The Ocala evening star., 1911-05-30
CHAPTER XIV.

l@sl verely. You betrayed me,
- whom you professed to
serve You would now betray him to
whom you have transferred your al
legiance." =
For your sake" he answered do
not forget that"
For my sakeT
.You are a princess In Drussenland
You would be queen AS your knight
I could but draw a good sword In your
service; as king / can give you my
hand to help you mount the throne you
covet"
81 have ceased to covet throne. To-
morrow die"
save you By the kings permission
am here. If can win your consent to
be my wife he has promised you life
and freedom. Even SO far is Count
Vasca powerful But ! have a far
greater aim Consent, and we will
leave this dungeon and the city. Be
fore nightfall tomorrow Yadasara will
be In our hands. the king our prisoner.
1t wants but the sharp note OF trum-
pet to call half the city to my banner"
''Then let the trumpet sound at day
break. Revolution will shake the city.
and I shall be saved"
He paused a moment
1.-THE fortress Is not yet in my hands.
else had / not been forced to gain the
kings permission before I came to
you. cannot save you unless you
come with me. From this dungeon
the king protects US. afterward my
friends-your subjects"
And Sir Verrall?"
Him l cannot save. l. would have
done so IL / could, but 1t is impossible.
Ny followers demand his death, as
they do the death of all those who
have been brought into this land to
| fight for hire. He Is a foreigner-a
brave man. 1 grant-still, a foreigner"
"Yet you will be king tomorrow. 80
you tell me-"
AYE, as surely as that torch begins
to burn low and shows that time clam
ors for your answer"
| He spoke In a different tone. l per
ceived that his patience was nearly
| exhausted.
! MY answer is no." she said firmly.
| 1.-THE rack Is a cruel companion,
princess. Were l the greatest villain
IN Drussenland, yet should I be gen.
| tier comrade than the rack"
1.-The rack kills the body. A villain
| would break my heart"
"Time Is meaningless when In the
racks embrace" he answered. Every
second Is an hour when agony thrills
through every nerve. You may live
for hours. and hours in such a case
mean a lifetime"
| "Yet | shall die honestly, loving q
true man. Can a lifetime, be 1t of
hours or years, be better spentT
"You love this foreign dog?"
"As my own soul"
She rose to her feet as she said 1t.
My time had nearly come. Cautious
ly I felt that my sword was loose In
its scabbard.
The torch burns low. Think once
more"
wondered how he intended to take
her without her consent, as Organ
had said he might do. Would he at
tempt to drug her? Suddenly he drew
his sword Was he about to wound
her and thus secure her? He stirred
the torch into brighter fame with
the point Of his weapon.
'See, make the time as long as
possible" he said defantly.
Though all the torches In Drussen.
land were here and each one were
lighted from the dying fame Of an.
other, yet that time would not suffice
| ~ Go mo oh ca{H norfo
ly. 81 believe-I know-that the God
who looks down upon Us will give me
strength to bear what Is before me
Go. Count Vasca. go! You are dou
BILE traitor See that / do not betray
you when the rack cracks these limbs
Of mine"
'I will see to that" he answered
harshly ''Your folly shall neither kill
my ambition nor make me careless
Perhaps 1t Is for my own safety, per
haps pity for you. l hardly know
} which, but the rack shall not hurt
you. You shall make an easier end
There lies the death road. You shall
take 1t tonight"
He threw his CLOAK back from his
shoulder to give his sword arm free
dom. Whether he meant to kill her
shall never know. My time had come
Daria sprang toward him.
For that l thank you. You could
do me no greater service"
She clutched the bosom Of her dress
with both hands and tore 1t open
showing her white flesh.
Strike. and strike deep"'
His moment of surprise was my mo
ment of opportunity. | drew mysel
up and stood in the dungeon. sword IL
hand Daria turned with low cry
The count. with an oath. pushed he
aside. so that she fell upon the couch
and rushed at me. remembered tha
the trap was just behind me, and
stepped aside as our blades met
You must crush your enemy now
count 1t Is your last chance" / hiss
ed. The road you were to take to
night | take The death way is TO
you"