Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-05-04

"No; yet BY heaven. yes. 1t is
one of them!"
The dead man was one Of the pris.
oners Of war.
l opened my eyes and lay still as
one does when waking from a deep.
refreshing sleep. The sunlight fell
upon rich h~angings, antique and luxu-
rious furniture and rugs of brilliant
colors. a very different lodging t my
owl.
Presently the curtain was drawn
back and Jasar entered.
awake, Sir Verrall, ut last? 1t has
been a 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"
"Where am l|
"In the princess apartments, a 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 n~ight-three
nights ago. | told you your sleep had
been a long one"
"Three nights.'
Eyes, but you must not talk now"
Jasar said. presently we will talk.
and then | will answer all your ques-
TONS"
It was a small wound to weaken me
so. | was ashamed of 1t when | be
came convalescent enough to notice it
at was much worse than it is now"
my nurse told me when she bandaged
it one day.
81 am glad. for It looks nothing, and
l have been very ILL.,"
"very ILL.," she said.
"And you have nursed me all the
timer"
Eyes. Her highness has left you to
my care"
"Does she know how Ill have
been?"
81 have answered her questions each
day, and sometimes she has been to
look at YOU"
l asked no more. l fancied that my
nurse did not wish to be questioned.
Once convalescent, | began to mend
rapidly. Organ was sent for to look
after me. but the princess did not
come. and Jasar only seldom. When
the priest did come he would tell me
little of what was going on. Nor was
| Organ much more communicative.
Faith, they've been crowding a lot
Of history into a few days." he said.
"But see here, Sir VERBAL, l am under
oath to answer no questions. / should
not have been allowed to come at all
without giving the oath. There have
been occasions when l haven't kept
this kind of bargains, but I'm going
to keep this one"
who made you take m oath?
"Her ~highness."
1.-THE ~princess?' I said In astonish-
ment. Am | her prisoner"
"Well, | don't rightly know whose
prisoner you are or why you're being
kept here, but her highness SEN for
me and gave me my instructions. She
was mighty pleasant, too. Verrall-said
nice things about me and let slip a
good many promises for the future.
She may forget them. of course. but
I'm not going TO give her a chance
of Withdrawing them anyway. I'm go
ing to act square with her."
! laughed and then asked. after a
pause:
did she say anything of me?"
"You were mentioned as my master,
that was all. No, you were not a prom
inent feature of our conversation"
And how long is this to last?" |
asked. somewhat angrily. "a long ILL.,
ness makes a man irritable"
you'll oblige me by asking no cues
lions. I'm on oath to a lady not to
answer them"
Jasar was my only hope, and he kept
out of my way. However he came
one morning and was not in a hurry.
He expressed himself pleased at my
appearance and said he had come to
have a long talk with me.
And will, hope. answer my ques-
TONS"
"Some of them. doubtless, but all
ah, Sir Verrall, that might not be
wise. Stay; we will have a quiet talk
He spoke to Organ and the nurse.