Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-06-28

4z<s@l1V time lucy hiSHs PAO'S
MN&J structive to people who are
NOT familiar with the insides or pal
aces: if l revealed some of the secrets
I learned they might prove OF interest
to the statesmen Of Europe. intend
TO do neither of these things. should
he between the Scylla of dizziness and
the Charybdis of indiscretion, ana l
feel that | had far better conflne my
self strictly to the underground drama
which was being played beneath the
surface Of Ruritanian politics. l need
only say that the secret of my I'M
posture defied detection. l made mis-
takes. | had bad minutes. 1t needed
all the tact and graciOusness whereof
I was master to smooth over some ap
parent lapses of memory and unmnd
fulness of old acquaintance of which
l was guilty. But / escaped, and
attributed my escape, as l have sale
before. most of all to the very audac
ity Of the enterprise. 1t is my BELIEF
that, given the necessary physical like
ness. ii was far easier to pretend Il
be king of Ruritania than it woul(
have been to personate my next doc
neighbor.
One day Sapt came into my room
He threw me letter, saying:
CHATS for yOu-a wOman's hand,
think. But I've some news for vol
first"
"What's thatT
"The kings at the castle of Zenda,
said he.
GLOW do you know?
Because the other half of MichaePi
Six are there. l had inquiries made
and they're all there-Lauengram
Krafsten and young Rupert Hentzau-
three rogues, too, on my honor, as lint
as live in Ruritania."
"Well?"
"Well, Fritz wants you to march tt
the castle with horse, foot and artil
lery."
And drag the moat?" l asked.
'That would be about it," grinnet
Sapt, "and we shouldn't find the kings
body them
"You think it's certain he's there"
every probable. Besides the fact o.
those three being there, the drawbridg'
is kept up and no one goes in withou
an order from young Hentzau or Blacl
Michael himself. We must tie Frit
up"
"T'll go to Zenda," said 1.
"YOu're mad"
"Some day"
"Oh, perhaps. You'll very likely sta.
there, though, If you do
"That may be, my friend" said
carelessly.
Ellis majesty looks sulky," observer
Sapt. Flows the love affair.""
Hold your tongue" said.
He looked at me for a moment Thel
he lit his pipe. 1t was quite true tina
1 was in bad temper, and went OF
perversely:
wherever go I'm logged by half
dozen fellows"
81 know you are. 1 send 'em," he re
piled composedly.
"What for?''
"Well," said Sapt, putting away, 81
wouldn't be exactly inconvenient fO
Black Michael if you disappeared
With you gone the old game that W.
stopped would be played-Or he'd hav,
a shot at it,"
81 can take care Of myself"
"De Gautet, BersOnin and Detchard
are In Strelsau, and any one Of them
lad would cut your throat as readily
as readily as l would Black Michael's
and a deal more treacherously. What's
the letter.?
l opened it and read it aloud
If the king desires to know what II
deeply concerns the king to know let him
do as this letter bids him. At the end OF
the New avenue there stands a house In
large grounds. The house has a portico
with a statue of a nymph in II. A wal
incloses the garden; there is gate In the
wall at the back. At IL o'clock tonight
If the king enters alone by that gate
turns to the right and walks twenty
yards he will find a summer house, ap
preached by fight of six steps. If ht
mounts and enters he will find some one
who will tell him what touches most
dearly his life and his throne. This is
written by a faithful friend. He must
be alone. If he neglects the invitation
his life will be in danger. Let him show
this to no one, or he will ruin a woman
nnt
pardon.
NO" observed Sapt as l ended, "but
he can dictate very pretty letter."
had arrived at the same conclusion
and was about to throw the letter away
when saw there was more writing on
the other side.
"Hello! There's some more"
II you hesitate 1.-THE writer continued
consult Colonel Sapt-
"Eh?" exclaimed that gentleman, gen
timely astOnished. Does she take me
for greater fool than your
WAVED 10 him to be silent.
Ask him what woman would do most
to prevent the duke from marrying his
cousin and therefore most to prevent his
becoming king? And ask II her name be-
gins with-A.
I sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down
his pipe.
"Antoinette de Mauban, by heavenw
/ cried. :.
GLOW do you know?' asked Sapt.
l told him what / knew Of the lady
and how knew it, He nodded.
ats so far true that she's had
great row with Michael" said he
thOughtfully.
eff she would, she could be Useful"
/ said
81 believe, though, that Michael
wrote that letter"