The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-05

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 a low cry. half
smothered sob and then dull thud
at my feet.
"Ho, guard l cried. not too loudly
for fear Of disturbing the princess,
yet my voice echoed in the silence.
The echo was the only answer. I
waited for a few moments; then /
tailed again and louder.
Guard no, guard"
Again an echo, but this time other
POUNDS Hurry1ng feet assembled the
stairs, there was a glare Of torchlight
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, a door opened,
and Jasar stood silhouetted in light,
and behind him the princess.
What is it?' said Jasar.
"a dead man, l fear" 1 answered.
The torches f1ared 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 l should be free Tiff
killed him"
who said it? Speak, man.
| He" And then came q sob.
| The PROSTATE man shivered a little.
| his limbs twitched for moment, and
| then with one sudden thrusting out of
his legs he slipped from Jasars arms
and lay still
| 1 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 him."
mo; yet By heaven. yes. 1t is
one of themr'
The dead man was one of the pris-
oners of war
| I opened my eyes and lay still as
one does when waking from a deep
refreshing sleep. The sunlight fell
upon rich hangings, 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 a long sleep. Is the arm pain
fulY'
"A little"
You must keep quiet. 1t is bad
wound, Sir Verrall, but brave men
often carry ugly scars"
where am %
I'm 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"
THE man died last night:" l asked,
He died, but not last night-three
nights ago. l 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 l will answer all your Ques-
tons"
It was a small wound to weaken me
so. was ashamed of it when I be
came convalescent enough TO notice II
ut was much worse than il is now,
my nurse told me when she bandaged
1t one day.
"I am glad, for 1t looks nothing. and
have been very H.
"very m she said.
"And you have nursed me all the
time?'
yes. Her highness has left you Il
my care"
-Does she know how i'll have
BEEN"
81 have answered her questions eact
day. and sometimes she has been Il
look at you"
| | asked no more. | fancied that m!
nurse did not wish TO be questioned
Once convaleScent, | began TO memo
| rapidly. Organ was sent for 10 looE
after me. but the princess did no
come. and Jasar only seldom Nher
the priest did come he would tell M
. little OF what was going on Nor wa
O'Ryan much more communicative.