The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-29
The Knight
Of the
Silver Star
A Romance Of
DrUssenDaml
By PERCY BREBN[ER

was not strange that | should think
Of treachery. | drew my sword noise
lessly and waited. There was a quick
knock at my door
who comes at so late an hour:" !
said. throwing the door open and ready
to defend myself.
Welcome you all your friends So
Sir Verrall?"
1t was Jasar, and he smiled as he
pointed to my drawn sword.
Il expected a foe
And perhaps with reason" he said
Still. | come as friend and secretly.
Close the door and make ii fast and
let US speak low. Your servant ha>
not returned?"
NO"
And will not tonight. He was found
brawling in the streets and was ar
rested"
II thought soldiers were privileged
to brawl tonight" said
"Some-not ALL"
arrested?'
He bowed and watched me with a
smile upon his face, even as he had
watched me as | pleaded to the prin-
cess.
by vasca's orders, doubtless?
Doubtless"
"Ah, for a few moments with him
to settle our score now and for all
time" l said impatiently.
What can you expect? A fallen
man is ever a stepping stone which
60 60 fnhn fa
Fallen, you say! 1t is too rash an
assertion. Falling, perhaps. but not
fallen When Sir Verrall completely
falls he'll carry some run with him.
Brave words-an idle boast l should
have said had another uttered them.
But Sir Verrall has proved himself as
good as his words. Tell me. are all
men as you are in the land you come
from?"
81 am but q poor specimen of my
countrymen." l answered. And then
1 stopped, remembering how l had
| come to Drussenland as the long ex-
pected knight.
1--WE must talk of that another time"
he answered. with smile. Now we
/ have other matters In hand. You are
right. Sir Verrall You have not fallen
yet, but there are those who think
| you have"
"You mean began.
/ MARK you, Sir Verrall. you were
unwise tonight"
"To plead for those wretched pris-
oners?'
4 NO. For that l honor you. 1t was
the action of a true knight. The law
is a disgrace. l quarrel not with
your pleading. but with the manner OF
it."
at was the only way"
There you are in error" he an
swered First you should have come
alone To associate Lady Aldrida
with the request was to court failure.
Then you should not have asked for
an immediate answer. Her highness
cannot make and break laws at her
/ pleasure Your importantly made her
resist you
Made her doubt my loyalty" | said
bitterly. Had a man SO accused me
would have cut out his lying
tongue
"You gave the challenge. Sir Yer
rail-, and since none dared to answer
it you had the advantage. But you
did not use it. You turned to sheer
at the princess. Think you any WON
an can bear that?'
"My knowledge Of women is limit
ed"
True. | have found it so. You
should learn to read women. Sir Yer
rail-, and then you would know how to
use your advantage. The princess
after all. is a woman"
looked at him, trying to discover 6
deep meaning in his words. but Jasars
face was not easy to read.
81 used the weapons to my hand"
said.
"And used them badly-your las
weapon worst of ALL 1t was bravely
done but it was madness just then"
~ am no courtier where the lives o.
men are at stake"
when you should be the courtie
most. Yet you do yourself an injus
tice. l marked you play the cOurtie
well enough to the Lady Aldrida. ant
the princess saw 1t also. l can reat
on the Lady IAldrida's face what tn,
man who whispers to her talks Of.
saw we'll that you talked of love"
and II l did,
"Was it wise. think you. to produce
the princess token when you hat
proved how lightly you esteemed itY'
This was an argument | could no
find a ready answer to without show
ing this priest, of whose friendship
had no guarantee. that thought NOR
Of the princess than cared to &C
knowledge.
''She denied the gift be went OF
"She could truly do so. for l saw tn
manner in which il was given 70
could expect nothing else but her an
ger and the Punishment she pro
nounced."
Il have fought and lost, as man
another man has done before me-"
you have not lost yet. Sir VerraI
was tonight sent to the priests b
her highneSS. The sacrifice OF III
prisoners is delayed for the present"
Thank heaven" | exclaimed.
so far you have succeeded. II
possible-nay. prOba ble-that the priI
cess will send for you. Be humble
1t will serve you best OF my comm
mere you must not speak
Il thank you for coming"
For the present the prisoners ar
safe You may save them altogether
but in doing so you must be conten
TO put yourself in danger. know no
n l., s-rlN