New Ulm review., 1911-07-05

CHAPTER XXIII.,
6NYl OF until the dungeon door was
shut did Costa and his men
| release me.
II almost wish We had
come a moment too late" Costa said.
II should have killed herp' hissed.
II believe you would"
II was a fool not to do 1t the night
she attempted to plunge dagger into
me-"
"You were," he answered.
He evidently had no doubt what he
himself would have done under SINH
lar circumstances.
Fortunately the blows had missed
my eyes, on one side by less than a
quarter of an inch. Had she struck a
little higher l had not lived to write
this history. should have perished
miserably on the rack. For before me
I had work which required keen sight,
although did not know it just then.
As it was, the blows had struck deep,
laying one cheek open to the bone. I
carry the mark to this day. an angry
flame across my face. lam never like
ly to forget the woman who put it
there. Under Costa's care, however,
the wounds healed rapidly. He had an
herbal ointment which did wonders.
but it seemed a mockery that l, who
was so soon to be tortured to death,
should be so carefully tended for what
was, after all. minor evil
when is my day coming, Costa?" !
asked. 1T is>weary work waiting"
He shook his head.
1T has been longer than expected"
he answered.
"Can that woman do me any harm
with the executioners mean? She
threatened that she would pay them
well If they turned the levers slowly
enough"
"You may trust them. They are not
made of sentimental stuff and think
more of one man than they do Of a
hundred women"
satisfied myself every morning that
Daria was still safe, putting Costa on
his oath to be truthful to me.
One evening my dungeon door
opened and Costa entered with O'Ryan
and a guard Of half a dozen men.
by his majesty's command you
will tomorrow be questioned as to your
knowledge of various matters his maj
esty wishes Information upon. You
will be questioned In such a manner as
shall insure the truth, and since there
is no limit to the mercy his majesty
may extend toward you you are ad-
vised to answer quickly. But since
certain knowledge has come to his
majesty's ears concerning you--that by
nature or by artifce your limbs are
coarser than Is usual with men and
that by reason of this and other causes
you may not be induced to speak truly.
the pain able to be inflicted not being
suf1icient-and since it is considered
necessary to strike where there is
most likelihood of success it Is his
majesty's pleasure that you shall first
be taken from this dungeon to that of
the woman sometimes called the
Princess Daria and shall there be
witness Of her questioning"
Costa recited the sentence in mono
tone without feeling, as though the
matter were Of no real interest to him.
Then he gave a word Of command to
the guard. who tramped out of the cell
and left me alone with Costa and
Organ.
'That she devil is responsible for
this"
He nodded.
"Can trust the executionersT'
Eyes. She will die quickly, but
He paused.
"Well?"
,"If this woman or Count vasca or
some other special enemy is there
they may say that the executioners
bungled at their work and demand
that others shall deal with you. There
would be no time to make friends with
them"
$50 long as she dies quickly l care
not"
"You are a brave man. I trust all
may 60 well with you"
He held out his hand. I shook it
and thanked him for all he had done
He had indeed been gentle jailer.
Then Organ held out his hand.
took it for the sake Of the past.
"There is long night before you."
said Costa. "Shall stay with you for
awhile, or would you sooner be alone?'
At that moment Organ grasped my
hand sharply. There was no doubt
about it this time. What did he mean?
IT would be alone," said.
Costa bowed tremendously as he
left the dungeon, and Organ as he
followed him turned for an instant
and smiled was expected to under
stand something by the pressure, and
by his smile imagined I had made
the right answer to Costa's question.
But, after all, what could the Irish
man do for me. even If he really
wished to help me at this late hour?
A sudden fear took possession Of me.