Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-14

l 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.
1.-The. duke offers you more than l
would" he growled. "a halter for
you, sire, was my suggestion. But he
offers you safe conduct across the from
tier and million crowns"
Il prefer your offer, my lord, IL 1
am bound to one"
You refuse?"
"Of course"
II told Michael you would" And
the villain. his temper restored, gave
me the Sunuiest of smiles. 1.-The fact
is, between ourselves" he continued,
"Michael doesn't understand q gentle
man.
l began to laugh.
And you?" ! asked
Il do he said "Well, well, the
halter he it,
I'm sorry you won't live to see it."
l observed
Has his majesty done me the honor
to fastcn Il particular quarrel on me-"
Il would you were few years older,
| though
"Oh. God gives years, but the devil
| gives increase" laughed he. Il can
hold my own
How is your prisoncr?" asked.
"The k
! Your prisoner"
Il forgot your wishes, sire. Well, he
| is alive"
| He rose to his feet | initiated him.
| Then came the most aUdaciouS thing
| 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 Il
| crown. The horse stood near. ! stood
still. suspectng nothing. Rupert made
as though to mount. Then he suddenly
turned to me. his left hand resting on
his belt his right outStretchcd.
'Shake hands" he said.
I bowed, and did rs he had foresccn
l put my hands behind me. Quicker
than thought his left hand dartcd out
| at me and Il small dagger flashed in
the air. He struck me in the left shout
der. Had | not SWcrved it had been
| my heart. With Il cry staggered back.
| Without touching the StirrUp he lcaprd
upon his hose and was off like an ar
row. pursued hy cries and revolver
| shotS-thc last as useless as the first
and sank into my chair. bleeding pro
| fuScly. as | watched the devils brat
disappear down III" long aycnuC. My
friends surrounded me. and then /
tainted
J I suppose that was put to bed and
there lay HNcons cioaS or half conscious
for many hours. e." < WAS night wher
awokc t. my full mind and found
Fritz beside me-. WAS weak ant
weary. hui he babe me he of guoi
cheer. saying that my wound wGuC
soon heal ana that meanwhile all hat
gone well. for Johann. the keeper. hat
fallen into the snare we had laid fol
him and was even now iii the house.
And the queer thing IS" pursued
FyiZ, that | fancy he's not altogether
sorry to find himself hero. He seems L
think that whcn Black Michael ~,
brought off his coup. witnesses Of how
it waS effected saving. OF course. tn,
Six themSclvcS-wiil not lie ut pre-
MUM
This idea argued a ShrewdneSs il
our captive which lei me TO built
hopes on his assistance. l ordered
him to he brought in at once. sap
conducted him ana set him in Il chain
by my bedside He was sUllen an,
afraid. but to say truth, after young
Ruperts exploit we also had our fears
l and if he got as far as possible from
Sapt's formidable six shooter Sap
kept him as far as he could from me
Moreover. when he came i'll his hands
were bound, but that | would not suf
fer.
| need not stay to recount the safe
/ guards and rewards we promised tn,
fellow-all of which We're HONORABLE!
: observed and paid, so that he live!
: now. in prosperity Though where
; may not mcntion)-and we were tht