Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-07
.G !;::!|:' s<prlsoner
Eli: XII! 9 81 Zenda
HOPE
by Henry Holt 1, Comp

t,ksfss1s1xs'z'sl'>es,1'>ksaeskR
1 was in bad temper, and went on |
perversely:
wherever go I'm logged by half Il |
dozen fellows"
81 know you are. send EN-" he re-
piled composedly.
What for:"
well" said Sapt. putting away, sit
wouldn't be exactly inconvenient for
Black Michael if you disappeared
With you gone the old game that we
stopped would be played-or he'd have
a shot at it,
81 can take care of myself"
'De Gautet. Bersonin and Detchard
are in StrelSau, and any one of them.
lad. would cut your throat as readily
as readily as l would Black Michaers
and Il deal more treacherously. What's
the letter.
l opened it and read it aloud:
If the king desires to know what 1t
deeply concerns the king to know let him
do as this letter bids him. At the end of
the New avenue there stands a house in
J large grounds The house has q portico
with a statue Of nymph in It. y wall
incloses the garden; there is gate in the
wall at the back. At L o'clock tonight
If the king enters alone by that gate.
turns to the right and walks twenty
yards he will find a suIEmcr house. ap-
preached by fight of six steps. If he
mounts and enters he will find some one
who will tell him what touches most
! dearly his life and his throne. This is
written by faithful friend. He must
= be alone. If he neglects the invitation
his life will be in danger. Let him show
IL L.
! who loves him-Black Michael does net
; pardon.
No" observed Sapt as l ended. but
he can dictate Il very pretty letter"
/ l had arrived ut the same conclusion
and was about to throw the letter away
when saw there was more writing on
the other side.
Hello, There's some more"
| If you hesitate 1.-THE writer continued
| consult Colonel Sapt-
En-" exclaimed that gentleman. gen
timely astonished. Does she take me
for greater fool than yOu:''
waved 20 him to be silent.
Ask him what woman would do most
| to prevent tn" duke from marrying his
cousin and Therefore most 70 prevent his
gins witS-A.
1 sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down
his pipe.
"Antoinctte de Mauban. by heaven.
l cried.
How do you know" asked Sapt.
l told him what knew of the lady
and how knew it. He nodded.
Its 50 far true that she's had n
great row with Michael" said he
thoughtfully.
"If she would. she could be useful"
1 said.
Il believe. though, that Michael
wrote that letter."
so do l, but l mean TO know fo- GER
tain. l shall go, Sapt."
NO, l shall 60" said he.
"1Ou may go as far as the gate"
Il shall 20 to the summer house"
I'm hanged if you SHALL
l rose and leaned my back against
the mantelpiece
"Sapt, l believe in that woman, and
l shall GO
Il don't believe in any woman" said
Sapt, and you shant GO"
Il either go to the summer house or
back to England" said l.
Sapt began to know exactly how far
he could lead or drive and when he
must follow.
Were playing against time" add
ed. Every day we leave the king
where he is there is fresh risk. Every
day / masquerade like this there is
. fresh risk. Sapt, we must play high.
We must force the game"
$50 be it, he said, with sigh.
, To cut the story short, at half-paSt
II that night Sapt and | mounted our
horses. Fritz was again left on guard
our destination not being revealed to
, him. 1t was very dark night.
wore no sword, but carried a revolv-
er, long knife and Il bullseye Ian.
tern. We arrived outside the gate !
. dismounted. Sapt held out his hand.
II shall wait here" he said. IF ]
t hear a shot. rlr'-
: 'Stay where you are. It's the kings
h only chance. You mustn't come tc
grief too
You're right, lad. Good luck"
pressed the little gate 1t yielded
and l found myself in a wild sort Of
shrubbery. There was a grass grown
y path, and, turning to the right as
had been hidden, followed it eau
1 tieusly. My lantern was closed, tn,
revolver was in my hand. l heard no
q a sound. Presently large dark OBJ
ject loomed out of the gloom ahead O.
me. 1t was the summer house. Reach
n ing the steps. l mounted them ant
II found myself confronted by a weak
: rickety wooden door which hung upol
!. the latch. l pushed it open and walk
;, ed in. A woman few to me and seizet
a my hand.
n "Shut the door," she whispered.
n / obeyed and turned the light of m,