Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-31
THE
S 7 A r
By Percy
Brg[5mer

I amT'
your majesty is seated-it is diff
cult to Judge"
Now" said the king. rising and
squaring his shoulders.
Your majesty is well knit; but
should not fear to try my strength
against yours"
THAT is spoken like a man You
shall. CostaT'
The Spaniard came forward, bowling.
STAND stiff, man. Move, and l shall
let you fall. You'll fall heavily enough"
The king grasped him in the back
with one hand and very steadily raised
him above his head. He held him there
for a few moments and then, giving
cry to warn him, threw him forward
Bravo, bravov' said the little knot
of courtiers, and then they laughed,
for Costa had not fallen on his feet.
He picked himself up and was very
reluctant 10 be experimental upon by
me-
Your majesty is strong" 1 said.
Then I took the Spaniard by the
back and raised him slowly, as the
'-'~g had done, but 1 did not throw
forward:
Keep STILL" said, and slowly 1
lowered him to the floor again. I
thought the king was athlete enough
to know that this was by far the most
difficult part of the feat.
The courticEs were silent, but the
king was more generous.
"You are stronger than l am" he
49,. You will serve me?"
'I am at your majesty's disposal"
"Cautain O'Ryan. I thank you for
such a recruit. I will have him in my
bodyguard. You will see that he is
well cared for. Clinton, if your loyal
ty equals your strength you shall rise
to honor"
rs it your majesty's pleasure that
look to the feeding and clothing of
your new guard before 1 am impris-
oned in the fortress? ?" asked Organ.
81 had forgotten you"
at is not too late for your majesty
to remember me favorable"
You were Captain Organ when
you left Yadasara."
II was, your majesty"
"You are still Captain Organ. You
have a ready tongue, but such tongues
often tell more than the plain truth.
Your own loyalty wants proving, and
your recruits wants showing. Let me
trust you both, and, you, Captain
Organ. shall have nothing to COM
plain Of" And with a wave of his
hand he dismissed us.
Organs lodging was in the lower
part of the city, in a building abutting
upon the walls.
/ heard Bridget before I saw her.
who's there?" she shouted as we
entered.
Dennis, me darlin'," was the an.
swer.
Bridget was a tall, large boned wo
man, with big hands and feet, which
she gave the impression of being
rather proud Of, for her short, tight
fitting skirt showed off the one, and
her sleeves, being rolled halfway up
the arms, did not lessen the magnitude
of the other. Her features were angu-
lar, her black hair tangled, and her
eyes, which I admit were fine. had
little gentleness in them OF senti-
ment she could know nothing. She
stood facing us. her hands on her hips.
You've come back, them"
Yes" said Organ meekly. had
never SPEAK Ike IL DS1OIG
"And what have you got to say for
yourselfY'
IT'S a long story, Bridget" he said
suddenly.
Trust you for that"
''You don't seem very pleased TO see
me-" he went on IN an injured tone.
1--WE been living chiefly In prison since
saw you last 1 looked for a good
meal and then TO telling you my story"
''Tell me first who is this you have
with your
HE is one of the kings guards now.
brought him back with me. I cap
tured him"
That's a good beginning to a tale,
indeed. You could no more capture
him than you can make q fool of me.
Is he looking for a good meal tooT'
"If you please, Bridget"
"'Well, you can have what I've got,
which isn't much. You've never done
over your share of the providing. Den
mis-, but I've missed the little you did
do. Mind, you're not forgiven. I'll
feed you. and I'll hear your tale. II
the tale doesn't please me, out you GO
I'm going 10 have no more nonsense"
After the meal came the tale. The
king had been satisfied with q little
compared to what Organ thought
necessary to set Bridget's suspicious
at rest But he pleased her not the
least by telling her how much he had
talked OF her 10 me This was one OF
the few truths the whole story had
contained. and I willingly Endorsed It
The following day was introduced
TO my comrades OF the kings guard
II CHANGED that my duties took me 10
the fortress, and since Costa, with
whom 1 had 20 do, had taken a liking
TO me I saw more than should have
done In an ordinary way.
As Costa showed me what he was
pleased 20 term some Of the things OF
interest, did not wonder that Organ
spoke OF the fortress OF Yadasara
with respect Here were instruments
of torture not on show-not diabolical
inventions OF the past exhibited for
the present % shudder at. but ma
chimes which had been used only a
few days ago and might be used again