Charlevoix county herald., 1907-09-28
CHAPTER XxxlV.

ne is introduced TO the ConSpIratorS.
'In an hour or two he will be still
more pale"
He struck Ferdinand's cheek with
his open palm.
Dog" 1t was Ferdinand who spoke.
He struggled vainly to rise.
"a live dog is better than dead
lion, Ferdinand. That flag at half
mast is significant of many things. 1t
tells it's story eloquently, that beauti-
full hag-as clearly as the little stamp
that has frightened you so much
Interpret the flags moving tale for
this puppet king beseeched Bratinau,
chuckhng savagely.
First of all, then, your Majesty
must understand that it is the stand
ard of England with the royal arms in
the center surrounded by garland of
flowers. Your Majesty knows quite as
well as | that when such a flag floats
whether on sea or land it is a signal
of the presence of an English ambas-
sador. But it flies at half-mast be-
cause the ambassador in this chateau
is dead-dead as you will be, vain
king, when the midnight hour has
struck. Pardon us if we have given a
mere ambassador precedence over a
king; but you arrive little late"
My blood boiled. l was impatient to
interrupt Starva's narrative. 1t was
Locke's curiosity that delayed our res
cue. He restrained me with gesture.
There is plenty of time" he whis
pered,. 1T is hardly II now, and Ferdi-
nand is to die at midnight. / am anx-
ious to hear more concerning this flag.
And remember, please, that you have
my revolver"
| was too easily persuaded. / had
listened to DR.. Starvas words in Won
der. 1t was |, or rather fate, who had
lowered that flag at half-mast. My
rnrpleXity was not lessened as | heard
what followed
But when,' continued Starva, 81
entered my carriage to escort you
hither in state, this flag was floating
in the breeze at the head of it's flag
staff. Not until your Majesty stepped
on the terrace did it fall at half-mast.
Shall | tell you why? When it fell
at half-mast it was a signal that you
were in our power. There are others
anxious to welcome your coming,
Ferdinand. They have watched that
flag with burning eyes. They will
come soon, the rest of the reception
committee. Listen-three raps and
silence-two and silence-one and
then three. 1t is they, Bratinau. Open
the door while l guard this ass in
lions skin that will cease to bray at
midnight
| deplOred my folly in delaying the
attempt at Ferdinand's rescue. Even
now, while Bratinau rushed to the
door to draw it's bolts, / should have
fired at Starva had he not been kneel-
ing at Ferdinand's side, twisting a cord
about his wrists to fasten him in the
chair in which he sat- The action ex-
posed Ferdinand; Starva's body was
shielded by that of the king. The ad-
vent of the conspirators had taken
Locke and myself completely by sur
prise. And when we had heard the
knocking on the door we had hoped
that a timely rescue had come.
counted five of them. Locke and l
were hopelessly outnumbered now. We
had missed our chance. | confess that
something very like fear clutched at
my heart when | heard the bars CRATE
back in their sockets. | know that
Locke himself was pale enough. IN
less some accident favored us, not
only was Ferdinand doomed, but per-
haps ourselves as well.
But forgot our own danger in the
extraordinary scene that followed
Starva had sprung on a chair close to
Ferdinand. With ribald jest he intro
duced each Of his confederates as they
stood about the two in a half circle
AS each mans name was mentioned
he stepped in front of Ferdinand and
mocked him.
your Majesty cried Starva, bow
ing low, 'aH of your reception commit
tee is present except one. He will
come presently-and his news will
arouse you from the ennui that seems
to oppress you. In the meanwhile let
me have the honor of introducing to
you each of these gentlemen:
SOl. ISudIlSu, vi INOuIidHld! lie is
an admirer of the ladies', and he will
be charmed to present them with a
lock of your hair as a souvenir"
II prefer your heart, Ferdinand, to
be preserved in a beautiful funeral
urn for myself" cried the ruffian.
"Dimitri Gortschakoff, of Servia! He
is groom of the bedchamber of King
Alexander. He should be concerned
with his own duty this night"
"But l have unselfishly sacrificed
myself to administer to your comfort, +"
was the brutal comment.
Count Nicholai Piteschti of Bosnia!
You should feel at home-you see we
have aristocrats present"
81 am so much of an aristocrat that
I am Jealous of one who is above me