Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-07-24

NAiotItSu iiSoh luSil
d., fe,,a,.;shi,. At last the prince pat
ted Zerkovitch's shout.
der indulgently.
"Well, it's good not to fear" he said
1--WE didn't fear the other night, Mile.
de Gruche and I, and all ended welly
"Endedg' Marie murmured half un.
der her breath.
The prince laughed. "You shan't
make me afraid" he told her, "any
more than Zerkovitch shall make me
trust Colonel Stafnitz. can't say
more than that" He turned to Sophy
II think you'd better stay here till we
see what's going to happen tonight,
and our friends here will do the same
If all's quiet you can go home to sleep
If not, we can give you quarters
rough ones, I'm afraid" He rose
from the table and went to window.
1.-THE crowds thinner. They've gone
off to eat and drink. We shall have
one quiet hour at all events"
An. orderly entered and gave him a
letter.
He read it and said, "Tell General
Stenovics will receive him here at 2
o'clock" When the messenger had
gone he tur1fed round toward the
table. "a last appeal. supposed With
all the old arguments! But the general
has nothing to give in exchange for
Mistltch. My price would be very
high"
mo price! No price" cried fiery
Zerkovitch. "He raised his sword
against you! He must diet"
Eyes; he must die" He turned to the
window again. Sophy rose from the
table and joined him there. looking
over the city. Directly beneath was
the great gate. fanked on either side
by broad, massive walls. which seemed
to grow out Of the waters of the river.
He was aware of her movement.
though he had not looked round at
her. 1--WE brought you, too, into this
trouble-you. stranger he said.
"You don't think I'm sorry for that?'
mo. but it makes my impotence
worse" He waved his arm toward the
city. "There it is--here am L! And
yet I'm powerlessv'
sophy followed his gesture and I'M
derstood what was passing in his mind
the pang of the soldier without his
armament. the workman without his
tools. Their midnight talk flashed
back into recollection. She remember
ed his bitter complaint. Under her
breath and with sigh she whispered.
"If you had the big guns now!'',
Low as the whisper was he heard it.
and 1t seemed to shoot through his
brain. He turned sharply round on
her and gazed full into her eyes. So
he stood moment then quickly turn
ed to the table and sat down Sophy
followed. her gaze fixed on his face.
Zerkovitch ceased writing. He had
been drawing up an Their plan. Both
he and Marie now watched the prince
Moments went by in silence.
At last the prince spoken low
voice. almost dreamy. My guns for
Mistitch! Mistitch against my guns!
That would be price-a fair price!
The three sat silent. The Zerko.
witches, too, had heard him talk of the
guns. How on them hung the tranquil.
lily of the city and how on them might
hang the country's honor and existence
Stenovics could give them If he would
in return for Mistitch. but to give up
Mistitch was great surrender So.
phys whisper, almost involuntary, the
yoicing of a regret, hardly even of q
distant aspiration. had raised a problem
Of conduct, question of high policy.
The princes brain was busy with 1t and
his mind perplexed Sophy sat watch.
ing him, not thinking now, but waiting
conscious only that by what seemed al
most chance new face had through
her been put on the situation.
Suddenly Zerkovitch brought his
clinched fist down on the table. "No!'
he almost shouted. They'll think
you're afraidp
Eyes. they'll think that, but not I'LL
of them. Stenoyics will know better
and stafnitz too. They'll know do II
not because I'm afraid, but in order
that never need be-"
Then Stenovics won't give them!
CITED Marie.
II think he must give anything OF
everything for Mistitch." He rose and
paced rcstlessly about the room. So
| ply still followed him with her eyes
but she alone of the three offered nc
argument and made no suggestion
The prince stood still for a moment in
deep thought. Then his face cleared
He came quickly up to Sophy, took hel
,, hand and kissed it.
"Thank you,H he said. II don't know
how 1t will turn out for me. The case
is too difficult for me to be able to fore
see that. For mo it may be mastery
i always thought it would mean that
or perhaps, somehow, it may turn tt
ruin" He pressed Sophy's hand nov
and smiled at her. She understood ant
lreturned his smile. 'But the question
isn't one of my interest. My duty Il
plain"
He walked quickly to his writing
table and unlocked drawer. He re
turned ts the table With az envelope i