West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-04-04

AaV"
by now OF my expedition. and I knew
Michael too well TO o that his
eyes would be blinded by the feini of
the boar hunt. lie would understand
very well what the real quarry was.
That, however. mu be rlsked-that
and all II might mean. for Sapt. no less
than myself. recognized that the pres
ent state OF things had become unen-
durable.
And there was one thing that /
dared TO calculate on-not, as / now
know. without warrant. IL was this
that Black Michael would not believe
that l mean well by the king. He
could not appreciated will not say an
honest man, for the thoughts OF my
W heart nave been revealed-but a
man acting honestly. lie saw my OPP
p%ortunlty as l had seen IL. as Sept had
seen IL; he knew the princess-nay
land / declare that a sneaking sort OF
pity for him invaded mel, In his way
he loved her. He would think that
Sapt and Fritz could be bribed. so the
bride were large enough. Thinking
thus, would he kill the king. my rival
and my danger? Aye, verify, that he
would. with as little conjunction as
he would kill a rat. But he would kill
Rudolf Rassendyll first. II he could,
n nothing but the certainty OF being
utterly damned by the release OF the
king alive and his restoration TO the
throne would drive him to throw away
the trump card which he held In re-
serve to balk the supposed game OF the
impudent impostor RassendylI. Mus
ing on all this as 1 rode along, 1 DOL
courage.
Michael knew OF my coming sure
enough. l had not peer in the house
an hour when an imposing embassy
arrived from him. He did not quite
reach the impudence OF sending my
would be assassins, but he sent the
other three Of his famous Six-the
three Ruritanian gentlemen. Lauen-
gram, Krafstein and Rupert Hentzau.
A fine, strapping trio they were. splen-
didly horsed and admirably equipped.
Young Rupert, who looked n dare
devil and could not have been more
than twenty-five or twenty-three, took
the lead and made us the neatest
speech, wherein my devoted subject
and loving brother, Michael OF Strel-
sau, prayed me TO pardon him for not
paying his addresses In person and,
further, for not putting his castle at
my disposal, the reason for both OF
these apparent derellctIons being that
he and several OF his servants lay sick
OF scarlet fever and were In a very
sad and also In n very infectious state.
So declared young Rupert with an In
solent smile on his curling upper lip
and n toss of his thick hair-he was n
handsome villain, and the gossip ran
that many a lady had troubled her
heart for him already.
"If my brother has scarlet fever"
said I. "he Is nearer my complexion
than he is wont to be, my lord. 1
trust he does not suffer"
HE is able to attend to his affairs,
sire"
81 hope all beneath your roof are not
sick. What Of my good friends De
Gautet, Bersonin and Detchard? I
heard the last had suffered n hurt"
Lauengram and Krafstein looked
glum and uneasy, but young Rupert's
smile grew broader.
bt nupcS SOOu 10 uuu II meQlclne
for II, SIRE he answered.
And l burst out laughing, for l knew
h medicine Detchard longed for. 1t
is called revenge.
You will dine with us, gentlemen
l asked.
Young Rupert was profuse In apollo
giles. They had urgent duties at the
castle.
Then" said 1, with n wave Of my
hand, Ito our next meeting, gentlemen.
May it make us better acquainted"
I'VE will pray your majesty for an
early opportunity" quoth Rupert air
lily. And he strobe past Sapt with such
jeering scorn on his face that / saw the
old fellow clinch his fist and scowl
black as night.
For my part, II n man must needs
be a knave / would have him a debo-
nair knave, and l liked Rupert Hent-
Eau better than his long faced, close
eyed companions. 1t makes your sin
no worse, as 1 conceive, TO do 1t a la
mode and stylishly.
Now, it was a curious thing that on
this first night. instead of eating the
excellent dinner my cooks had pre-
pared for me, l must needs leave my
gentlemen to eat 1t alone, under Sapt's
presiding care, and ride myself with
Fritz to the town Of Zenda and a
certain little inn that / knew OF. There
was little danger in the excursion. The
evenings were long and light, and the
road thls. side OF Zenda well frequent
cd. SO or we rode, with a groom be-
hind us. l muhled myself up in a big
cloak.
Fritz said | as we entered the
town. there's an uncommonly pretty
girl at this inn"
How do you known he asked.
Because I've been there" said /.
since he began.
mo. Before" said l..
But they'll recognize your
We'll. Of course they Will. Now don't
argue. my good fellow. but listen 20
me. We're two gentlemen Of the kings
household, and one Of US has a tooth
ache. The other Will order n private
room and dinner and. further. n bottle
Of the best wine for the sufferer. And
II ne be as clever q fellow as / take
him for, the pretty girl n no other
will wait ON u.s."
"Yhat If she won'tT' objected Fritz.
MY dear Fritz" said i, If she won't
Tor you. she viii for me-"
We were nc the inn. Nothing Of me
but my eyes was visible as I walked
in. The laudlady received us. Two
minutes later my little friend lever, 1
fear, ON the lookout for such guests as
might prove amusing made her mp
p%oarance. Dinner and the wine we're
ordered. I sat down fra tie private
room. a minute later Fritz came IN.