The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-02-28
CHAPTER XxXlV.

He Is Introduces to the Coneplratore.
Tn an hour or two he will be still
moro pale"
He struck Ferdlnand's cheek with
his open palm.
Dog" It was Ferdinand who spoke
lie struggled vainly to rise.
"A live dog is better than a dead
Hen, Ferdinand. That flag ut half
mHst is significant of many things. II
tells its story eloquently. that beauti-
full ilag-as clearly as the litue stamp
that has frightened yv~ so much.
Interpret the flag moving tale for
this puppet king" besecched Bratinau.
chuckhng sayasely.
First of ALL then, your Majesty
must understand that II is the stand
nrd OF England with the royal arms In
the center surrounded by garland OF
flowers. Your Majesty knows quite as
well as that when such flag floats.
~hcther on sea or land. II is signal
OF the presence OF an English ambas~
sador. But it flies at half-mast be-
cause the ambassador In this chateau
is dead-dcad as you will be, vain
king, when the midnight hour has
struck. Pardon us If we have given a
mere ambassador precedence over a
king; but you arrive little late"
My blood boiled. / was impatient to
interrupt Starvas narrative. II was
Locke's curiosity that delayed our res
cue. He restrained me with gesture.
There is plenty of time" he wbis-
percd. 1T Is hardly II now, and Ferdi-
nand IS to die at midnight. ] am anx-
lous to hear more concerning this flag.
And remember. please, that you have
my revolver"
| was too easily persuaded. had
listened to DIR Starvas words in Won
der II was [. or rather fate. who had
perpleXity was not lesSered as / heard
what followed.
But when continued Starva. II
entered my carriage TO escort you
hither in state. this flag was floating
In the breeze at the head OF its flag.
ot<Ah1 WI NOOi hldltolg oNtPPtu
on the terrace did 1t fall at half-mast
Shall I tell you why? When 1t fell
at half-mast it was a signal that you
were In our power. There are othors
anxious to welcome your coming,
Ferdinand. They have watched that
come soon. the rest Of the reception
committee. Llsten-three raps and
silence-two and sllence-one and
then three. II is they, Bratlnau Open
the door while | guard this ass in a
lions skin that will cease 10 bray at
midnight"
| deplored my folly In delaying the
attempt at Ferdinands rescue. Even
now, while Bratinau rushed 10 the
door to draw It's bolts. I should have
fired at Starva had he not been kneel-
ing at Ferdinands s side. twisting a cord
about his wrists to fasten him in the
chair IN which he sat The action ex.
posed Ferdinand, Starva's body was
shielded by that OF the king The adj
vent of the congpirators had taken
Locke and myself completely by sur,
prise. And when We had heard the
knocking on the door We had hoped
that timely rescue had come
] counted five OF them Locke and
were hopelessly outnumbered now. We
had missed our chance / confess that
something very like fear clutched at
my heart wnen I heard the bars CRATE
In AaI
Locke himself was pale enough. I'm
less some accident favored us, not
only was Ferdinand doomed but per.
haps ourselves as well
But | forgot our own danger In the
extraordinary scene that followed
Starva had sprung on chair close to
Ferdinand, With ribald jest he intro
duced each of his confederates as they
STOOD about the two in half circle.
AS each mans name was mentioned
he stepped In front of Ferdinand and
nocked him,
Your Majesty" cried Starva. bow
Ing low, "all of your reception commit.
tee lis present except one. He will
come presently-and his news will
arouse you from the ennui that seems
TO oppress you, In the meanwhile let
me have the honor OF introducing to
you each OF these gentlemen;
Col lgnatiet'. OF Roumanla, He is
an admirer OF the ladies', and he will
be charmed to present them with
lock Of your hair as a souvenir"
i prefer your heart Ferdinand to
be preserved in beautiful funeral
urn for myself, cried the rufIlan
"Dimitri Gortschakoff. of Servial He
is groom of the bedchamber OF King
Alexander. He should be concerned
with his own duty this night"
But | have unselfshly sacrificed
myself to administer 10 your comfort"
was the brutal comment.
Count Nicholai Piteschti. OF Bosnia
You should feel at home-you see we
have aristocrats present"
Il am so much of an aristocrat that
am Jealous OF one who is above me
In rank to dwarf my own Importance
"Gornji. of Montenegro! He is only
a common soldier, and is better known
by his sobriQuet, The Cat He will
use his claws presently"
"A cat can look at king they say.
Yes. j can scratch we'll enough
kings tyranny has made me groan.
hope you Will not dio so quickly. Ferdi-
-~"--~~~o-~-~->~~-~~~->--~>o
pentcrS will haze In cot I'D early, run