Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-21

Oh WHAT rOOul was IL Tue Key 1ueTe
leaped before my eyes the picture of
young Rupert, with the key in one
hand. his sword in the other and an
evil smile on his face. But 1 did not
know what door it was nor in which Of
his favorite pursuits young Rupert was
spending the hours of that night.
1 was soon to be enlightened. for the
next moment-before my friends could
be near the chateau door-before Jo-
hann, the keeper, would have thought
to nerve himself for his task-there
was sudden crash from the room
with the lighted window. 1t sounded
as though some one had flung down a
lamp, and the window went dark and
black. At the same instant a cry rang
out, shrill in the night: Help, help!
Michael, help" and was followed by
q shrek of utter terror.
l was tingling in every nerve. l
stood on the tOpmOst step, clinging to
the threshold of the gate with my
right hand and holding my sword in
my left. Suddenly l perceived that the
gateway was broader than the bridge.
There was Il dark corner on the oppo-
site side where a man could stand. l
darted across and stood there. Thus
placed l commanded the path, and no
man could pass between the chateau
and the old castle till he had tried con
illusions with me.
There was another Shrek. Then a
door was flung open and changed
against the WALL ard | heard the han
die OF door savagely twisted.
'Open the door! In Gods name
what's the matterF cried voice, the
voice of Black Michael himself.
He was answered by the very words
l had written in my letter:
Help. Michael-IIcntZau."
4 fierce oath rang out from the duke.
and with ii loud thud. he threw him
self against the door. At the same mo-
ment | heard Il window above my head
open, and Il voice cried, What's the
mattcr:' ana | heard Il mans hasty
footsteps. l grasped my sword. II De
Gautet came my way the Six would be
less by one more.
Then / heard the clash of crossed
swords and tramp of feet. and-I
cannot tell the thing so quickly as 1t
happened, for all seemed to come at
once. There was an angry Cry from
madam's room. the cry of a wounded
man. The window was flung open.
Young Rupert stood there, sword il
hand. lie turned his back. and saw
his body go forward to the lunge.
"Ah. Johann, there's one for you!
Come on. Michael"
Johann was there. then-come to the
rescue of the duke! How would he
open The door for me, for | feared that
Rupert had slain him?
Help" cried the dukes voice, faint
and husky.
l heard a stir on the stairs above me
! and / heard n stir down to my right
| in the direction of the kings cell. But
before anything happened on my side
| of the mOat l saw five or six mer
round young Rupert in the embrasure
Of madam's window. Three or -four
times he iunged with Incompatible
dash and deXterity. For an instant
| they fell back, leaving a ring round
MIN. He leaped on the parapet of the
| window, laughing as he leaped, anC
waving his swo>.l in his hand. He was
drunk with blood, and he laughed
/ again wildly as he flung himself head
long into the moat
What became of him then? ! die
not see. for as he leaped De Gautet':
lean face looked out through the doc
by me. and without n seconds hesita
ton l struck at him with all thu
strength God had given me. and h,
feu dead in the doorway without ;
word or a groan. I dropped on IN.
knees by him. Where were the keys
l found myself muttering, ''The keys
man, the keys"' as though he had beef
yet alive and could listen, and when
could not find them I-God forgive me
I believe | struck dead mans face
At last l had them. There were bu
three. Selling the largest. l felt tn
lock of the door that led to the cell
I fitted in the key. 1t was right. TIL
lock turned. / drew the door clos
behind me and locked it as noiselessl
, as / could, putting the key in IN,
pocket.
| 1 found myself at the top of fligh
Of steep stone stairs. An oil lam
burned dimly in the bracket | too
r 1t down and held it in my hand, and
, stood and listened.
I What in the devil can it be?"
heard voice say.
1t came from behind a>door that fac
ed me at the bottom of the stairs.
And another answered.:
"Shall we kill him?'
. / strained to hear the answer an
; could have sobbed with relief whe
Detchard's voice came grating an
cold:
"Wait bit. There'll be trouble
we strike too soon."
There was moments silence The
l heard the bolt Of the door cautiousl
drawn back. Instantly I put out til
light 1 held, replacing the lamp in til
bracket.
. "It'S dark - the lamps out. Hay