The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-16
66s Prisoner.
of Zenda
BY ANTHONY HOPE
Copyrighted, 1921, 1895, bu Henry Holt a
Company
IcoNrINuEpl

e.
''But l detest waiting" said Rupert,
and I saw that he was about to lay
his hand on her again when there was
a noise of door in the room opening,
and a harsh voice cried: 7
"w-hat are you doing here, STRIP
Rupert turned his back to the win.
dow. bowed low and said In his loud,
merry tones:
"Apologizing for your absence, sir.
Could l leave the lady aloneT
The newcomer must be Black Mi
chael. | saw him directly as he ad.
vanced toward the window. He caught
young Rupert by the arm.
The moat would hold more than the
king" said he. with significant ges-
1 ture.
"Doc- your highness threaten me-?
asked Rupert.
"A threat is more warning than most
men get from me-"
"Yet," observed Rupert. Rudolf Ras-
sendyll has been much threatened and
yet lives
"Am I in fault because my servants
bungle?' asked Michael scornfully.
Your highness has run no risk OF
bungling." sneered Rupert.
1t was telling the duke that he shirk'
ed danger as plain as ever / have
heard a man told. Black Michael had
self control. dare say he scowled-it
was a great regret to me that I could
not see their faces better-but his
voice was even and calm as he an
swered:
Enough, enough, We mustn't quar-
rel, Rupert. Are Detehard and Berso
min at their posts?"
-Aey are, sir"
Il need you no more"
"Nay, I'm not oppressed with IA
tigue," said Rupert
pray, sir. leave u.s." said Mlchae
more impatiently. In ten minutes The
drawbridge will be drawn back, and
presume you have no wish to swim Il
-FOUR bed
: Rupert's figure disappeared. heart
the door open and shut again. Mi
chael and Antoinette de Mauban wer'
left together. To my chagrin, the duki
laid his hand on the window and close
it. He stood talking TO Antoinette TO
. a moment or two. She shook her head
and be turned impatientIy away. sh
I left the window. The door Sounds
again, and Black Michael closed th
shutters.
"De Gautet. De Gautet, manr' sound
: ed from the drawbridge. UNLESS 20
e want a bath before your bed, com
O along"
1t was Rupert's voice. coming fror
J, the end Of the drawbridge. A momen
y later he and De Gautet stepped out o
y the bridge. Rupert's arm was thrOug
De Gautet's. and In the middle Of tn
" bridge he detained his companion an
l. leaned over. dropped beside the she
! ter Of Jacobs ladder.
Then Master Rupert had q llttl
sport. He took from De Gautet DO
tie which he carried and put it TO b
g lips.
70 Hardly dropr he cried disconten
edIy and flung II IN the moat.
. II fell, as I judged from the SCUM
" and the circles on the water. within
% yard Of the pipe. And Rupert, takir
- out bis revolver, began 70 shoot at
II The first two shots missed the bottl
)e but hit the pipe. The third skaters
l. the bottle. I hoped that the your
ruffian would be content, but he EN-
10 tied the other barrels at the pipe, at
he one. skimmIng over the pipe, whistle
40 through my hair as crouched on q
other side.
at "ware bridge" a voice cried, to II
he relief.
mi Rupert and De Gautet cried. "A m
" ment.' and ran across. The brid
ne was drawn back, and all became stl
of The clock struck a quarter past l.
rose and stretched myself and yawne
think some ten minutes had pass
- when I heard a slight noise to 4
w right. pcered 0ver the pipe and Sd
re a dark figure standing In the gatew
= that led 20 The bridge. Il was a ina
:" by the careless. graceful pDise que
u ed Il to be Rupert again. He held
pu sword IN his hand, and he stood n
-, tioniess for a minute or two. W
y" thoughts ran through me. On vt
no mischief was the young fiend b'
ut nowf Then be laughed low to b
A.. self: then he turned his face 20
~ wall. took a step In my direction al
es 20 ny surprise. began to climb do
C. the wall. In an instant ] saw II
as there must be steps IL the wall; II v
e' plain. They were cut into or afIl1
il 20 the wall Ut intervals Of about Gig
by cen inches. Rupert set his foot on
is. lower one, then be placed bis swt
We between his teeth, turned round
,ai noiseIessly lei himself down into
Vi water. Had II been q matter OF
life only 7 would have swan to m
=, him. Dearly would I have loved
10 Eight II out with him then and ther
oil, with steel-on q fine night and mons
1ts come between us. But there was
ay king. restrained myself. but ] co
.ial not bride my swift breathing. hn
m watched him with The iuiensest ea'