The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-10-22
would not be back until morning.

net with ironies.
"We have no time to lose. That
message must go tonight. You may
be sure. NJ. Armitage will not send 1t
for us. Come, we've got to go down
to Storm Springs"
They rode away in the starlight. leav-
ing the postmaster alarmed and won
dering Chauvenet and Durand were
well mounted on horses that Chauvenet
had sent into the hills in advance of his
own coming. Zmai rode grim and ST.
lent on clumsy plow horse, which
was the best the publican could find
for him. The knife was not the only
weapon he had known in Servia., He
carried potato sack across his saddle
bow. Chauvenet and Durand sent him
ahead to set the pace with his inferior
mount. They talked together in low
tones as they followed.
"He is not SO big fool, this Armi-
tage," remarked Durand. "He is quite
deep, in fact. l wish it were he we are
trying to establish on a throne and not
that pitiful scapegrace in Vienna"
II gave him his chance down there
in the valley, and he laughed at me. 1t
Is quite possible that he is not fool
and quite certain that he is not cow
ard"
"Then he would not be safe king.
Our young friend in Vienna is a good
deal of fool and altogether cow
ard. We shall have to provide him
with spine at his coronation"
''If we fail'- began Chauvenet.
"You suggest fruitful but unpleas-
ant topic If we fail we shall be fortu-
nate if we reach the hospitable shores
of the Argentine for future residence
Paris and Vienna would not know us
again. If Winkelried succeeds in vi
emma and we lose here. where do we
arrive?"
1--WE arrive quite where Mr.. Armitage
chooses to land US. He is gentleman
of resources: he has money; he laughs
cheerfully at misadventures; he has
had you watched by the shrewdest
eyes in Europe, and you are considered
a hard man to keep track of. my dear
Durand. And not least important, he
cablegram that was the signal to Win
kelried to 60 ahead. He is a very an
noying and vexatious person, this Ar
mitage. Even Zmai, whose knife made
him a terror in Servia, seems unable to
cope. with him."
"And the fair daughter of the val
ley
"Pish. We are not discussing the
young lady" r
81 can understand how unpleasant
the subject must be to you. my dear
Jules. What do you imagine she knows
of NJ. Armitage? If he is <he man we
think be is. and d possible heir to a
great throne. it would be impossible
for her to marry him."
His tastes are democratic. In Mon
tana he is quite popular"
Durand flung away his cigarette and
laughed suddenly.
HAS it occurred to you that this
whole affair is decidedly amusing?
Here we are in one Of the free Ameri-
can states about to turn a card that
will dethrone a king if we are lucky,
And here is a man we are trying to get
out of the way-a man we might make
king if he were not fool! In Ameri-
ca! 1t touches my sense of humor, my
dear Julesv'
An exclamation from Zmai arrested
them The Servian jerked up his horse,
and they were instantly at his side.
They had reached a point near the
bunting preserve in the main highway.
1t was about half past l o'clock, an
hour at which Virginia mountain
roads are usually free of travellers,
and they had been sending their horses
along as briskly as the uneven roads
and the pace of Zmai's laggard beast
permitted.
The beat of a horses hoofs could be
heard quite distinctly in the road
downward, and the strain of the as
cent was marked in the approaching
animals walk. In a moment the three
men heard the horses quick snort of
satisfaction as it reached leveler
ground. Then, scenting the other ami
mails, it threw up it's head and neighed
shrilly.
In the dusk of starlight Durand saw
Zmai dismount and felt the Servian's
big, rough hand touch his in passing
the bride of his horse.
"Waitv' said the Servian.
The horse of the unknown paused,
neighed again and refused to go far
ther. A mans deep voice encouraged
him in low tones. The horses of
. Chauvenets party danced about rest
lessly, responsive to the nervousness
of the strange beast before them.
"Who goes there?"
The strangers horse was quiet for
an instant, and the rider had forced
him so near that the beasts upreines
head and the erect shoulders Of the
horseman were quite clearly defined.
"Who goes there?' shouted the rider,
while Chauvenet and Durand bent
their eyes toward him, their hands
tight on their brides, and listened,
waiting for Zmai. They heard sud
den rush Of steps, the impact Of his
giant body as he flung himself upon
the shrinking horse, and then cry of
alarm and rage. Chauvenet slipped
down and ran forward with the quick,
soft glide of cat and caught the
III - H. v.so l,n