Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-23
ANTHONY HOPE

sophy sat smiling. She would fain
have averted the encounter and had
shaped her ,maneuvers to that end. It
was not to be o. 1t seemed. Now, she
did not doubt, monseigneur's success,
but she wished that Zerkovitch had
not reached Yolseni 50 quickly; that
the prince had stayed behind his wallis
till his plans were ready, and that she
was going a prisoner to Slavna to see
the king. trusting to her face. her
tongue. her courage and the star of her
own fortune. Never had her buoyant
self confidence run higher.
On the top Of the causeway Max Won
Hollbrandt looked to his revolver, Pc
ter vassip loosened his knife in its
leather sheath. A window above the
gate opened, and Marie Zerkovitch's
frightened face looked out. The wo-
men servants jostled old Vassip in the
doorway. The grooms stood outside
the stables, No one moved. Only the
princes little troop came on. When
they were fifty yards away Mistitch
cried to his men, Draw swords!' and
himself pricked his horse with his spur
and rode up to where Sophy was.
Mistitch drew his horse up parallel
to Sophy's, head to tail. on her right
side. between her and the approaching
force With the instinct Of hatred she
shrank away from him. 1t had all been
foreseen and rehearsed In Stafnltz's
mind. Mistitch cried loudly. "In the
kings name. Baroness Dobrava.' He
leaned from the saddle and caught her
right wrist in his huge hand. He had
the justification that at his first attempt
to touch her Sophy's hand had flown to
her little revolver and held 1t now.
Mistitch crushed her wrist. The re-
vOlver fell to the ground. Sophy gave
one cry OF pain. Mistitch dropped her
wrist and reached his arm about her
waist He was pulling her from her
horse. while again he cried out: "In the
kings name! On guard
It was a high jump from the top OF
the causeway. but two men took 1t side
by side-Max Won Hollbrandt. revolver
In hand. Peter vassip. with knife un-
sheathed.
As they leaped. another shout rang
out, "Long live King Sergius!'
The prince rode his fastest. but faster
still rode Zerkovitch. He outpaced the
prince and rode right in among Mis-
titch's men. crying loudly again and
again increasingly: 'The king Is dead!
The king is dead! The king is dead!'
Then came the prince. He rode full
1T Mistitch. His men followed him
and dashed, with a shock, against the
troopers Of Mistitch's escort. As they
rode they cried, Long live King Ser
Giusr' They had endorsed dozen
men and wounded four or ave before
they realized that they met with no re-
sistance. Mistitch's men were para
iysed. The king was dead. They were
to fieht against the king! The magic
Of the name worked. They dropped the
points Of their swords. The, volseni-
ans. .hesitating to strike men who did
not defend themselves. puzzled and In
doubt. turned to their bailin-their king
for. his orders. 49, 81 l4fs't
As the prince came up lIistitch hurl-
"a Sophy from him. She fell from her
Aosue. out rsli on tine sort. grassy road.
eide dasprang up unhurti saye for q
cruel pain In her crushed, wrist. She
turned her eyes WHITTIER all eyes wer<
turned now. The general battle was
stayed. but not the single combat. For
. moment none moved save the two
who were now to engage. gaa 4at
Tha light Of the Street Of the Foun
tain fell to be fought again. for wheI
Peter vassip was darling forward
knife in hand. with q spring like Z
mountain goats. his masters voice
called. mine. Peter: miner 1t wal
the old cry when they shot Wild boar II
the woods about Dobrava. and !
brought Peter yassip to a stand Ma,
Won Hollbrandt. too. lowered his point
ed revolver. Who should stand be
tween his quarry and the king. be
tween Sophy's hover and the man VIII,
had 20 Outraged her? Big Mistitcl
was the. kings game and the king
only that day. a 6A
Mistitch's chance was gone. and b
must have known It. Where was tn
sergeant who had undertaken to cove
him? He had turned tail. Where wa
the enveloping rush Of his men. which
should have uengulfed and paralyxe,
the enemy? Paralysis was on his mel
themselves. They believed Zerkovitc
and lacked appetite for the killing Of
king. Where was his triumphant re
turn 70 Slavna, his laurels. his rewards
his wonderful swaggerings at tn
Golden Lion? They were all gone. Eve
though he killed the king there wer
two dozen men vowed to have his life
They must have it, but at what price
His savage valor set the figure high.
1t was the old fight again. but not Il
the old manner. There was no delicat
sword play, no ductuating fortunes 4
the fray. 1t was all stern and shor,
The king had not drawn his sword
Mistitch did not seek to draw his Tw
shots rang out sharply-that was al
The king reeled in his saddle. but mair
tanned his seat. Big Mistitch threw hi
hands above his head. With a loud IcrJ