The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-09-15
The Knight
of the
Silver Star

for q. moment. Those about me had
no time to lay hands upon me. was
half across the space toward my only
hope of escape before a man came
within reach of my sword. and then
l seemed, to be surrounded.
Take him aIveT' l heard a voice
cry. The devil who cried 1t was be-
hind me. The devil was 0'Ryanl
Into the thick of my enemies went,
always a little space before me clear
ed by the swing of my weapon Yet
they closed In upon me. Hands be-
hind attempted to hold me. but 1
shook them OF.
They rushed In upon me on every
side. l struck right and left with my
sword. l struck out with. my left
arm. I struggled forward. Ny enc
mics fell back from me. Only one
man seemed to stand between me and
freedom. I cut him from my path
and sprang over him as he fell.
'Take him aliver'
The cry was behind me. Ny enc
mics were behind me, and rushed
madly through the streets of the city.
did not know the city well, and to
my dismay soon discovered that
had travelled in a circle. Suddenly a
man across the street beckoned to me.
1t was the strange knight. he led me
into a. narrow passage and through
door but few moments before my
pursuers rushed. past. Organ, 1t
seemed. was the traitor. not the
strange knight,
81 believed that It was you who had
betrayed me. have wronged you"
said.
II have a message for. you from a
woman who loves you WELL" said the
strange knight, $50 well indeed that
your, heart, is her only home, and thus
she enters it"
The last words were Kissed out as q
swift blow struck me. l was saved
from death by the mailed shirt I wore.
knew, the. strange knight new-Lady
Aldrida!
She threw her arms around me and
called to my pursuers. had to tear
myself from her. She staggered back
ward and fell. escaped into the next
street and soon found myself opposite
Organs house.
There were lights within. Two or
three torches were before the door,
throwing, grotesque shadows Of men
standing there. and in the street to
the left and to the right were torches.
The place was well watched.
i drew back into the passage down
which I had come and considered my
position. Organ knew Of the rope,
and since be had turned traitor 1t was
probably no longer in its place ready
for use
The more I weighed the possibilities
so much the more did it seem to me
that my only escape lay through the
house opposite. There was another
fact which, hurried my decision.
heard the distant cries of other bands
Of enemies who had been securing the
city in search of me. If desperate
effort was to be made. now was the
time to make 1t. I gripped my sword
firmly. made certain that the dagger
In my belt could be easily drawn and
then. with prayer for safety. dashed
across the street.
The men before the door were taken
by, surprise. as had calculated, but
~ than / had expected. ] was not
we'll within the doorway before the air
was filed with shoutings and the dark
ness with rushing men,
take him alive! Take him alivep
dashed into the passage and sprang
up the stairs, but IFhad little start in
the race. My enemies were upon the
steps behind me. and that I might
not be struck in the back was forced
to turn upon them. 1t was a moment
in which man fergets the sacredness
Of human life. The first who sprang
toward me fell back, with arms wide
spread clutching at nothing In the air,
his soul leaping into the unseen ere
his body. lay still A second fell to-
ward me fat upon his face. A third
spun round and then pitched head
foremost into the crowd of shouting
men below. Step by step L mounted
backward. my, face to the, enemy. my
sword red from point to hilt, the per
spiration, standing heavy upon my
face and arm.
what is, all thisT
The voice behind me nearly took ne
OF my guard.
"Out of the way, old womanF
Strike him down.
"Her husband shall cndgel her pres
emily"
Shouting. they, rushed ut me again.
Bridget was behind me. but she did
not come close enough to hinder ms
defense Thought heard her growl
with satisfaction MS my foremost foes
reeled back down the steps, Still ]
retreated upward.
THE rope" she whispered
"Still thereT'
Yes
She might be deceiying me. but her
manner sounded honest How was
she still my friend when her husband
was so vile traitor to friendship?
CHAPTER xvii
"T~N JAKE him aliveT came the
10 M