. took my hand to kiss.
"The kings hurt!" he cried.
Its nothing said as dismounted.
IL caught my finger in the door"
Remember. silencer' said Sapt. "Ah,
but. my good Freylcr, | do not need to
tell you that"
The old fellow shrugged his shoul-
ders.
"All young men like 10 ride abroad
now and then-why not the kingf"
said he. and Sapts laugh left his opin-
ion Of my motives undisturbed.
You should always trust a man."
observed Sapt. fitting the key in the
lock. 'jnst rs far as you must
We went in and reached the dressing
room. Fllnging open the door. we saw
Fritz Won Tarlenheim stretched, fully
dressed. on the sofa. lie seemed TO
have been sleeping. hut our entry woke
him. lie leaped to his feet, gave one
glance at me and with a joyful cry
threw himself on his knees before me.
THANK God, sirel Thank God.
you're safer he cried, stretching his
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