Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-26

"UGS ~ druGGCd {"
other candidate: AS Gods alive. man.
the thrones lost if the king show him
self not il: StreiSau today. | know
Black Michael"
We could carry him there" said |.
And very pretty picture he
Makes Sneercd Sapt
Fritz Won Tarlenhcim buried his face
in his hands. The king breathcd loud
ly and heavily. Sapt stirred him again
with his foot
THE drunken dog" he said. But
he's an Elphhcrg and the son of his
father. and may | rot before Black
Michael sits in his place.
For Il moment or two We We're all
silent. Then Sapt. knitting his bushy
gray brows. took his pipe from his
mouth and said to me:
'As a man grows old he believes in,
Fate Fate sent you here. Fate sends
you now to Strelsau."
| staggered back. murmuring, Good
Cod
Fritz looked up with an eager. be
wildered gaze.
"ImpoSSiblc"' | muttered. 81 should
he known"
ITS risk-against certainty"
said Sapt. IF you shave. I'll wager
you'll not be known. Are you afraid?"
"Sirr'
''Come. lad-therc. there But its
your life. YOU know. if you're known
and minc-and Fritz's here But if
you don't 30 | swear TO you Black
Michael will sit tonight OH the throne
! and the king lie in prison or his grave
"'i'he king would never forgive it,
stammered.
Are we women? Who cares for his
| forgiveness"
The clock licked fifty times. and six
| ty and seventy times. as ! stood in
thought. Then l suppose look came
over my face. for old Sapt caught me
by the hand, crying:
You'll Coz
Yes: I'll GO said |. and | turned
my eyes on the PROSTATE figure of the
king on the floor.
Tonight" Sapt went on in Il haSty
| whisper. I'VE are to lodge in the pal
ace. The moment they leave us you
| and | will mount our horses Fritz
| must stay here and guard the kings
| room-and ride here at Il Glllop. The
| king will be ready-.Iosef will toll him
and he must ride back with me 10
| Strelsau. and you ride as if the devil
We're behind YOU to the frontier
| l took it all in in Il second and nod
ded my head.
| There's a chance" said Fritz, with
| his first sign of hopefulncsS.
IF | escape detection" said |.
| IF were detected" said Sapt. It'll
send Black Michael down below before
/ go myself, so help me heaven! Sit
in that chair. man."
obeycd him.
He darted from the room. calling
Josef. josef In three minutes he
was back and Josef with him. The
latter carried a jug of hot water. SOAP
and razors. He was trembling as Sapt
told him how the land lay and bade
him shave me.
Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh:
But the guard. They'll know.
They'll know
Pooh! We shan't wait for the guard
Well ride TO Hofban and catch a train
there. When they come the bird II
be flown"
But the kingi'
THE king will be in the wine cellar
I'm going 10 carry him there now"
IF they find himl"
They won't. How should they
Josef will put them off,
But
Sapt stamped his foot.
We're not playing" he roared
Don't | know the risk? If they dc
find him he's no worse off than il ht
isn't crowned today in Strelsau.'
So speaking. he flung the door oper
and, STOPPING, put forth strength
did not dream he had and lifted the
king in his hands. And as he did ST
the old woman. Johann. the keeper:
mother. stood in the doorway For
moment she stood, then she turned OF
her heel without sign of surprise an,
clattered down the passage
Has she heard?" cried Fritz.
I'll shut her month"; said Sap
grinlly. and he bore of the king in lli
arms.