Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-06-01
on Daria. who stood q few yards from
me. guarded BY soldiers.

MSO0 n1duy cucuAlco W yOuI COCopcs
but It has served us better than II you
had failed. There's little strength In
you now. We must Q that that is
restored a little before We punish you
for your treachery. 1t would Be u
poor recompense to see such q man
die like a woman"
"Your highness shall not see that"
I said.
I'VE have heard many a strong man
boast as much" he answered. I'VE
have good arguments against the
boast. To the fortress with him. but
treat him gently. He shall have a
chance Of proving his boast. You,
madame, too. are weak. for all you
stand so bravely. You shall have rest
and gentle treatment for awhile. Then
we shall find means to pay you for the
lives Of our subjects which your re-
bellion has caused. To the fortress
with them both"
I was placed In the litter again and
carried up to the fortress. They were
very gentle with me. and. knowing
what was IN store for me. some
them may have pitied me.
The guard of the fortress received
US. and with a considerable amount of
formality l was handed over to my
new jailers. l hardly noticed them.
for my eyes were fixed upon a figure
sitting in a porch within the gateway.
The man sat Imply. looked al though
he were in pain, and l saw that his
arm was in n rough sling. Hope was
not dead. l had a friend in the for
tress.
"O'Ryan!" I cried. a tone Of joy in
my voice doubtless.
He looked ut me. but did not move
There was an exasperating chuckle
at my ear, and l turned to lace the
Spaniard. Costa.
He was fatter and greasier than ever.
and he was tricked out in bright ar
NOR.
you'll find that friendship Dead" he
said.
l glanced at Organ. He had risen
from his seat and looked so different
from what I had known him that l
concluded that the wound l had given
him in that desperate fight upon the
stairs must have been deeper than !
had thought.
II will come and make you comfort
able presently when l have attended
to your princess" Costa said. Truly
this fortress is honored now"
He laughed as the heavy door closed
upon me. Presently he returned, fol
lowed by two men carrying rugs, with
which they proceeded to make m a
not uncomfortable bed in one corner.
Costa sat down on a stool and re-
manned silent until he dismissed them.
"You have a good couch" he said
directly we were alone. you will
have good food and drink. You are
well lodged"
"As an animal fattening for a fair"
I answered.
He laughed.
"That is a good description"
my position muse your"
"Not yours SO much as the won
ans"
do you mean the princessT"
"Call her so II you WILL" he an
swered. Carrying herself like a
q%ueen-in armor. too; nothing of the
miserable prisoner about her. All. 1t
amuses me greatly"
els she lodged In the fortress 2" l
asked as unconcernedly as possible.
Eyes. my friend. AZ chief Of the
fortress I have the honor to entertain
you both. She Is now clothed as a
woman. and as a woman All. she Is
better, much better. She has beauty
enough to make fools Of some men,"
"Take care you are not one of Them"
I said.
You are too good a warming" he
answered. See what the love Of a
woman has brought you to-"
Love-! l laughed. rs that laid to
my charge too?"
"Do you say you are not in love with
this woman who calls herself a prin-
cess? Count Vasca spoke differently"
Am l to be judged by what Count
vasca says of meg'
"There are other matters, many other
matters, that l need not tell you Of"
And the punishment"
"In good time. 1t will come"
when l am strong enough to bear
it?''
He nodded.
"The machinery and torture. then
death and an exit from Yadasara that
way" l pointed to the corner of the
cell where the locked fiagstone was.
Yes" he said, rising, ''bu2 it may be
easier than you think-it depends"
upon what?"
The executioners."
And the princess?" l asked after q
pause.
He shrugged his shoulders.
sit Is always difficult to prophesy the
fate Of a beautiful woman he an
swered. "But for you, my friend, let
me advise-make friends with the exc
cutioners."