Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-16


rcioiced in being able TO waste two
whole days with her. And when had
wasted two days the Duke of Strelsau
arranged Il hunting party.
The stroke was near now. for Sapt
and | after anxious consultations had
resolved that we must risk blow. our
resolution being clinched 10y Joham's
news that the king grew peaked, pale
and i'll and that his health was break
ing down under his rigorous contine-
mcnt. Now. Il man, he he king or no
king. may as we'll die swiftly and rs
becomes Il gentleman. from bullet or
thrust. as rot his life out in cellar
That thought made prompt action ad-
viSable in the interests of the king.
From nv own point Of view it grew
more and more necessary for StGa-
! kcncZ urged Oh me the need of Il
| speedy marriage, and my own inclina-
| tons seconded him with such terrible
! insistcncc that | feared for my rcSolu-
! ton. | do not believe that | should
| have done The deed l dreamed Of, bat
| | might have come to fight. and my
| fight would have ruined the cause.
It is perhaps as strange Il thing as
! has ever been in the history of Il com
! try that the KINGS brother and the
| kings pnrsonator in Il time of profound
| outward peace near n placid unGiS-
| turh2d country town. under s2m5laEce
| Of amity. should wage a desperate war
for the person and life Of the king.
| Yet SU,n was the struggle that began
now between TrndI ana Tarlenhcim.
When look back on the time l seem
| to myself II have been half mad. Sapt
has told me that | suffered no iut2rfer-
cuCc and listened 70 no Inconsistencies,
| and il eve" king Of Ruritania ruled
| like lCSpDt I was in those days the
| man. Look where | would, saw moth
ing that made life sweet To me. and
| took my life in my hand ana carried
it carclessly. as Il man bangles an OLD
glove. At first they strove to guard
me. to keep me safe, To persuade me
not to expose myself. but when they
! saw how | was set there grew up
among them. whether they knew the
truth or not feeling that fate ruled
the issue and that must be left to
play my game with Michael my own
way.
Late next night l rose from table,
where Flayia bad sat 10y me. and CON
Quoted her to the door of her apart
mentS There | kissed her hand and
babe her sleep sound and wake to hap
by days Then l changed my clothes
and went out. Sapt ana Fritz We're
waiting for me with three men and the
horses. over his saddle Sapt carried
long coil of rope, and both were
heavily armed. l had with me Il
short stout cudGel and 4 long knife.
Making Il circuit. we avoided the town
and in an hour found ourselves slowly
mounting the hill that led to the cas-
| tie of Xcndu. The night was dark and
very stormy. gusts of wind and spit+
of rain caught us as we breasted the
incline. and the great trees mOaned
and sighed. When we came to Il thick
!, clump about Il quarter of Il mile from
the castle we babe our three friends
, hide there with the horses. Sapt haC
u whistle. and they could rejoin lis il
Il few moments if danger came, but NJ
: till now we had met no one. | HOPED
that Michael was still off his guard
= believing me to be safe in bed. How
I ever that might he, we gained the TOT
, of the hill without accident and f0unC
2 ourselves on the edge of the mOa
: where it sweeps under the road sep
{ aratin@ the old castle from it. \ tree
i stood on the edge of the bank, anC
| Ill IL Il
o make fast the rope. l stripped off IN.
t boots, took pull at Il flask of brandy
t loosened the knife in its sheath anC
Y took the cudgel between my teeth
h Then l shook hands with my friends
e not needing Il last look of entrelt.
d from Fritz, and laid hold Of the rope
$ | was going to have Il look at Jacob
o ladder.
I Gently lowered myself into the wa
j ter Though the night were wild. tn
Il day had been warm and bright an
II the water was not cold. / struck on
u and began to swim round the grea
o walls which frowned above me.
II could see only three yards ahead.
had then good hopes of not being sec
j. as | crept along close under the damn
L moss grown masonry. There wer
n lights from the new part of the castl
W on the other side and now and agai
W | heard laughter and merry shouts.
IS fancied | recognized young Rupel
st HentZau'S ringing tones and picture
n. him flushed with wine.
. Recalling my thoughts to the bus
co ness in hand. / rested a moment
e's JOhann's description We're right, | mu.
nd be near the window now. Very slowl
m l moved and out of the darkness ahea
OF doomed a shape. 1t was the pipe, cur
N. ing from the window to the waite
lot About two feet of its surface was di
er played. 1t was as big round as tN
IS: men. | was about to approach it whc
lin l saw something else. and my hea
ed stood still. The nose of boat protru
ed ed beyond the pipe on the other sid
ut. and, listening intently. | heard sligl
or shuttle, as Of a man shifting his pos
Y. ton. Who was the man who guarde