Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-26
G !:;!?s prisoner
81: s Ell: 9z:'ftZenda
HOPE
Holt q Company

SdDI anu TIllZ bttu iDlS ttSttutE.
Marshal Strakencz was gone to Strel-
sau; Black Michael lay in his coffin,
and Antoinette de Mauban watched by
him. Had l not heard from the chapel
priests singing mass for him?
Outside there were strange rumors
afloat. Some said that the prisoner OF
Zenda was dead; some, that he had
vanished yet alive; some, that he was
friend who had served the king well
in some adventure in England; others,
that he had discovered the dukes
plots and had therefore been kidnapped
by him. One or two shrewd fellows
shook their heads and said only that
they would say nothing, but they had
suspicious that more was to be known
than was known if Colonel Sapt would
tell all he knew.
Thus Johann chartered till sent him
away and lay there alone thinking not
of the future; but, as Il man is wont TO
do when stirring things have happened
to him, rehe2rSing the events of the
past weeks and wondering how
strangely they had fallen out. And
above me i'll the stiffness of the night
| heard the standards tapping against
their poles, for Black Michaers banner
hung there half mast high, and above
it the royal flag of Ruritania, floating
for one night more over my head
Habit grows SO quick that only by
an effort did I recollect that it fioated
no longc" for me.
Presently Fritz Won TarIenheim came
into the room. ! was standing then by
the window; the glass was opened,
and l was idly lingering the cement
which chung to the masonry where
Jacobs ladder" had been. He told
me briefly that the king wanted me,
and together we crossed the draw
bridge and entered the room that had
| been Black Michael's.
The king was lying there in bed.
Our doctor from Tarlenheim was in
attendance on him and whispered to
me that my visit must be brief. The
king held out his hand and shook mine.
| Fritz and the doctor withdrew to the
window
I took the kings ring from my finger
and placed it on his.
II have tried not to dishonor ii, sire, y
said I.
Il can't talk much to you" he said in
a weak voice. Il have had Il great fight
with Sapt and the marshal, for we
have told the marshal everything.
wanted to take you to Strelsau and
| keep YOU with me and tell every one
, of what you had done. and you would
| have been my best and nearest friend,
| Cousin Rudolf. But they tell mo I must
not, and that the secret must be kept,
if kept it can be-"
They are right. sire. Let me go. My
work here is done"
Yes. it is done as no man but you
could have done it. When they see me
again | shall have my beard on.
shall-yeS. faith. | shall be wasted with
sickness. They will not wonder that
the king looks changed in face. Cousin
| shall try to let them find him changed
in nothing else. You have shown me
how to play the king
"Sirc." said l. Il can take no praise
from you. 1t is by the narrowest grace
of God that I was not Il worse traitor
than your brother"
He turned inquiring eyes on me, bu
sick man shrinks from puzzles, an(
he had no strength to question me. His
: glance fell on Flavia's ring, which
5 wore. thought he would question mt
about it, but after lingering it idly h'
let his head fall on his pillow.
7 hoH
I again. he said family, almost list
5 lesSly.
: ''If I can ever serve you again, sire,
| answered.
His eyelids closed. Fritz came wit
the doctor. | kissed the kings hant
: and let Fritz lead NE away. / hav
never seen the king since.
Outside Fritz turned. not to the right
back toward the drawbridge. but to tn
: left, and. without speaking. led me III
: stairs. through handsome corridor i
2 the chateau.
l Where are we going?" 1 asked.
Looking away from me, Fritz ar
e swered:
: She has sent for you. When it
r over come back to the bridge. I'll wa
4 for you there
g "What does she want?" said
1 breathing quickly.
= He shook his head.
1 docs she know everything"
i eyes. everything"
: He opened a door and, gently pusl
: ing me in. closed it behind me.
1 found myself in 4 drawing room, sma
t and richly furnished. At first though
/ that l was alone, for the light tn;
:. came from a pair of shaded candle
= on the mantelpiece was very dim. 81
presently l discerned n woman's figul
% standing by the window. l knew
was the princess. and walked up I
~ her. fell on one knee and carried IL
4" hand that hung by her side to my lip
- She neither moved nor spoke. l TO,
to my feet and. piercing the gloo
" with my eager eyes, saw her pale ia,
" and the CLEAN of her hair, and befo