Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-18


~ 70 proceed. With a sudden inn
pulse I rode after him. He turned
swiftly. fearing that even In the pres
ence of the dead and before d Iady's
eyes I meant mischief
you fought as a brave man the 9th
CT night" | said. Come. you are
young, sir. If you will deliver your
prisoner alive to me you shall come 70
no hurt"
He looked at me With a hooking
smile. but suddenly he rode nearer to
me.
I'm unarmed," he said. "and our old
Sapt there could pick me or in a
minute"
am not afraid said I.
mo. curse your he answered. Look
mere, I made you a proposal from the
duke once"
I'm hear nothing from Black Mich
ael." said l.
Then hear one from me-" He low
cred his voice 70 a whisper. Attack
the castle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlen-
helm lead"
GO on" said l.
Arrange the time with me-"
Il have such confidence In you. my
Iordr'
Tut. I'm talking business now.
Sapt there and Fritz Will fall; Black
Michael will fall
what"
"Black Michael viii fall. Ike the dog
he IS; the prisoner. as you call him,
VIII 80 10y Jacobs l8dder-ah. you
know thatF Two men viii be Ieft-I,
Rupert Hentzau. and you. the king Of
Ruritania."
He paused. and then in a voice that
Quivered with Qagerness added:
isn't that a hand 10 play "a throne
and yon pr;nccssi And for me, say q
competence and your majesty's graft
tude"
Get out Of my reachr' said I. and
yet i'm q moment I began 20 laugh for
the very auiacity Of it.
would you turn against your mas
ter" ] asked
lie swore az Michael and said to me
in an almost confidential and appar-
emily friendly tone
'Tie gets in my way. YOU know. He's
a Jealous brute, Faith. 1 nearly stuck
a knife into him last night. He came
most cursediy NAL apropos."
My temper was well under control
now. I was learning something.
a. LADY, I asked ncgligently.
aye. and "a beauty" he nodded.
'But you've seen her"
"Ah. Was il az tea party. when
some OF your friends got on the wrong
side Of the tablet
"What can YOU expect OF fools like
Detchard and he Gautet? I wish I'd
been there"
"And The duke interfcresT"
"Well." said Rupert meditatively.
that's hardly fair way Of putting 1t,
perhaps. I want 90 interfere"
"And she prefers the duker'
aye. the silly creature, All. well.
you think about my PLAN" and, with a
bow. he prlcked his horse and trotted
after the body OK his friend.
I went back 90 Flayla and Sapt. pom
dering on the strangeness OF the man.
Wicked men I have known IN plenty.
but Rupert Hcntzau remains unique In
my experience. And " there be an
other anywhere let him be caught and
hanged out OF hand. So say 1.
Hes very handsome, isn't hep said
Flavia
Well. OF course. she didn't know him
as ! ala, yet l was put out. for
thought his bold glances would have
made her angry. But my dear Flavia
was a woman. and so-shc was not
put out on the contrary. she thought
young Rupert was very handsOme-as,
beyond question. the rufiian was.
And how sad he looked az his
friends deathg' said she.
Hell have better reason 90 be sad
at his own" observed Sapt, with
grim smile
AS for me, / grew sulky. Unreason-
able it was perhaps. for what better
business had / TO look az her with love
than had even Rupert7 And sulky 1
remained till, as evening fell and we
rode up 20 Tarlenheim, Sapt having
fallen behind in case any one should be
following Us, Flavia. riding close be-
side me, said softly, with a little half
ashamed laugh:
unless You smile, Rudolf, cry.
Why are you angry =
1T was something that fellow said TO
NE" said /. but ! was smiling as we
reached the doors and dismounted-
There a servant handed me a note.
1t was unaddressed.
els IL for mef'' I asked.
"Yes, sire; a boy brought IT,"
l tore il open:
Johann carries this for me. warned
you once. In the name Of God and II you
are man. rescue me from this den Of
murderers A. DE NJ.
1 handed it to Sapt, but all that the
tough old soul said in reply 10 this
piteous appeal was:
Whose fault brought her thereT'
Nevertheless, not being faultless my
self, took leave to pity Antoinette de
1iauban
CHAPTER XVI.
n @