The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-01-04
CHAPTER xxxIv.

nc 10 tUtt0QdSSo ~ sss~
In an hour or two he will be still
more pale" q
He struck Ferdinafidrs cheek With
his open palm.
.Dogi" 1t was Ferdinand who spoke.
He struggled vainly to rise.
"A live dog Is better than deao
lion. Ferdinand. That flag at halI-
mast is significant of many things. IL
tells its story eloquently, that beauti-
full aag-as clearly as the little stamp
that has frightened you so much.
interpret the flags moving tale for
this puppet king" beseeched Bratinau'
chuclxling 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 flag floats,
whether on sea or land. 1t is a signal
of the presence of an English ambas-
sador. But 1t 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 IL we have given
mere ambassador precedence over
king; but you arrive little late"
My blood boiled. was impatient to
Interrupt Starva's narrative. 1t was
Locke's curiosity that delayed our res
cue. He restrained me with geg, Ire.
There is plenty of time" he whis-
t. n orJl xy 4 md Eardi-
nand is to die at midnight. / am aux
ious to hear more concerning this nag.
And remember. please, that you have
my revolver"
| was too easily persuaded. / had
listened to DIR. Starva's words In won
der It was /, or rather fate. who had
lowered that flag at half-mast. by
perplexity was not lessened as heard
what followed.
"But when," continued Starva, Il
entered my carriage to escort you
hither in state, this flag was floating
In the breeze at the head of its flag
staff. Not until your Majesty stepped
on the terrace did it fall at half-mast
Shall I tell you why? When it fell
at half-mast 1t was signal that you
we're 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. It is they, Bratinau. Oper
the door while ] guard this ass in 9
lions skin that will cease to bray al
midnight"
1 deplored my folly in delaying the
attempt at Ferdinand's rescue. Ever
now. while Bratinau rushed to the
door to draw its bolts, should have
fred at Starva had he not been kneel
1ng at Ferdinand's side. twisting q core
about his wrists to fasten him in tn.
chair in which he sat. The action ex
posed Ferdinand; Starva's body wa
shielded by that of the king. The ad
vent of the conspirators had takeI
Locke and myself completely by sur
prise. And when we had heard thu
knocking on the door we had hopet
that timely rescue had come.
j counted FIVE of them. Locke and
were hopelessly outnumbGed now. W.
had missed our chance. / confess tina
something very like fear clutched a
my heart when heard the bars graf
back In their sockets. know tina
Locke himself was pale enough. Ur
less some accident favored us, no
only was Ferdinand doomed, but pei
haps ourselves as well.
But forgot our own danger IN tn
extraordinary scene thai followed
Starva had sprung on a chair close t
Ferdipand. With ribald jest he Intro
duced each of his confederates as the
stood about the two in half circle
he stepped In front of Ferdinand an
Knocked him.
Your Majesty" cried Starva, bow
ing low. "all Of your reception commi
tee Is present except one. He wi
come presently-and his news wi
arouse you from the ennui that seem
to Cypress you. In the meanwhile ID
me have the honor of introducing I
you each of these gentlemen:
Col. Ignatieff. Of Roumania! He
an admirer Of the ladies. and he wi
be charmed to present them with
lock of your hair as souvenir"
Il prefer your heart. Ferdinand, I,
be preserved In a beautiful funer,
urn for myself" cried the rufiian.
"Dimitri Gortschakoff. OF Servia! Il
Is groom of the bedchamber of Kir
Alexander. He should be concerns
with his own duty this night"
But I have unselhshly sacrifics
myself to administer to your comfort
was the brutal comment.
count NichoIai Piteschti. Of Bosni'
You should feel at home-you see '