Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-19

by me:
 "The king is in love, it seems"
 Not with life, my lord" said |, smiling.
 Ut Is well,' he rejoined. Come, we are alone. Rassendylr'- I rose to sitting posture.
 What's the matter?" he asked.
 "I was about to call one of my gen i tlemen to bring your horse, my lord. If you do not know how to address the king, my brother must find another messenger" .tr.. .-.
 "Nhy keep up the farce?" he asked. negligently dusting his boot with his glove. .... ...
 Because it is not finished yet. and meanwhile I'll choose my own name"
 ''Oh, so be it. Yet spoke in love for you. for indeed you are man aft CT my own heart"
 Saving my poor honesty" said I, maybe I am. But that I keep faith with men and honor with women, may be am, my lord"
 He darted q glance at me. a glance of anger. #-."
 .'Is your mother dead?" said I.
 faye, she's dead"
 "She may thank God" said I, and I heard him curse me softly Well, what's the message?" continued.
 had touched him in the raw, for all the world knew he had broken his mothers heart, and his airy manner was gone for the moment.
 ''The duke offers you more than would" he growled. "A halter for you. sire. was my suggestion, But he offers you safe conduct across the from tier and a million crowns"
 T prefer your offer, my lord, if I am bound to one.'
 "You refuse:"
 ''Of course.' ..
 T to&d Michael you would" And the villain. his temper restored. gave me the sunniest of smiles. "The fact is. between ourselves" he continued, Michael doesn't understand a gentle man."
 I began to laugh.
 And you?" I asked.
 T do." he said. well, we'll, the halter be it,
 I'm sorry you won't live to see it" I observed.
 Has his majesty done me the honor to fasten particular quarrel on me?' T would you were few years older, though
 "Oh, God gives years, but the devil gives increase" laughed he. T can hold my own"
 How is your prisonerT asked.
 'The k''-
 Your prisoner"
 'I forgot your wishes, sire. We'll, he is alive.'
 He rose to his feet. I initiated him.
 Then came the most audacious thing I have known in my life. My friends were some thirty yards away. Rupert called to groom to bring him his horse and dismissed the fellow with a crown. The horse stood near. stood still, suspecting nothing. Rupert made as though to mount. Then he suddenly turned to me. his left hand resting on his belt. his right outstretched.
 Shake hands," he said. bowed, and did as he had foreseen T put my hands behind me Quicker than thought his left hand darted out at me and small dagger flashed in the air He struck me in the left shoul- der. Had I not swerved it had been my heart With cry I staggered back Without touching the stirrup he leaped upon his horse and was of like an ar row, pursued by cries and revolver shots-the last ss useless as the first and sank into iny chair, bleeding pro fusely. as l watched the devils brat disappear down the long avenue. My friends surrounded me, and then tainted.
 1 suppose that I was put to bed and there lay unconscious or half conscious for many hours. for it was night when I awoke to my full mind and found Fritz beside me. I was weak and weary, hut he bade me be of good cheer. saying that my wound would soon heal and that meanwhile all had gone well. for Johann. the keeper, had fallen into the snare we had laid for him and was even now in the house.
 And the queer thing is." pursued Fritz, that fancy he's not altogether sorry to find himself here. He seems to think that when Black Michael las [ brought of his coup. witnesses of how 1t was effected-savinC. of course, the Six themselves-wilI not be at a pre- mium.''
 This idea argued shrewdness In our captive which led me to build hopes on his assistance I ordered him to be brought in at once. Sapt conducted him and set him in a chair by my bedside. He was sullen and afraid. but. to say truth. after young Ruperts exploit we also had our fears. and if he got as far as possible from Sapt's formidable six shooter Sapt kept him as far as he could from me Moreover. when he came in his hands were bound, hut that I would not suf- fer.
 need not stay to recount the safe guards and rewards we promised the feIIow-aII of which were ho1orsb!y observed and paid. so that he lives now in prosperity ahough where I may not mention,-and we were the more free inasmuch as we soon learn ell that he was rather q weak man