Gunnison news-champion., 1909-03-05

ts0ke 81 0&pvesa1- ! usAos -" W.
arsw. sssA tsca hs said. seating hs1se6
~ nse
The king is in love. 1t -eews
MO- wssA Efe. nay krd-" said l.
soiiine
~ IN WE'LL kc rcjoissed- 'Coase.
we ase slsse. kasseedyM"-
suue - . sstting I~~ture.
What's tie usatter;" he asked
Il Uas slsSsst 10 call osse ~ nay seu-
sle.sea to hrias year horse. my l"sd
u yeu - pst knoG how 90 adslrsss the
king. my hTotlser must md assther
AseaseRgsr"
why keep up the farce" he asked.
uexiiseatly austing his l'oot with his
glove.
because il is not finished yet and
sneanw hile III cbco-e my own name
'ph. so be II, Yet ! spoke in love
for you. for indeed You are a man aft
er my own heart"
saving my poor honesty" said 1.
maybe l am. but that ] Keep faith
with men and honor with women. may
he I am. my lord"
He darted glance Mt me. a glance
Of anger.
Is your mother deady" said T.
AVE she's dead"
"She may thank God" said T. aud I
heard him curse me softly. "Wcll.
what's the mcssagc;" ! continued.
had touched him in the raw. for all
the world knew he had broken his
mothers heart. and his airy manner
was gone for the moment
''The duke offers you more than ]
would" be growled. "A halter for
you. sire. was my suggestion. hut he
offers you safe conduct across the from
tier and million CROWNS"
Il prefer your offer, my lord, II
am bound 10 one"
You refuse?"
''Of course"
Il told Michael you would" And
the villain, his temper restored. gave
Inc the snnniest Of smiles. THE fact
is. between ourselves" he continued.
Michael doesn't understand a gentle
man"
began to laugh.
And you?" I asked.
w. nv sHiu wen, we'll. tue
halter I've IT.
I'm sorry you won't live to see II"
I observed
Has his majesty done me the honor
to fasten a particular quarrel on me-"
Il would you were a few years older,
though
'Oh. God gives years. but the devil
gives increase" laughed he. Il can
hold my own"
How is your prisoner?" I asked.
THE X
'Your prisoner"
| Il for-ot your wishes, sire. Well, he
is alive"
! He rose to his feet. I initiated him.
Then came the most audacious thing
I have known in my life. My friends
were some thirty yards away. Rupert
called to groom to bring him his
horse and dismissed the fellow with "A
crown. The horse stood near. I stood
still. suspecting nothing. Rupert made
as though to mount. Then he suddenly
turned to me. his left hand resting on
his belt. his right outstretched.
shake hands," he said.
l bowed. and did as he had foreseen
Il put my hands behind me- Quicker
shan thought his left hand darted out
ut me and small dagger flashed in
the air. lie struck me in the left shOul-
der. Had I not swerved it had been
my heart. With cry l staggered back.
Without touching the stirrup he leaped
upon his horse and was OF like an ar
sow, pursued by cries and revolver
shots-the last as useless as the first
and I sank into my chair. bleeding pro-
fusely. as ] watched the DEVILS brat
disappear down the long avenue. NV
friends surrounded me, and then I
tainted
l suppose that I was put to bed and
there lay unconscious or half conscious
for many hours, for II was night when
l awoke to my full mind and found
Fritz beside me. was weak and
weary. but he babe me be Of good
cheer. saying that my wound would
soon heal and that meanwhile all had
gone well. Tor Johann. the keeper, had
fallen into the snare we had lsil for
him and was even now in the h0,se.
And the queer thing is pursued
Fritz, that fancy he's not altogether
sorry to find himself here. He seems to
think that when Black Michael las
brought on his coup. witnesses Of how
IT was enected-savinc. of course. the
! Six themselves-will not he at n nrc.
mium''
This idea argued a shrewdpess 4,
our captive which led me to buIh
ecpes on his assistance. I ordered
him to be brought in at once. SAM
conducted him and set him in a char
. ~ my bedside. He was sullen And
afraid. but to say truth. after youps
8aperts exploit We also had our fearr
~ u be got as far as possible fruw