The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-08
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XXIH. ND or until the dungeon door was IN shut did Costa and his men
 release me.
 'T almost wish we had come q moment too 1ate,'' Costa said sT should have killed herr' missed. T believe you would"
 sT was a fool not to do it the night she attempted to plunge a dagger into ma"
 sYcu were" he answered.
 He evidently had no doubt what he hEmse1f would have done under simi- 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 had not lived to write this history. I should have per1sH1ed miserabIy on the rack For before me I had work which required keen sight, although did not know it just then. As ft was, the blows had struck deep, laying one cheek open to the bone. carry the mark to this day. an angry name across my face. ann never like Ay 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, 5CS-AAG4 was so soon to be tortured to death, should be so carefully tended for what was. after all, a minor evil.
 'FFhen is my day coming, Costa ?" I asked 'It is weary work waiting"
 He shook his head
 'sIt hAa 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"
 sYou may trust them. They are not made of sentimental stuff and think more o1 one znan- thanethey do ee a hundred w6men .',.s :. sA.ss sss..s 'ssssSss
 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 8 guard of half a dozen men
 By bis majesty's command you win 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- vfsed to answer quickly. But since certain knowledge has come to his ma5esty's ears concerning you-that by nature or by artince your limbs are coarger 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 suf1cient-and since it is considered necessary to strike where there is most likelihood of success it is his uaJegty'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 a witness of her questioning
 Costa recited 4he sentence in mono tone without feeling, as though the matter were of no real interest to him. tho guard, who tramped out of the cell and left me alone with. Costa and O'Ryan-
 .That she devil is responsible for khis-"
 ssCan I trust the execut1oners7"
 stYes. She will die quickly, butt He paused
 ssTeuFv
 eff this woman or Count vasca or Dome other special enemy is there tnoy may say that the eXecut10nerS bung1ed at their work and demand that others shall deal with you. There would be no time to make friends with them"
 .sso long as she dies quickly I care not"
 "7ou are 8 brave man. trust all may go well with you"
 He held out his hand. shook 1t and thanked him for all he had done He had indeed been gentle Jailer-
 Then O'Ryan held out his hand I took it for the sake of the past.
 saThere is a long night before you" said Costa. Shall stay with you for awhile. or would you sooner be aIoneT" AZ tnar moment O'Ryan grasped gay band sharply. There was no doubt about it this time What did he mean? ssT would be alone,' I said
 Costa bowed ceremoniously as he eft the dungeon, and O'Ryan as he followed him turned for an instant and smiled. was expected to under stand something by the pressure. and by his smile I imagined I had made the right snr1swer to Costa' 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, which made my limbs shake as though the palsy were in them. For an hour 1t may have been more-fear shook me NTF enemies would have reiOiced <-ould