New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-05-10

ed the right to be considered eligible,
but that had been chosen for this
particular night gave me ample food
for rejection as went back to my
quarters.
had nearly reached them when at
q corner of the street hand was laid
upon my shoulder In an instant my
hand was upon my sword hilt.
"The second time you have received
me as an enemy, Sir verrall," said
Jasar.
1T was your own advice that !
should fear shadows and ever be ready
to defend myself" answered.
You are to be sentinel tonight?"
Eyes. l thank her highness for this
mark of her trust in me-"
II am charged with message"
1.-THE sender?" l asked.
'For only one do carry a message,
Sir Verrall.'
1.-THE message, then?" I said, my ex-
element, | am sure, plainly discern
IDLE in my voice.
BE a faithful and loyal knight and
the God you worship grant you safe
ty.'"
II pray So" answered "Tell me-
"Sir Verrall, I was charged with no
further speech, and detain YOU"
He turned from me abruptly and
with rapid strides left me.
Tho antro n tba IN ut
ments was in spacious corridor,
which at one end was approached by
a wide staircase, the other end leading
only to rooms occupied by her suit
Two soldiers stood at the head of the
staircase, and they saluted me as I
passed. Their faces We're unfamiliar
to- me. l took up my position at the
entrance and drew my sword. It was
about II o'clock, as near as I could
tell, and it was evident that the prin-
cess had not yet retired, for servants
passed in and out of her apartments
for some time after 1 arrived. But 1
caught no sight nor sound Of her,
though l watched each opening of the
door and listened for even low muir
muir to recognize. Sounds came from
other parts of the palace for some
time, and it was certainly past mid
night when the last servant left the
apartments and 1 heard the door
barred behind him.
After a time 1 began to feel drowsy.
Suddenly a slight sound startled me.
was on the alert in a moment, but /
could not locate it nor tell what man
ner of sound it was. I was facing
down the corridor toward the stair
case. It was pitch dark, and l came
to the conclusion that I could hear
nothing, and yet instinctively l knew
that the darkness hid something.
something which threatened me. 1t
seemed to palpitate in front of me
silently, but none the less certainly.
I put out my hand, passed it in front
Of me and at my side. 1t rested
against the wall of the corridor at
tho sharp corner, one side of the Ell
trance to the princess apartments.
swept my sword round me at the full
extent of my arm, but it touched moth
ing. Yet something was there, and
knew it,
Suddenly something touched me sc
gently that it might have been the
brush Of bats wing. 1t touched my
arm extended to the wall The next
moment a swift blow fell upon my
shoulder, and I felt a spasm of pain
run through me, for sharp steel had
penetrated the joint of the armOr. \
second blow fell so quickly after the
first that for q moment I thought l
had more than one assailant. The
blow failed in it's purpose, glanclng
from my armor, and then 1 was Crap
ping with a desperate man. He was
not clad in steel, as l Was-I could feel
that-but he had the advantage of me,
for he closed with me and could use
his dagger. while for q time my sword
was useless. He was conscious Of his
advantage and struck at me again and
again in quick succession, striking
where he knew my armor would serve
me least, yet, fortunately for me, strik.
ing beside the mark.
I gathered all my strength together
and, striking out with my left arm,
wrenched myself from his grasp.