Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-15
Henry Holt L Company
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nor 10 pe used till the ias., s~- as ~"
all know. he is not minded TO XII the
king unless he can. before or soon ait
or kill YOU also, sir. Now. sir, have
poken the truth, as God Is my Wit /
less. and pray you to shield me from |
he vengeance of Duke Michael; for II, /
after he knows what | have done
fall into his hands | shall pray for one /
Thing out OF all the world-a speedy
death. and that shall not obtain from
/ him"
The fellows story was rudely told,
but our questions supplemented his
narrative. What he had told us APP
piled TO an armed attack, but If sus-
picions were aroused and there came
overwhelming force - such. Tor IN
stance. as |, the king, could bring-the
idea of resistance would be abandoned.
The king would be quietly murdered
and slid down the pipe. And-here
comes an ingenious touch-one of the
Six would take his place in the cell ana
on the entrance OF the searchcrs loud
IN demand release and redress, ana
Michael being summoned. would con
fess To hasty action. but he would say
the man had angered him by seeking
the favor OF n lady In the castle (thIs
was Antoinette de Mauban). ana ne
had confined him there. as he conceived
he as Lord OF Zenda had right to do.
Rut he was now on receiving his apol-
ogy content 10 let him go and so end
the gossip which. TO his highness' an
bovance. had arisen concerning prlS-
oner i'm Zenda and had given his Wis
jtors the trouble OF this inquiry. The
visitors. baffled, would retire. and Nj
cbael could at his leisure dispose OF the
body of the king.
Sapt. Fritz and in my he'd looked
round Oh one another in horr ~ ana be
wilderment at the cruelty a cunn ~
of the plan. Whether j wcA, = pe'cP
or in war. openly at the hc~' q
corps or secretly 10y stealthy "fHdH
the king would he dead before coN"
come near him. II Michael wcsc
stronger and overcame my party there
would be an end. but If were strong "
| should have no way TO punish hlnl' 10
means of proving any guilt in nm
without proving my own CUNT also
On the other hand. l should be leit as
king (ah. for moment my pulse QUICK
enetn. and IL would he for the tuture
10 witness the final struggle between
him and me. He seemed 10 have MADE
triumph possible and ruin impossible
CT where
| had stood before | crossed ms PAIN
| with but one man between him ana th'
| throne and that man an impostor. "A
hest there would be none left to stant
against him. | had begun to think ina
n. BLACK Michael was overload OF leaN
IN ing the fighting TO his friends. but nov
h. acknowledged that the brains, IL no
10 the arms. of the conspiracy were his.
IN "Does the king know thisF' ] asked.
NJ 81 and my brother" answered &c
Nv ham. put up the pipe under the OF
II. ders OF nv Lord of Hentzau. He wa
Of on guard that day, and the king aske
10 my lord what il meant. Faith, he al
~ swered. with his airy laugh, it's ne'
in Improvement on the ladder OF Jaco'
whereby. as YOU have read, sire, me
he mass from earth TO heaven. We thousi
ne il not meet that your majesty shoul
lie 90. I'm case, sire, you must 60, by III
all common route So we have made yo
he pretty private passage, where u
mt vulgar cannot stare at you or incon
he mode your passage. That, sire, is IL
ch meaning Of that pipe And he laught
ler and bowed and prayed the kings lea'
M. 10 replcnish the kings glass, for II
ms king was at supper. And the KID
at though he Is a brave man. as are all
ON his house. grew red and then white
OF he looked on the pipe and at the meTl
isk devil who Knocked him. All, sir, ar
Dor the fellow shuddered-"it is not ea'
ed to sleep quiet in the castle oil Iend
for for all OF them would as soon cut
REL mans throat as play game at care
as and my Lord Rupert would choose
ass sooner for pastime than any other
ore The man ceased, and | babe frl
yell take him away and have him careful
ons guarded, and, turning TO him, | adde'
inc IF any one asks you If there IS
lin prisoner in Zenda you may answ
rec Yes But II any asks who the prise
he or is. do not answer. For all my pro
the Uses will not save you II any man ht
1y: learns from you the truth as TO I
as prisoner in Zenda. Ill Kill you like
dog If the thing he SO much as breath
gh within the house"
the Then when he was gone looked
VINO Sapt.
'arS 1T is a hard nut" said l.
u u so hard" said he, shaking his q
no zled head, that, as | think, this I'll
Y next year is like TO find you still X
this of Ruritania- and he broke out b
)ass curses on Michaers cunning.
Sses lay back on my pillows.
i'm There seem TO me- | observed,
the be two ways 10y which the king {
ihl" come out OF Zenda alive. One is
The trcachcry in tho dukes followers"
iftly You can leave that out" said Sd
ging II hope not" | rejoined, "beca'
Hey the other | was about To mention
too 10y "A miracle from heaven"
till
pipe. CHAPTER XIV.
..,,r GYOT would have surprised
a.. IHtk good people Of Ruritana