Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-19
the night I would not live through it

either.
At II o'clock Sapt's command left the
chateau of Tarlenheim and struck off
to the right. riding by unfreQuented
roads and avoiding the town of Zen
da. II all went well, they would be in
front of Zenda by about quarter to 2
Leaving their horses half a mile off,
they Were TO steal up to the entrance
and hold themselves in readiness for
the opening of the door. II the door
We're not opened by 2 they were to
send Fritz Won Tarlenheim round to
the other side of the castle. l would
meet him there If 1 were alive, and
we would consult whether to storm the
castle or not. If / were not there,
they We're to return with all speed to
Tarsenheim. rouse the marshal and
march in force on Zenda, for If not
there l should be dead, and l knew
that the king would not be alive five
minutes after I had ceased to breathe.
/ must now leave Sapt and his
friends and relate how l myself pro-
ceeded on this eventful night. / went
out on the good horse which had ear
ried me on the night of the coronation
back from the shooting lodge to Strel-
sau. 1 carried revolver in the saddle
and my sword. 1 was covered with
large cloak. and under this / wore a
warm. tight fitting wooden Jersey, a
pair of knickerbockers, thick stockings
and light canvas shoes. / had rubbed
myself thoroughly with oil. and L car
ried q large flask of whisky. The
night was warm, but might probably
be Immersed long while, and it was
necessary TO take every precaution
against cold. for cold not only saps Il
mans courage if he has to die, but
impairs his energy if others have TO
die and finally gives him rheumatics if
it be Gods will that he lives. Also I
| tied round my body n length of thin
| but stout cord. and did not forget my
ladder l, starting after Sapt, took a
shorter route, skirting the town 20 the
left, and found myself in the outskirts
of the forest ut about half past u.
| l tied my horse up in a thick clump
of trees, leaving the revolver in its
| pOthtl III tlIt "Ouio NC 1lO
use to me-and, ladder in hand, made
my way to the edge of the moat. Here
unwound my rope from about my
waist bound it securely round the
trunk of Il tree on the bank and let
myself down. The castle clock struck
q quarter to as | felt the water under
me and began to swim round the keep,
pushing the ladder before me and hug
ging the castle wall. Thus voyaging
came to my old friend, Jacobs lad
der, and felt the ledge of masonry
under me. l crouched down in the
shadow of the great pipe-I tried tc
stir it. but it was quite immovable-
and waited. l remember that my pre-
dominant feeling was neither anxiety
for the king nor longing for Flavia
but an intense desire to smoke, anG
this craving, of course, l could not
crafty
The drawbridge was still in its place
saw its airy, light framework above
me, some ten yards. TO my right, as
crouched with my back against the
wall of the kings cell. made out {
window two yards my side of it ant
nearly ON the same level. That, i
Johann spoke true, must belong to thu
dukes apartments. and on the otheI
side, in about the same relative posi-
ton, must be Nine. de Mauban's win
dow. Women are careless, forgetfu
creatures. prayed that she nigh
not forget that she was TO be the vic
tim of a brutal attempt at ? O'cloci
precisely. i was rather amused ut tn,
part / had assigned to my young frient
Rupert Hentzau but l. owed him ,
stroke, for, even as l sat, my shoulde
ached where he had with an audacit.
that seemed half to hide his treach
cry. struck at me in sight of all u,
friends on the terrace at Tarlenheim.
Suddenly the dukes window grey
bright The shutters We're not closed
and the interior became partially Wis
BILE to me as l cautiously raised mysel
till 1 stood on tiptoe. Thus placed, m
range of sight embraced a yard o
more inside the window, while the rs
dius of light did not reach me. TIL
window was flung open, and some on
looked out. 1 marked Antoinette d
Mauban's graceful figure, and, thong
her face was in shadow. the fine outlin
of her head was revealed against til
light behind longed to cry softly
Remember but dared not. and hal
PLY, for q moment later a man cam
up and stood by her. He tried to pu
I his arm round her waist but with
swift motion, she sprang away an
, leaned against the shutter, her profit
! toward me. 1 made out who the new
conner was. 1t was young Rupert. .
: low laugh from him made me sure, q
he leaned forward, stretching out hi
hand toward her.
: Gently, gentlyw murmuret
:. you're too soon, my boyH'
, His head was close to hers. / SUI
pose he whispered to her, for saw he
point to the moat, and heard her sa
in slow and distinct tones:
Il had rather throw myself out {