Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-04
but Dunstanbury could see the red star

but Dunstanbury could see the red star
glowing
Lukovitch seemed to have been speak
i Ing, although the sound of his voice
had not reached them through the
closed window Of the topmost room In
the inn. He spoke again now-not loud.
w. but in very clear voice.
"The king lies dead through treach-
cry" he said. "In Slavna the German
woman rules and her son and the men
who killed the king Will you have
them to rule over you. men of Vol
seni?'
A shout of mol" rang out. followed
again by absolute silence. Lukoyitch
drew the curved sword that he wore
and raised 1t in the air. All the armed
men followed his example. The rest.
with the women and young people.
raised their right hands. 1t was their
custom In calling Heaven to witness.
"God hears us!' said Lukovitch. and
all the-people repeated the words after
him.
Dunstanbury whispered to Basil. "Do
they mean to fght" An eagerness
stirred In his voice.
Listen! He's speaking again"
Whom. then. will you have for your
king, men Of Volseni?" asked Luko-
witch. "There is one on whose finger
the king has put the silver ring of the
bailifrs Of volseni With his own hand
he set 1t there before he died-he set
it there when he made her his queen,
as you have heard. Will you have the
bailif Of volseni for your king?"
A great shout of 'Yes! answered
him.
"Wili you have Sophia for your
king?"
Sophia for our king!' they cried.
Lukovitch raised his sword again.
All raised swords or hands. The SOL
emn words God hears us!' We're spo-
ken from every mouth. Lukovitch turn
ed to Sophy and handed his drawn
sword to her. She took it. Then she
knelt down and kissed the kings lips.
Rising to her feet again. she stood for
moment silent. looking over the
thronged market square. Yet she SEEM
ed hardly to see. Her eyes were vacant.
At last she raised the sword to her lips,
kissed It, and then held 1t high in the
air.
ut was monseigneur's wish. Let US
avenge him! God hears me!''
"God hears you" came all the voices.
The ceremony was finished. Six men
took up the board on which the king
| lay, carried 1t down from the rostrum
and along the street to the guardhouse
Sophy followed. and her friends walk
ed after her Still she seemed as
though in dream Her voice had
sounded absent, almost unconscious
She was pale as death save for the red
star.
Following her dead. she passed out
Of sight Immediately the crowd be-
gan to dispense. though most of the
men with arms gathered around Luko-
witch and seemed to await his orders.
Basil Williamson moved away from
the window. with heavy sigh and a
gesture Of detection
II wish we could get her safe out of
it." he said. Isn't it wonderful, her
being here|
Yes, but I'd forgotten that" Dun
stanhurv WAS stilI -hu- tho. uuindaru--Ho
would not be to monseigneur. Yet no
doubt Basil had mentioned the wisest
form of service. Sophy's own few
words-the words for which she cited
Heavens witness limited at another.
But Basil had recalled his mind to
the marvel. Moved as he had been by
his talk with Sophy and even more by
the scene which had just been enacted
before his eyes. his face lit up with a
smile as he looked across to BASIL
Eyes. old fellow-wonderful! Sophy
Crouch! Queen of Kravonia! 1t beats
Macbeth hollow!''
"It's pretty nearly as dreary." said
Basil. with disconnected grunt.
II find it pretty nearly as exciting
happier ending. Meanwhile"-he buc-
kled the leather belt which held his re.
volver around his waist-"I'm for some
breakfast. and then shall go and ash
that tall fellow who did all the talking
If there's anything can do for King
lSophia By Joye. wouldn't Cousin Mes
open her eyes?"
you'll end by getting yourself stucl
up against the wall and shot," Basi
grumbled.
"If do I'm quite sure Of one thing
old fellow-and that is that your wood
en- old mug will be next In the line o
thereabouts.'
81 say. Dunstanbury. ! wish coult
have saved him.
$50 do l. Did you notice her face?"
Williamson gave scornful toss o
his head.
well. yes. was an ass to ask that!
!, Dunstanbury admitted candidly. /
would certainly not have been easy t
: avoid noticing Sophy's face.
: At 6 O'clock that morning Max vo
, Hollbrandt took horse for Slayna. Hi
! diplomatic character at once made
proper for him to rejoin his legatio
. and enabled him to act as messenge
with safety to himself. He carried tn
Q tidings of the death of the king and 9
: the proclamation-of Sophy. There wa
Q no concealment. Voisenis defiance
0 Slayna was open and avowed. VolseI
held that there was no true Stefant
: witch left and cited the will Of the Lar
: of the royal house as warrant for !,
: choice. The gauntlet was thrown dow
d with royal air.
Q 1t was well for Max to get back
g his post The diplOmatists in Slayr