The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-13

who was dead. The dead king would
never go to Dobrava. and no messenger
rame 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 rs 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 cas- possible. II Mistitch had
really gone to Dobrava. then he would
find him there and have the truth out
OF him. but II. as the prince hardly
doubted, he was making for. Praslok
there was time to intercept him, time
10 carry Off Sophy and the other In
mates of the castle. send them back TO
safety within the walls of Nolseni 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 Slayna tin ! in the morn
ing. They had started at 6. lie reck-
oned also on Zerkovitch's statement
that they were but fifty strong. They
were hundred Yet. had he known
the truth. he could not have used more
haste. and he would not have waited
for another man. lie stayed TO tell no
man IN Volseni the news about his ia
IDs,f 10
twenty rode out of the gate behind
him he turned his head TO Zerkovitch.
who trotted beside him. for Zerkoyitch
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 II ran along the
line A low. stern cheer. hardly more
than murmured assurance Of loyalty
and service. came from the lips of the
men In sheepsllins.
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 Dobrava TO Slavna. no mat
ter who resists. II need be. these or
ders stand even against the prince"
Stafnitz's soldiers-the men he pet
ted. the men who bad felt the princes
stern hahd-were only too glad 10 hear
II. To strike for the king and yet
against the hated prince-it was a lax.
ury. a happy and unlocked for harmo-
nizing Of their duty and their pleasure
Their answering cheer was loud and
fierce.
II struck harsh on the ears OF the ad
yancing prince. His face grew hard
and strained as he heard the shouts
and saw the soiled 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 well and
so well loved.
i Now Mistitch played his card. that
move I'm the game which Sophy's cool
submission TO his demand had for the
moment thwar;ed. but to which tho
princes heaGlong anger and fear nov
gave an opening. the opening which
Stafnitz had from the first foreseen
II would need little to make the fiery
prince forget prudence when he was
face TO face with Mistltch. II was not
a safe game for Mistitch personally
both Stafnitz and he knew that-bul
l Captain Hercules was confident. lie
would not be caught twice by the Vol
semi trick OF sword. The satisfaction
OF his revenge and the lnstinted re
wards that his colonel offered made II
worth his while TO accept the risk and
rendered It grateful TO his heart
Sophy sat smiling. She would fair
have averted the encounter and had
shaped her maneuvers 10 that end. II
was not TO be so. II seemed. Now. she
did not doubt monseigneur's success
but she wished that Zerkoviteh had
not reached Volseni so quickly; that
the prince had stayed behind his walls
till his plans were ready, and that she
was going prisoner TO Slavna to see
the king. trusting TO her face. hei
tongue. her courage and the star OF her
own fortune. Never had her buoyant
self confidence run higher.
On the top OF the eauseway Max Won
Hollbrandt looked to his revolver. Pc
ter vassip loosened his knife In It's
leather sheath. A window above the
gate opened. and Marie Zerkovitch's
frightened face looked out. The wo.
men servants jostled old vassip1n tho
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 swordsv and
himself pricked his horse with his spun
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
I foreseen and rehearsed I'm Stafnitz's
: mind. Mistitch cried loudly. I'm the
) kings name. Baroness Dobrava| He
: leaned from the saddle and caught her
. rfs tdf In, had