The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-09-01
The Knight
of the
Silver Star

TO know that this was by far the most
difficult part of the feat.
The courtiers were silent. but the
king was more generous.
"You are stronger than am" he
said. "You WIN serve me-"
"I am at your majesty's disposal"
Captain Organ. | thank you for
such recruit. l will have him in my
bodyguard. You will see that he is
we'll cared for. Clinton, II your loyal
ty equals your strength you shall rise
to honor"
rs It your majesty's pleasure that
look to the feeding and clothing of
your new guard before l am impris-
oned in the fortress?" asked Organ
Il had forgotten you
ut is not too late for your majesty
to remember me favorably."
"You were Captain Organ when
you left Yadasara."
IL was, your majesty"
You are still Captain Organ. You
have ready tongue. but such tongues
often tell more than the plain truth.
Your own loyalty wants proving, and
your recruits wants showing. Let me
trust you both, and. you, Captain
Organ, shall have nothing to com
plain Of" And with wave of his
hand he dismissed U.S.
Organs lodging was in the lower
part of the city, in a building abutting
upon the walls.
hnR
who's there?" she shouted as we
entered
Dennis, me darlin'." was the an
swer.
Bridget was a tall, large boned wo
man, with big hands and feet, which
she gave the impression Of being
rather proud Of, for her short, tight
fitting skirt showed of the one. and
her sleeves. being rolled halfway up
the arms, did not lessen the magnitude
of the other. Her features were angu-
lar, her black hair tangled. and her
eyes, which l admit were fine. had
little gentleness in them. OF senti-
ment she could know nothing. She
stood facing us. her hands on her hips.
you've come back, thenT'
Eyes" said Organ meekly. l had
never heard him speak like 1t before.
And what have you got to say for
yourselfT"
Its long story, Bridget" he said
suddenly.
Trust you for that"
"You don't seem very pleased TO see
me-" he went on in an injured tone.
"I've been living chiefly in prison since
l saw you last I looked for good
meal and then to telling you my story"
"Tell me first who is This you have
with your"
HE is one of the kings guards now.
/ brought him back with me. / cap
tured him."
That's good beginning to tale,
| indeed You could no more capture
him than you can make fool of me.
Is he looking for a good meal tooT
IF you please, Bridget"
"Well, you can have what I've got,
which isn't much. You've never done
over your share Of the providing, Den
mis-, but I've missed the little you did
do Mind. you're not forgiven. III
feed you. and I'll hear your tale. IL
the tale doesn't please me, out you go.
I'm going to have no more nonsense
After the meal came the tale. The
! king had been satisfied with a little
compared to what Organ thought
necessary to set Bridget's suspicious
at rest. But he pleased her not the
least by telling her how much he had
talked Of her to me. This was one of
| the few truths the whole story had
contained, and willingly Endorsed It.
The following day / was introduced
to my comrades of the kings guard
1t CHANGED that my duties took me to
the fortress, and since Costa, with
whom l had to do, had taken liking
to me l saw more than l should have
done in an ordinary way.
! As Costa showed me what he was
| pleased to term some Of the things OF
interest, did not wonder that Organ
spoke of the fortress of Yadasara
with respect. Here were instruments
of torture not on show-not diabolical
inventions of the past exhibited for
the present to shudder at, but ma
chimes which had been used only a
few days ago and might be used again
tomorrow.
Costa opened a heavy door, and a
damp atmosphere met US. He took a
key and, going to slab in one corner
Of the floor, unlocked II and lifted the
slab by a ring which was fastened in
its center.
"For dead men," he said. pointing
down
A smooth slide went down at an
angle. and as l bent over to look l
could hear the faint sound of water
washing restlessly.
Unto the river?" / asked.
Eyes. From many Of these dungeons
there is such an exit. They lead into
one big shaft which goes deep into the
water under the rock"
"And SO out into the riverr'
Sometimes. If the weight attached
to the body to keep 1t down should
slip of the body might rise in the
river. / heard OF one case II you
should ever cease to be loyal make
friends with the executioners. They
can bungle their work and kill quick
~"
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