The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-07-28

DEAD MAN, FEAR" ANSWERED..
| With a low growl like an animal at
bay he sprang at me, but at last my
sword arm was free. A mass of dark
ness seemed to detach itself from the
surrounding blackness, and then my
weapon pierced it swiftly and clean
| ly. My wrist hardly felt the resist
ance. There was low cry, a half
smothered sob and then a dull thud
at my feet.
"Ho, guardr' l cried. not too loudly
for fear of disturbing the princess,
yet my voice echoed in the silence.
The echo was the only answer. 1
called again and louder.
Guard, no, guardr'
Again an echo, but this time other
sounds. Hurrying feet assembled the
stairs, there was a glare of torchhght
at the end of the corridor, and two
soldiers came toward me. They were
not the men | had seen on guard
There was another sound behind me.
A bolt was shot back, door opened,
and Jasar stood silhouetted in light,
and behind him the princess.
what is it," said Jasar.
"a dead man, l fear l answered.
The torches fared in the white face
of my enemy. 1t reused him.
"a better death than the other" he
groaned
Jasar fell on his knees beside him
and raised him a little. The princess
stood at my side.
"What other death?' said Jasar.
"He said ! should be free Tiff
killed him"
"Who said it? Speak, mani"
He" And then came a sob.
The PROSTATE man shiyered a little,
his limbs twitched for moment, and
then with one sudden thrusting out of
his legs he slipped from Jasar's arms
and lay still.
turned to look at the princess.
"You are hurt" she said.
"a scratch-nothing," l answered,
yet felt dizziness creeping over me.
do you know him." she asked
sharply, pointing to the dead man.
mo"
look"
turned almost mechanically, for
my legs seemed suddenly to have
grown too feeble to support me.
do you know himT
mo; yet By heaven, yes. 1t is
one of themr'
The dead man was one of the pris-
oners of war.
opened my eyes and lay still rs
one does when waking from a deep,
refreshing sleep. The sunlight fell
upon rich hanSings, antique and luXu-
rious furniture and rugs of brilliant
colors. very different lodging to my
own.
Presently the curtain was drawn
back and Jasar entered.
awake, Sir Verrall. at last? 1t has
been long sleep. Is the arm pain
ful?"
"a little"
"You must keep quiet. 1t is a bad
wound, Sir Verrall, but brave men
often carry ugly scars"
w mere am
"In the princess apartments, safer
place than any other for you just now.
Guards stand day and night without,
and within are gentle hands to tend
you"
1.-THE man died last night?' | asked.
He died, but not last night-three
nights ago told you your sleep had
been a long one"
'Three nights"
"Yes, but you must not talk now"
Jasar said presently we will talk,
and then | will answer all your ques-
tons"
1t was a small wound to weaken me
so. | was ashamed of it when be-
came convalescent enough to notice it.
at was much worse than it is now"
my nurse told me when she bandaged
II one day.
81 am glad. for it looks nothing, and
have been very H.
'Very ill.," she said.
"And you have nursed me all the
timer
'Yes. Her highness has left you to
my care"
Does she know how i'll I have
beenT'
81 have answered her questions each
day. and sometimes she has been to
look at you"