The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-12
6 81: sPrisoner
of Zenda
By ANTHONY HOPE
copyrighted. 1897. 1898. by Henry Holt &
Company
IcoNTrNUEnl
By ANTHONY HOPE

Express my earnest hope" said
Flayia, that they may soon cease to
trouble him" 80
"Your royal highness' wish is hum
bly, my own" said rupert, with bold
glance that brought blush to Flavia's
| cheek.
/ bowed, and Rupert, bowling lower,
backed his horse and signed to his par
ty to proceed. With a sudden inn
pulse | rode after him. He turned
swiftly, fearing that even in the pres
ence of the dead and before lady's
eyes l meant mischief.
"You fought as brave man the 9th
er night" l said. Come, you are
young, sir. If you will deliver your
prisoner alive to me you shall come TO
no hurt"
He locked at me with knocking
smile, but suddenly he rode nearer to
me.
Pm unarmed." he said, land our old
Sapt there could pick me of in q
minute"
I'm not afraid" said I.
"So. curse your ne answered. "Look
here, l made you a proposal from the
duke once"
"rIl hear nothing from Black Mich
ael." said /.
Then hear one from me-" He low
tred his voice TO a whisper. Attack
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
lordr'
Tut I'm talking business now.
Sapt there and Fritz will fall; Black
Michael will fall
what"
"Black Michael will fall, like the doc
he Is; the prisoner. as you call him
| will 20 by Jacobs ladder-ah. vol
know that? Two men will be left-I
Rupert Hentzau, and you, the king o.
Ruritania.''
He paused. and then in voice tina
auivered with eagerness added:
. Isn't that a hand to playa thron
and yon princess! And for me, say
o competence and your majesty's graft
e tude."
Get out of my reachr' said /, an,
yet in a moment began to laugh 10
e the very audacity Of it.
4 would you turn against your mas
terf' / asked.
o He swore at Michael and said TO m
n in an almost confidential and appai
entity friendly tone:
"I.e gets in my way. You know. He
a Jealous brute! Faith. nearly stue
Is a knife into him last night. He cam
n most cursedly NAL apropos."
% NV temper was we'll under contr'
now. was learning something.
: a. LADY, I asked negllgently.
le "Aye. and a beauty" he nodde'
A.. "But you've seen her"
"Ah! Was it at tea party. whe
a some OF your friends got on the wrou
v side Of the tablet"
e what can you expect Of fools III
- Detchard and De Gautet? / wish i
Nc been there"
in "And the duke interferes"
n "well." said Rupert meditatiyel
~ that's hardly fair way Of putting
is perhaps. want to interfere"
n. "And she prefers the dukeT'
"Aye. the silly creature! All, We
you think about my pIan." and. with
bow. he prlcked his horse and trottt
in after the body OF his friend.
i went back to Flayia and Sapt, 20
vi dering on the strangeness Of the ma
,r- Wicked men have known In plent
but Rupert Hentzau remains unique
my experience. And II there be a
rs other anywhere let him be caught al
he hanged out Of hand. So say !.
h. Hes very handsome. isn't heT' sa
Fiavia.
ne Well. Of course. she didn't know hl
ill rs did. yet was put out. for
ha thought his bold glances would ha
~ made her angry. But my dear Flat
was a woman, and so-she was 4
a put out. ON the contrary. she thong
al young Rupert was very handsome
beyond question. the ruifian was.
all And how sad he looked at
ire friends deathg said she.
~. Hell have better reason TO be
W. at his own" observed sapt, with
grim smile.
cd As for me, grew suiky. Tnreas
=. able il was. perhaps. for what bet
u" business had to look ut her with ID
en- than had even Rupert3 And sulkI
RI remained tlll, as evening fell and
III rode no 10 Tarlenheim, sapt havI
uli fallen behind in case any one should
'or following ~. Flavla, riding close
ma. side me. said softly, with little b
:. ashamed laugh:
MI "Unless you smile, Rudolf, /
Of Why are you angry"
,rd ''It wss something that fellow said
me-" said I. but was smiling as
reached the doors and dlsmounted.
ere There q servant handed me a NJ
l., It was unaddressed.
w els IL for meT' asked.
nat Eyes, sire: a boy brought H."
ct I tore II open:
Johann carries this for me. war
you gnca. In The name Of God and u
are q man, rescue me from this Der
.ysss L ss8ardnrgFnf n LIE