Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27

eenuyh' you mustn't throw your heart
too much into the part 1 don't won
der Black Michael looked blacker than
ever. You and the princess had so
much to say TO one another"
How beautiful she isg' l exclaimed.
Never mind the woman" growled
Sapt Are you ready to start?"
YES" said l. with sigh.
1t was . O'Clock. and at IL I should
be no more than Rudolf Rassendyn. I
remarked on It in a joking tone.
You'll be lucky" observed Sapt
grimly. '1f you're not the late Rudolf
Rassendyn. BY heaven! / feel my
head wabbllng on my shoulders every
minute you're In the city. Do you
know. friend. that Michael has had
news from Zenda? He went into q
room alone to read IL, and be came
out looking like a man dazed."
''I'm ready" said l. this news max
Ing me none the more eager TO Ilnger.
Sapt sat down.
Il must write US an order to leave
the city. Mlchasl's governor. you
know. and we must be prepared for
hindrances. You must sign the order"
My dear colonel, I've not been
bred a forgerg'
Out of bis pocket sapt produced a
piece or paper.
There's the kings signature" be
said, land here" be went on after
another search in his pocket. els some
tracing paper. II you can't manage a
Rudolf In ten minutes, why-I can"
Your education has been more com
prehensive than mine" said 1. "You
write it"
And a very tolerable forgery did
this versatile hero produce.
NOW. Fritz" said he, 'the king
goes to bed. He is upset. No one is
70 see him tin o O'Clock tomorrow.
You UNDERSTANDING oneT
81 understand" answered Fritz.
Michael may come and claim i'm
mediate audience You1l answer that
only princes OF the blood are entitled
10 it,"
"Thatn annoy Michael" laughed
Fritz.
You quite understand asked Sapt
again. III the door OF this room is
opened while were away you're not to
be alive 10 tell US about it,"
Il need no schooling. colonel" said
Fritz, n tribe haughtily.
Here. wrap yourself IN this big
cloak" Sapt continued TO me, "and
put on this nat cap. My orderly rides
with me 10 the shooting lodge tonight"
There's an obstacle" 1 observed
THE horse doesn't live that can carry
me forty miles"
"Oh. yes. be does-two OF him: one
here. one at the lodge. Now are you
readyT"
I'm ready" said l.
Fritz held out his hand.
"In case said he. and we shook
hands heartily.
Hang your sentlmentr' growled
Sapt. Come along"
He went. not 20 the door. but 20 a
panel In tie wall.
'In the old kings time" said he. II
knew this way we'll"
/ followed him. and we walked. as
should estimate. near two hundred
yards along narrow passage. Then
we came TO n stout oak door. Sapt un-
locked H. We passed. through and
found ourselves 90 quiet street that
ran along the back OF the palace gar
dcns. a man was waiting for us with
two horses. one was a magnificent
bay. up 10 any weight: the other q
sturdy brown. Sapt signed 20 me 70
mount the bay. without n word to
the man we mounted and rode away.
The town was fun of noise and merrl-
ment but we took secluded ways. Ny
cloak was wrapped over half my face;
the capgcious Cat cap hid every lock
or my telta,c hair. BY Sapts dlrec-
lions I crouched on my saddle and
rode with such 81 round back as / hope
never 10 exhibit on a horse again
Down "a long. narrow lane we went
meeting some wanderers and some
roisterers. and as we rode we heard
the cathedral bells still changing out
their welcome 10 the king. 1t was
half-past and still light At last we
came 10 the city wall and 20 a gate
"Have your weapon ready" whls-
pered Sapt. I've must stop his mouth
II he talks"
put my hand on my revolver. Sapt
hailed the doorkeeper. The stars
fought for us. A little girl OF fourteen
ulIlct ouA,
"Please. sir, fathers gone to see the
king"
He'd better have stayed here" said
Sapt TO me, grinning.
But he said / wasn't to open the
gate. sir"
Did he. my dearY" said Sapt. dis
mounting. Then give me the key"
The key was In the child's hand.
Sapt gave her crown.
Here's an order from the king.
Show IL to your father. Orderly, open
the gate"
leaped down. Between US we rolled
back the great gate, led our horses out
and closed il again.
II shall be sorry for the doorkeeper
II Michael finds out that he wasn't
there. Now. then, lad, for a canter
We mustn't go too fast while we're
near the town.
Once, however, outside the City we
ran little danger for everybody else