Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-06-22
The Knight
of the
Silver Star
A Romance OF
DrwssemDam@
BY PERCY BREBNER
Copyright. 1907. by R. r. Fenno &

BY PERCY BREBNIR

"There are muscles here that will
take some cracking" he said thought
fully.
IAN unlucky blow on the head might
ease that difficulty" suggested.
AYE, and stretch our limbs instead
Of yours" he laughed MY willing
ness to help you does not extend to
that
"A quick jerk should suffice" said
Costa.
Feel that muscle. captain" was the
answer.
Costa put his hand under my shout
der and whistled.
at is harder than the kings" said
the executioner.
II know that" Costa answered. re-
Numbering my trial of strength with
of yours should be equal to It."
'You think it has had practice
enough. eh. captain?"
II warrant 1t can be turned to crack
even the knights muscles. mighty us
they are" said one Of the others. ut
can be gentle and powerful too. Do
you remember when 1t embraced
man and a woman on the same day?"
'.That experiment is likely to be re-
peated." said the chief executioner.
1.-THE princess!' exclaimed
'They say So"
''Why trouble Sir verrall with thaty'
said Costa. evidently angry that had
been told.
ut IL Of little consequence" an
I'm death man can only take care Of
himself. l will treat the lady quickly.
too. II the knight willis It."
With an effort was calm.
This is indeed being q comrade,"
said. holding out my hand. II have a
weakness in my nature-a foolish one.
perhaps. but don't like women to suf
fer"
1T requires strength to suffer much.
Women don't suffer as men do" he re-
turned. with brutal certainty. And
n they do what matter2 They are
only women"
l dared not express my horror.
"But in this case you will bring
death quickly?" l said
"You may rely on u.s."
THAT is satisfactory" said Costa.
rising.
had almost forgotten Organ.
remembered him then.
.'That man has heard our bargain"
I said.
HE will not betray It"
do you swear not to do so?' said.
turning to the freshman.
II am not less merciful than the
executioners." he growled.
l shook each villain by the hand as
he left me and asked Costa to distrib-
ute among them what few posses.
sions had. | shook hands even with
Organ. and then | was left alone.
Did Organ grasp my hand more
firmly than was necessary? | might
have spent the night wondering. but
when they had gone broke down for
the first time during my Imprisonment.
l shed tears of impotent rage. pacing
my cell frantically. cursing and beat
ing its stone walls like mailman. 1t
be laid on that hideous couch to have
her fair limbs broken: that her death.
heroic though 1t might be. as ! be-
neyed 1t would be. should be witnessed
by such loathsome wretches as the
men who had just left me and per-
haps only by them. Only when | was
thoroughly exhausted did l throw my
self on my rugs and fall asleep to
dream--what mockery 1t was!-of
pleasant fields and sunshine.
awoke refreshed. Perhaps the very
dreams l have rallied at gave my sleep
its power to refresh me. My first
thought was of Daria. my second of
Organ. Had he pressed my hand
last night with some meaning? Surely
it was impossible. seeing how he had
helped to ruin me. but man In dire
necessity sees hope in anything.
It was not until the afternoon that
had any visitors that day. had be-
gun to hope that l was going to be
left alone altogether when Costa came
in and bound me. as usual.
"More fools with too much leisure"
said YEARLY.
IAN old friend this time." said
merry voice in answer. and Lady Al
drida entered. followed by two or three
men. 1t was easy to see that they
were her captives as surely as ! was
a prisoner in the fortress.
This was an old lover of mine.
gentlemen" she said gayly. He was
foolish enough not to value my friend.
ship. Behold the result"
She was pretty picture. much as
hated her: could not deny that She
had evidently ridden to the fortress.
for she carried her whip In her hand.
do all men who displease you come
to this7' asked another Of her cava-
Hers.
II am not 80 unmercifuL Sir verrail
and are old friends. or enemies
which IL it7' and she turned to me.