Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-04-10

Sapt gave her crown.
Heres an order from the king
Show 1t to your father. Orderly. open
the gate"
leaped down. Between us we rolled
back the great gate. led our horses ont
and closed II 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
was inside merrymaking. and as the
evening fell we quickened our pace
my splendid horse bounding along I'M
der me as though had been feather
1t was fine night and presently the
moon appeared. We talked little on
the way and chiefly about the progress
we were making.
81 wonder what the dukes dispatches
told him." said l once.
"Aye, | wonderv' responded Sapt.
We stopped for draft OF wine and
to bait our horses. losing half an hour
thus. ] dared not 90 into the inn and
stayed with the horses In the stable
Then we went ahead again and had
when Sapt abruptly stopped.
'Harkr' he cried.
l listened. Away, far behind us, In
the still OF the evcning-it was just
/ half past Give heard the beat of
horses hoofs. The wind, blowing
strong behind us, carried the sound.
glanced at Sapt.
"Come on!' he cried and spurred his
horse into a gallop. When we next
paused to listen. the hoof beats were
not audible and we relaxed our pace
Then we heard them again. Sapt
| jumped down and laid his ear to the
ground
There are two" he said. They're
only a mile behind. Thank God. the
road curves In AMI out and the winds
our way"
We gall0ped on. We seemed to be
holding our own. We had entered the
outskirts of the forest OF Zenda, and
the trees. closing In behind us as the
track zigged and Jagged. prevented us
seeing our pursuers and them from
seeing us.
Another half hour brought us to a d.
vide OF the road. Sapt drew rein.
''To the right Is our road" he said
ITO left. to the castle. Each about
eight miles. Get down"
But they'll be on us,' | cried.
sect DOWN. he repeated brusquely.
and obeyed
/ The wood was dense up to the very
edge OF the road. We led our horses
into the covert, bound handkerchiefs
over their eyes and stood beside them.
"You want to see who they areY
whispered.
AYE. and where they're going" he
answered
saw that his revolver was In his
hand.
Nearer and nearer came the hoofs
The moon shone out now clear and full.
so that the road was white with IL.
The ground was hard, and we had left
no traces.
!
"It's the dukey'
IL thought sou he answered.
1t was the duke, and with him
burly fellow whom / knew we'll and
who had cause TO know me afterward
Max Holf. brother to Johann, the
keeper, and body servant to his high
ness. They were up to us. The duke
refined up l saw Sapt's finger curl
lovingly toward the trigger. l believe
he would have given ten years of his
life for a shot, and he could have pick
= ed Off Black Michael rs easily as /
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 hesltated.
al thought heard hoofs." said he.
81 think not. your highness."
"why shouldn't we go to the lodge?"
, 81 fear trap. II all is well, why
go to the lodge? IL 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 moment longer.
| Then he cried:
ITO Zenda them and. setting spurs
to his horse galloped on. q
Sapt raised his weapon after him.
and there was such an expression OF
wistful regret on his face that | 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 we'll"
what does that mcanT' I asked.
"God knows" said Sapt. frownIng
heavily. "But it's brought him from
/ RfrplSau I'm n rare DuzzlQ -