The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-03


She had gone six or eight miles down
the Ganlook road when she came UP
with five troopers Of the royal guard
One Of the troopers came forward ana
requested her TO turn OH
into another road until a detachment
passed, in charge of a gang OF despera-
does taken at the inn of the Hawk
and Raven the night before. unsus-
pecting, she rode off into the forest
lane for several hundred yards.
1t was a trap. The men were not
troopers, but brigands got UP in the
uniform of the guard. Once away
from the main highway, they made
prisoners of her and the two grooms.
Then followed a long ride through
roads new to her.
When night came they were high
in the mountains back of the monas-
terry, many hours ahead Of any pur-
suit. They became stupidity careless,
and the two groOms made a dash Tor
freedom. One of them was killed, but
one had escaped.
Some time during the slow, tortur-
ing ride through the forest she sWOon-
ed. When she came to her senses she
was in a dimly lighted room. surround
ed by men. The gag had been re-
moved from her mouth. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure or
a man who sat opposite, his elbows
on the back Of the chair which he
straddled, his chin on his arms. He
was staring at her steadily. his black
ewes catching her gaze and holding 1t
as a snake holds the bird 1t mas
charmed.
She recognized the hard, hawklike
face. There could be no mistake. she
was looking into the face that made
the portrait Of the Iron Count so Oh
horrent to her-the leathery head or a
cadaver with eyes that lived. She
broke down and cried herself into the
sleep Of exhaustion.
All the next day she sat limp and
helpless in the chair they had brought
to her She could neither eat nor
came again. She knew not from
whence he came; he stood before her
suddenly as if produced by the magic
Of some tabled genie, smiling blandly,
his hands clasped behind his back. his
attitude one of designing calculation.
HE laughed when l demanded that
he should restore ne to my friends.
He chided me when l pleaded and beg
ged for mercy. My questions We're
never answered. Where am |, Mr..
King? Oh, this dreadful place. Why
are we here-you and T.
Kings heart throbbed fercely once
more. A vast hunger possessed his
soul. In that moment he could have
laid down his life for her with a smile
of rejoicing.
Then he told her why she was there
why he was there and of the 2Gth-the
dreadful Goth!
God in heaven" she repeated over
and over again in a piteous whisper.
The light was going out.
"Quickr' he cried The candle
Light a fresh one. My hands are
bound"
She crept to the candles and Joined
the wicks. 4 new light grew as the
old one died Then she stood erect
looking down upon him.
You are bound. l forgot"
She started forward. dropping to he,
knees beside him, an eager CLEAN il
her eyes If l can unite the rope
will that help? There must. be one
little chance for you-for us. Let mt
try"
BY Jove," he whispered admiringly
his spirits leaping to meet hers. you've
got pluck. You put new life in me.
Il was almost IA gutter"
At last, after many despairing tugs
the knot relaxed There" she cried
sinking back exhausted. "Oh, how /
must have hurt you, Your wrists ar,
raw
His arms were stiff and sore anC
hung like lead at his sides. She watch
ed him with narrowed eyes while b.
stood off and tried to work blood an,
strength back into his muscles.
DO you think you can-can do any
thing now. Mr.. King" she asked afte
a long interval. We must escape,
she said rs if it We're all settled.
1T cannot be tonight" he gently IN
formed her sickness attacking hi
heart Don't you think you'd bette
try TO get some Sleep
He prevailed upon her to lie down
with his coat for pillow. In tw
minutes she was asleep.
For an hour or more be sat Their
looking sorrowfyIlly at the tired. swee
face. the utmost deSp If in his sou
At last he stretched b. mse.f out on tn
floor near tie door. I'd rs he went I
sleep lie prayed that Providence Nigh
/ open a way for him to prove that Sd
was not depending on him in vain.
Continued Saturday,