Gunnison news-champion., 1909-04-02
.e@hsprisoner @
e.; ::;:''" e.: s@tZenda|

Pressed ~ la s1iitssiia u i'"r~ed Asass
the less tcrceiy At zenda- fos the kin-
was very SICK johann bad Secn hiI.a.
and Lc vas wasted aud hardly ABIDE t.
move 'Tbc-c could he Eo tasusla Of
taking aBsther ssr him nov - alarm
ed were they that they had sent for
physician from Strclsau. and ths phys
clan. having been introduced ipte the
Kings cell. had come forth pale and
trembling and urgently prayed the
duke to l.st bim e. back and nscdd,e no
naoEe IN the affair. Hut the duke would
not. and held him there a prisoner, tell
ing him his hfe was safe II ia. kiag
lived while the duke desired and died
when the duke desircd-not othcrWis.
And. persuaded ~ the ply sician. they
had allowed Nine. de Mauban to visit
the king aud give him such attendance
as his state needed and a. only a woIn-
an eau give. Yet his life hung In the
balance. and | Vas yet strong and
whole and free. Nhoreforc great gloom
reigned az Zeada. aB8. save whcn they
sgarrclcd- % which they were very
prone. they hardly spokc Hut the
deeper the depression OF the rest.
young Rupert went about SataH's work
with a slliie In his eye aud song on
his lip. and laughed 1T 10 burst tsaid
Johann because the duke always set
Dctchard 10 guard the King when Mime.
de MaubaH Was Ia the cell which pre-
caution was. Indeed not unwise la my
careful brother Thus Johann told his
tale and seized his crowBs. lct be he
sought Us 20 allow him 10 stay with Us
in Tarieuhcim. aud not venture his
head again in the lions den. but we
had need of him there. and. although
refused tp constrain him. prevailed on
him by increased rewards 90 20 back
and 10 carry tldings TO Mime. de Mau-
ban that | was working for her and
that. IL she could. she should speak one
word of comfort 90 the king. for. while
suspense Is bad for the sick. yet de
spair Is worse still, aud it might be
that the king lay dying Of mere hope
iessness. for | could learn OF no def
mite disease that afflicted him.
"And how do they puard the king
now | asked. remembering that tw,
of the Six were dead and Max ii0lf
also.
'Dctchard and Bers,Hin watch by
night. Rupert uentzau and Gautet by
day, sir" lac answered.
''Onlv two al a tmef"
AYE. sir. but the others rest in a
room just above and are within sound
of a cry or a whistle"
"A room just above? | didn't know
of that Is there any communication
between it and the room where they
watch?"
NO, sir. You must go down few
stairs and through the door by the
drawbridge, and so to where the king
Is lodged"
And that door is locked?"
Only the four lords have keys, sir"
drew nearer TO him.
And have they keys of the graf
ingr' | asked in a low whisper.
Il think. sir, only Detchard and Ru-
pert"
Where does the duke lodge?r
In the chateau on the first floor.
His apartments are on the right as
you go toward the drawbridge"
And Nine. de Mauban?"
Just opposite on the left. But her
door is locked after she has entered"
ITO keep her inT'
Doubtless. sir"
And the duke. I suppose. has the
kcyT'
Yes, And the drawbridge is dra wn
back at night. and of that, too. the
duke holds the key. 50 that it cannot
be run across the moat without appli.
cation to him"
And where do you sleep?"
In the entrance hall of the chateau,
with five servants"
Armed
They have pixies, sir. but no fire
arms. The duke win not trust them
with firearms"
Then at last I took the matter boldly
in my hands. | had failed once at
Jacobs ladder; | should fail again
there. must make The attack from
the other side
Il have promised you twenty thou
sand crowns." said J. You shall have
fifty thousand If You viii do what /
ask Of you tomorrow night But. first.
do those servants know who your pris-
oner is?"
NO sir They believe him to he
some private enemy of the dukes
and they would not doubt that
am the kingf"
How should theyF" he asked.
Look to this, then. Tomorrow at
In the morning exactly fling open the
front door of the chateau. Don't fail
by an instant"
shall you he there. sir?'
ASK no questions. Do what l tell
YOU Say the hall is close or what you
will. That is all ask of you
"And may escape by the door. sir,
~hen I have opened it?'
Yes, quick as your legs will carry
you One thing more. Carry this note
to madame-oh, it's in French: Won
can't read it-and charge her. for the
sake 0f Ill nlIY 1iyaS NOT 70 faiy T.,