Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-06-22

had set out for Dobrava with
fifty men to wait for the king,
who was dead. The dead king would
never go to Dobrava. and no messenger
came to the new king at Praslok!
Zerkovitch's news was enough to
raise the anger Of king. and Sergius
blazed with it. But more potent still
was his wrathful fear as he thought Of
Sophy at Praslok in the power Of Cap
tain Hercules.
He had his guard Of twenty mounted
men with him. With these he at once
set forth, bidding Lukovitch collect all
the men he could and follow him as
speedily as possible. If Mistitch had
really gone to Dobrava, then he would
6nd him there and have the truth out
Of him, but If. as the prince hardly
doubted, he was making for Praslok
there was time to intercept him, time
to carry off Sophy and the other In
mates Of the castle. send them back to
safety within the walls of Volseni and
himself ride on to meet Mistitch with
his mind at ease
Relying on Zerkovitch's information,
he assumed that the troopers had not
started from Slavna till I in the morn
ing. They had started at 6. He reck-
Oned also on Zerkovitch's statement
that they were but fifty strong. They
were a hundred. Yet, had he known
the truth, he could not have used more
haste, and he would not have waited
for another man. He stayed to tell no
man In Volseni the news about his IA
Their except Lukovitch. But as his
twenty rode out Of the gate behind
him he turned his head to Zerkovitch,
who trotted beside him, for Zerkovitch
neither could nor would rest till the
game was played, and said. "Tell them
that the king Is dead and that reign"
Zerkovitch whispered the news to the
man next him. and 1t ran along the
line. A low. stern cheer, hardly more
than a murmured assurance of loyalty
and service. came from the lips Of the
men In sheepskins.
Mistitch saw them coming and turn
ed to his troop. He had time for a lit
tie speech, and Stafnitz had taught him
what to say: Men. you are servants of
the king and of the king only. Not
even the Prince OF Slavna can COM
mand you against the kings orders.
The kings orders are that we take
Baroness DobFava to Slavna, no mat
ter who resists. II need be, these or
ders stand even against the prince"
StafnNE's sodiers-the men he pet
ted, the men who had felt the princes
stern hand-were only too glad to hear
1t. 10 strike for the king and yet
against the hated psfncs-lt wss a lux.
ury. . happy and unlocked for harmo-
nizing Of their duty and their pleasure.
Their answering cheer was lou0 and
fierce.
1t struck harsh on the ears Of the ad-
vancns prince. HIS face grew hard
and st1ined - he heand the shouts
and saw the eoiled body of men across
the path. barring access to his own
castle. And within a yard or Two Of
their ranks by the side Of the road sat
the figure which he knew so we'll and
30 we'll loved.
Now Mistttch played his card that
move IN the game which Sophy's cool
submission to bis demand had for the
moment thwarted, but to which the
princess headiong anger and fear now
gave an opening, the opening which
Stafnit7 had from the first foreseen
1t would need little to make the fiery
prince forget prudence when he was
face to face with Mistitch. It was not
safe game for Mistitch personally
both Stafnitz and he knew that-but
captain Hercules was confident. He
would not be caught twice by the Vol
SEM trick of sword! The satisfaction
OF his revenge and the unstintel re-.
wards that his colonel offered made It
worth his while to accept the risk and
rendered 1t grateful to his heart.
tTs De Csaslnued,)