Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-02

lovingly toward the trigger. l believe
he would have given ten years of his
life for Il shot. and he could have pick
ed off Black Michael as easily as L
could a barn door fowl in farmyard.
| laid my hand ON his arm. He nod
ded reassuringly He was always
ready to sacrifice inclination to duty.
(Which way?" asked Black Michael.
"To the castle. your highness." urged
his companion. There we shall learn
the truth
For an instant the duke hesitated.
81 thought heard hoofs,' said he.
81 think not. your highness."
"Why shouldn't we 20 to the lodgeE'
Il fear Il trap. If all is well, why
go to the lodge? If not, it's snare to
trap u.s.
Suddenly the dukes horse neighed.
In an instant we folded our cloaks
close round our horses heads and,
holding them thus, covered the duke
and his attendant with our revolvers.
If they had found us they had been
dead men or our prisoners.
Michael waited a moment longer.
| Then he cried:
"To Zenda them and, setting spurs
to his horse. gallOped on.
| Sapt raised his weapon after him,
and there was such an expression of
wistful regret on his face that l had
much ado not to burst out laughing.
For ten minutes we stayed where we
were.
You See.' said Sapt. they've sent
him news that all is WELL
What does that mean?" asked.
| God knows said Sapt. frowning
heavily. But it's brought him from
| Strelsau in Il rare puzzle
| Then we mounted and rode fast as
| our weary horses could lay their feet
| to the ground. For those last eight
miles we spoke no more. Our minds
| were full of apprehension. 'All is
we'll" What did it mean? Was all
well with the king?
AtlaSt the lodge came in sight. Spur
ring our horses to last gallop. we
rode up to the gate. All was still and
| quiet Not soul came to meet us.
We dismounted in haste. Suddenly
Sapt caught me by the arm.
Look here he said. pointing to the
ground.
looked down. At my feet lay five
NJ six silk handkerchiefS. torn and
slashed and rent. / turned to him
questioningly.
They're what l tied the old woman
and come along"
The handle of the door turned with
out resistance. We passed into the
room which had been the scene of last
nights bout. 1t WAS still Strewn with
the remnants of our meal and with
empty bottles.
Come i'm cried Sapt. whose marvel
Gus composure had ut last almost given
way.
We rushed down the passage toward
the cellars. The door of the coal cellar
stood wide open.
They found the old woman" said +
"YOu might have known that from
the handkerchiefs." he said.
Then we came opposite the door of
the wine cellar 1t was shut. 1t look
ed in all respects as it had looked when
| we ltlt IL tiidt HiDiHli--
''Come. it's ali right" said |.
A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His
face turned pale and he pointed again
at the floor. From under the door q
red stain had spread over the floor OF
the passage and dried there. Sapt
sank against the opposite wall. | tried
) the door. 1t was locked.
]
"Where's the king" | responded.
Sapt took ont flask and put it It
: his lips. | ran back to the dining room
and seized Il heavy poker from the fire
place In my terror and eXcitemen
l rained blows on the lock of the door
and | fired IL cartridge into it. 1t gave
way. and the door swung open.
. GIVE me IL light" said |, but Sap
still leaned against the wall.
He was. of course. more moved thai
!. for he loved his master. Afraid 70
himself he was nOt-nO man ever saw
him that-but to think what might lii
| in that dark cellar was enough to turn
| any mans face pale. | cent mySel
l and took Il silver candlestick from tn
I ulIliilS ltitl' anu w n al lttiit' anu Il
\ | returned felt the hot wax drip OIL
my naked hand as the candle Swaye'
l to and fro. so that ! cannot afford f
despise Colonel Sapt for his agitation.
l came to the door of the cellar. TIL
red stain. turning more and more to
l dull brown. stretched inside. | walk
ed two yards into the cellar and he'll
l the candle high above my head.
l saw full bins of wine; | saw spider
i crawling on the walls; l saw. too,
: couple of empty bottles lying on tn
1 floor. and then, away i'll the corner,
I saw the body of a man lying fiat o
his back with his arms stretched wild
u and a crimson cash across his throat
| walked to him and knelt down be
side him and commended to God til
soul of faithful man, for it was til
body of Josef, the little servant slai
= in guarding the king.
l felt a hand on my shoulder ant