Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-21

be opened only by me or by my orders.
! remain at the palace tonight. Under
me Captain Sterkoff will be the officer
on guard. He will himself supply you
with any meals or other refreshments
which you may require. Ring this
hand bell on the table-no other bell,
mind-and he will be with you imme-
, diately. Do you understand your or
ders?"
Markart understood them very we'll.
There was no need of Stafnitz's mock
ing little smile to point the meaning.
Markart was to be I4epage's jailer;
Sterkof was to be his. Under the
most civil and considerate form he was
made as close a prisoner as the man
he guarded. Evidently Stenovics had
come to the conclusion that he could
not ask Markart to put too great a strain
on his conscience. The general, how
ever, seemed very kindly disposed to-
ward him and was. indeed. almost
apologize:
I've every hope that this responsible
and. fear. very irksome duty may last
only the few hours l mentioned. You
put me under personal obligation by
undertaking it. my dear Markart."
In the absence of any choice Markart
saluted and answered. 81 understand
my orders. general"
Stafnitz interposed, Captain Sterkon
Is also aware of their purport"
Stenovics looked vexed Eyes, yes.
but I'm sure Markart himself is quite
enough" 1t seems odd that in the
midst of such transaction as that in
which he was engaged Stenovics should
have found leisure or heart to care
about Markart's feeling Yet SO 1t was
"a curiously human touch creeping in
He shut Markart up only under the
strongest sense Of necessity and with
great reluctance. Probably Stafnitz
had insisted in the private converse
ton which they had held together
Markart had shown such evident signs
of jibbing over the job proposed for
Captain Hercules!
Lepage's heart was wrung. but his
spirit was not broken. Stafnitz's ironic-
al smile called an answering one to his
lips.
ut would console my feelings If
also were put in charge of somebody.
general" he said. "Shall l. in my turn,
keep an eye on DR.. hatcher or report
If the captain here is remiss in the duty
Of keeping himself prisoner:"
II don't think you need trouble your
self, NJ. Lepage. Captain Sterkoff will
! relieve you of responsibility" To Lee
page. too. Stenovics was gentle, urbane.
almost apologize.
"And how long am l to live, gen.
eral?"
YOU'RE in the enviable position, NJ. Lee
page. of being able. subject to our COM
mon mortality, to settle that for your
/ self. Come. come. we'll discuss mat
tiers again tomorrow night or the fol-
lowing morning. There are many men
| who prefer not to do things. but will
accept thing when it's done. They're
| not necessarily unwise. I've done no
worse to you than give you the oppor
tunity of being one of them think
you'll be prudent to take It, Anyhow.
don't be angry You must remember
that you've given us good deal OF
| trouble"
Between us we have killed the
| king"
Stenovics waved his hands in COM
| miserating way Practical men
| mustn't spend time In amenting the
| past" he said.
Nor III mere conversation. however
pleasant" Stafnitz broke in. with a
aug. "Caotain Markart. march your
prisoner tn his quarters
His smile made the order mockery
Markart felt It, and u hatred OF the
man rose IN him But he could dc
nothing lie did not lead Lepage tc
his quarters. but followed sheepishly
in his prisoners wake. They went to
| gether into the little room where LIE.
page slept
Close quarters too captain" said
the valet 'There is but one chair. Let
me put it at your service" He himself
sat down on the bed. took out his to.
bacco and began to roll himself ciga.
rette
Markart shut the door and then threw
himself on the solitary chair in heavy
dependency of spirit and confused
conflict of feelings He was glad to
be out of the work, yet he resented the
manner in which he was put inside
There We're things going on In which it
was we'll to have no hand. Yet was
there not thing going on In which ev.
cry man ought to have hand on one
side or the other? Not to do 1t, but to
be ready to accept 1t when done! He
was enough of soldier to feel that
there lay the worst the meanest thing
Of all. Not to dare to do 1t. but to
profit by the doing! Stenovics had
ased the words to I.epage. his prisoner.
By making him in effect prisoner,
too. the general showed that he ap.
piled them to the captain also. Any.
thing seemed better than that-aye, IL
would be better to ride to Praslok be-
hind Captain Hercules! In that ad,
venture a man might. at least, risk his
life!
"An odd world" said the valet. puff
Ing out his cigarette smoke. Honest
men for prisoners and murderers for
jailers. Are Won II prisoner or u jailer
Captain Marliart:''
l4 3
III