West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-21

"''''"A NfA WV ~ iAlN Nutrrpl the
outskirts of the forest of Zcnda. and
the trees, closing In behind us ns the
track Elgged and Jagged. prevented us
seeing our purSucrs and them from
seeing us
Another halc hour brought us To n an.
vide OF the road Sapt drew rein.
TO the right ia our road" he said.
ITO left, 60 the castle Each about
eight miles Get down"
'l'ut they'll be on usr' l cried.
Get DOWN. he repeated brusduely.
and obeyed
The wood was dense up to the very
edgo or the road. We led our horses
into the covert. bound handkerchlefs
over their eyes ana stood beside them.
You want 20 see who they urcY" 1
whispered.
Aye. and whcrc they're going" no
answered
l saw that his revolver was in his
hand
Nearer and nearer came the hoofs.
Tho moon shonc out now clear ana full
SO that the road was white with A.
The ground was hard nnd we had LETT
no traces.
Here they conner whispered Sapt.
"lts the dukcw
81 thought sow he answered.
1t was the duke. nnd with hlm
burly fellow whom I know well and
who had cause 10 know me artcrwnrd
Max Holt, brother To Johann. the
keeper, ana body servant to hls high
ness. They were up to us The duke
roincd up. ! saw Sppts finger curl
lovingly toward the trigger believe
he would have given tom Years of hls
life for shot, aud hc could huvc plcll-
ell Off Black Michael us easily ug |
could barn door fowl n a flrmyard.
laid my hand on his arm lie nod
dcd rcassurngly. lie was always
ready TO sacrifice inclination 20 duty.
(Which wayf' asked Blncll Michael
"'ro the castle your hghncss." urged
his companion. "Ihcrc we shall learn
the truth"
For nm instant the dukc hc.itntcd.
81 thought / heard ho1fs." snid he.
81 think not your higmcss"
"Why shouldn't We go to thc lodgoT
81 fear n trap. ~ am 81 well. why
go TO the LODGE II not. lra n snare TO
trap us"
suddenly the dul,c's horse nclphcd.
In an instant we folded ow cloaks
close round our horses heads and,
holding them thus. covered the duke
and his attendant with our rcyolyers.
II they had found us they had been
dead men or our prisoners
Michael waited moment longer
Then ho cried,
"To Zcnda them" and. setting spurs
10 his horse. guilopcd ON.
Sapt raised his weapon after him.
and there was such an expression OF
wistful regret on his face that had
much ado not 90 burst out laughing.
FOR ten minutes we stayed where we
were.
You sec" said Snpt. they've sent
him news that all rs we'll"
What does that mcnnT' / asked.
God knows said Supt frowning
heavily. but It's brought him from
Strelsau In rare puzzle"
Then we mounted and rode fast as
our weary horses could lay their feet
60 the ground For those last eight
miles we spoke mo- moro. our minds
were full Of apprehension. "AiI IS
well" What did u mcnng Waa all
well with the king?
st last the lodge came ln sight Spur
ring our horses TO a last gallop, we
rode mp TO the gate. All was stiH and
quiet. Not Il soul came 70 meet US.
We dsmounted In haste. Suddenly
Sapt caught me by the arm.
Look here" ne said, pointing TO the
ground
looked down At my feet lay i've
or six silk handkcrclilcfs, torn and
sloshed and rent turned 10 him
questloningly
They're what tied the old woman
up with" said he. "F0ston the horses
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 n was still strcwn with
the remnants OF our meal and with
empty bottles.
come IN" cried Snpt. whose marvel.
Gus composure had nt last almost given
way
We rushed down the passage toward
the cellars The door Of the coal cellar
stood wide open
"Thcy found the old woman" soid T..
"You might have known thot from
the haudkcrchefs" nc said.
Then we came opposite thc door OF
the wine cellar It was shut 10 look.
ed In OH respects as it had looked when
we left 10 that morning
"Comc. It's oll right" s0id I.
a loud oath from Sapt raug ont. Ills
face turned pulc. ond nc pointed again
ut the floor From under the door n
red stain had spread over the floor OF
the passage and dried tuorc sapt
sank against the opposite wall j tried
the door. It wns locked.
where's JoscfT' muttcrcd Sapt.
Where's the klngf' I responded.
Snpt took out a flask and put 50 70
hls lips ! ran back On thc dining room
and seized heavy poker from tho fire.
| plnco lu my terror nuI excitement
/ / rainc1 blows on Ie loe. off the door,
and fired cartridge iutp IT, If mre
/ way. and tho door swung open
"Glvo noe ught' o.d hu. Sapt
| suIl leaned against fIe HaII
flo wae OF course. moro moved fHlu
| ]. Tor Doc loved Dots master Afraid for
himself ic was not uo MON over lw
hm that but fo think what might iio
iu Chat dark reiIar w8s enough FOB turn
auv uaua fueo pHin J wont myself
auI took 20 s.Ivor r0udIo..e from Che
dining table und struck ielt and 0s
returned T foft tho hot wHN drip on
my naked hond as tho candle nayc1