Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-14

ing heartily. There was something On
our own Charles IL about this mon
arch II an answer We're ready enough
he could appreciate 1t, even If It were
against himself.
"See what we have lost BY being a
king we forego the happiness Of being
honored by a queen. What win you
say then. madame, of Count vasca?
Surely he Is a true Drussenlander
since he is your kinsmanT
There are no words fitting. You
and your assumption of majesty I can
understand You have fought me face
to face. a determined struggle In
which you have won 1t was treach-
cry, indeed, but it was treachery open
to the sun If treachery can be hon.
est, yours was. But for the man who
hides his treachery behind a smile.
who works in secret to destroy those
he processes to honor; for the false
friend, the coward who dare not be
an open enemy, there are no words
Gather all the scoundrels there are in
Drussenland together, take from each
one the meanest trait he has, and Of
these traits build you up q man. Even
then shall you have a man I would
rather claim kindred with than with
Count vasca-"
cit seems you are a dangerous
friend" said the king. turning to him.
your majesty has not found me So"
'@True. You see, madame, it is well
sometimes to use similar weapons to
those used by an adversary. If your
enemy sends a spy we, too, must do the
same or our ignorance may lose US the
day. Count Vasca has received harsh
language from your lips. What have
you to say to your knight there? True,
he was faithful to you, but be just
He is a spy. BY lie he entered Yada-
sara. He betrayed his friend, one Cap
tain Organ, who is with us to bear
witness against him. More-he at
tempted to kill him. What harsh words
have you for that man thereT"
The kings finger. pointed at me,
caused all eyes to turn toward me; Da-
ria's also.
Gather the best in Drussenland," she
said slowly. ''Take what is brav est,
Guest, from them all and make me q
man. A great Drussenlander indeed
would he be, yet head and shoulders
over him would rise Sir Verrall-Clin-
ton verrall-my knight of the Silver
Star"
For some moments there was silence,
and no voice was raised to sneer at the
character which had been given me.
You have a powerful advocate, Sir
Knight" said the king presently, "but
there is another side to the question
which condemns you deeply"
Ia - II
praise, your majesty, or such deep con-
defamation"
"You are modest as well as valiant,
1t would SEEM"
81 lay claim to being an honest gen.
tleman. The world holds no higher
distinction"
t'Do honest men lie?' he asked Sc
verely. you did, else had you not
entered Yadasara the first time"
Pardon, your highness. 1t was
Captain Organ who gave certain &C.
counts of me, which satisfied you. In
truth, my coming to the city was in
the nature of a flight from my enc
miles,"
I was not disposed to spare Organ.
Why should 1 be?
ga valiant knight does not fee from
his enemies" said the king
II fed from a would be assassin
Count Vasca."
Truly, count, you have grfevous
charges laid against you"
"Who would believe the word Of a
spy" said the count savagely.
THAT is well spoken, Sir Knight
A spy! What say you to that?"
Given what your majesty said just
now. It is wise to handle similar
weapons to those used by an enemy. |
In the princess camp there was not |
one spy, but a hundred. Ever since I |
came to Drussenland Count Vasca and |
his friends have been working to be- |
tray the princess. She had not been |
here now to hear your judgment had |