Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-18

| breath.
The king neither rebuked his evity
nor indOrseu the insinuated satire. He
took no notice at all. His eyes were
fixed on his still trembling hands.
Stenovics spoke in a calm. smooth
voice Absolutely. sir. believe the
mans honest!" he said. with an inf1ec-
ton of good humored surprise. Zone
sees how he got the idea! I'm sure
| he's genuinely devoted to your majesty
and to the prince. as we all are. He
sees something going on which he
doesn't understand He knows some
thing Is going on that he's ignorant Of
He knows the unfortunate condition
OF your majesty's health. He's like
nurse-forgive me-in charge of sick
child. He thinks every body but him
self has designs on his charge. It's
really natural. however absurd, but it
surely makes the precaution l suggest
ed even more necessary! If he went
about spreading tale like this!'
The line was clever-cleverer far
than the countess rage. cleverer than
Stafnltz's airily bitter sneer. But of 1t,
too. the king took no notice. Lepage
took no more than lay in very scorn-
full smile. He leaned down toward the
motionless, dull faced king and said In
his ear:
'They wanted him to go. yes! Did
they want him to come back again,
sir?" He bent little lower and al
most whispered: How long would his
journey have taken, sir? How long
would 1t have taken him to get back If
lin case of need?' One more question
he did not ask in words, but 1t was
plain enough without them, How long
can your majesty count on living?"
At last the king raised his head and
looked round on them. His eyes were
heavy and CLASSY.
"This man has been my trusted serv-
ant for many. many years. You. Cen
eral Stenovics. have been my right
hand. my other self. Colonel Stafnitz
Is high In my confidence. and Lepage is
only my servant"
| II seek to stand no higher than any
other of your majesty's servants except
In so far as the nature of my services
gives me claim" said Stenovics.
| But there's one here who stands far
nearer to me than any one, who stands
nearer to me than any living being.
She must know of this thing If it's
true. If it's being done her hand must
be foremost among the hands that are
doing It," His eyes fixed themselves
on the countess face. us it true?" he
asked.
"Sir. how can you ask? How can
you listen? True! It's malignant In
vention! He's angry because l re-
proved him"
Eyes. I'm angry. said so. But it's
true for all that"
Silence. Lepage! Am to take your
word against the countess'?"
Markart. silent listener to all this
tcene, thought that Lepage's game was
Up. Who could doubt what the count
ess' word would be? Probably Lepage
too, thought that he was beaten. that
he was ruined man. for he played Il
desperate card-the last card Of bank
rupt player. Yet 1t was guided by
shrewdness and by the intimate knowl-
edge which his years of residence in
the palace had given him. He knew
the king we'll. and he knew the Count
ess Ellenburg hardly less thoroughly.
II speak truth. sir. as believe 1t. but
| l can't expect you to take my word
against the countess. ! have too much
respect for Nine. la Comtesse to ask
| that"
| Again he bent down toward the king.
The king looked up at him. Stenovics'
smile came back into the mind. In a
low, soothing tone Lepage made his
throw-his last suggestion. Mime. la
| Comtesse is Of great piety. If Nine. la
Comtesse will take solemn oath
we'll. then. I'm content! I'll say was
mistaken-honest. declare, sir, but
mistaken"
Stenovics raised his head. with a
jerk. Stafnitz smiled scornfully. He
was thinking that Lepage was not.
/ after all. very resourceful fellow. An
oath! Great heavens! Oaths were In
the days work when you put your
hand to affairs like this. But here Ste
movies was wiser. and Lepage was
shrewder. Stafnitz generalized from
an experience rather one sided. The
other two knew the special case When
oaths were Northumberland oaths-
Stenoytcs scented danger.
The king knew his wife. too. and he
was profoundly affected-convulsed to
the depths Of his mind. The thing
sounded true. 1t had horrible sound
of truth. He craved the countess de.
NAL. solemn as 1t could be framed
That would restore the confidence
which was crumbIing from beneath his
tormented. bewildered mind.
| "Can anybody object to that" he
asked slowly. IF say it will relieve
my mind?" He smiled apologetically
"I'm sick man. you know. II 1t will
relieve sick mans mind. Danish q
sick mans fancies? If shall sleep q
little better and old Lepage here be
ashamed Of himself?"
i None of them dared to object. None
could plausibly unless the countess her
self, and she dared not. In his present
mood the king would not accept the
plea of her dignity. Against 1t he would
set the indulgence due to sick mans
rebellious fancies. Could she for hel
dignity's sake deny him what would
make him sleep?
He looked at her. Something In bel