The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-22

THE man died last nightT' asked.
HE died, but not last night-three
nights ago. told you your sleep had
been a long one"
Three n1ghtsF'
eyes. but you must not talk now"
Jasar said. Presently we will talk,
and then win answer all your Ques-
TONS,
It was a small wound to weaken me
30. was ashamed OF it when be
came convalescent enough to notice it.
eft was much worse than it is now
my nurse told me when she bandaged
| it one day.
"I am glad, for it looks nothing. and
I have been very fn.''
every ill,'' she said
"And you have nursed me all the
timer
Eyes. Her highness has left you to
i my care"
"Does she know how III I have
| been?'
'I have answered her questions each
/ day, and sometimes she has been to
/ look at you.'
I asked no more. I fancied that my
nurse did not wish to be questioned.
Once convalescent began to mend
rapidly. Organ was sent for to look
| after me, but the princess did not
come, and Jasar only seldom When
| the priest did come he would tell me
| little Of what was going on. Nor was
| Organ much more communicative.
Faith, they've been erowding lot
Of history into few days." he said.
"But see here, Sir verral1, I am under
oath to answer no questions. I should
| not have been allowed to come at all
| without giving the oath. There have
been occasions when I haven't kept
this kind of bargains, but I'm going
to keep this one"
ssWho made. you take an oathF'
sHer highness."
s.The prineessY' I said In astonish-
ment- sAm her prisoner7''
ssWeu, II don't rightly know whose
prisoner you are or why you're being
kept here, but her highness sent for
me and gave me my instructions. She
was mighty pleasant, too, VerraIEsaid
nice things about me and let slip a
good many promises for the future
She may forget them, of course, but
I'm not going to give her chance
OF withdrawing them anyway. I'm go
ing to act square with her"
laughed and then asked, after
pause:
"Did she say anything Of me7''
ssYou were mentioned as my master,
that was all. No, you were not prom
1nent feature OF our conversation"
And how long 3 this to last3' 1
asked, somewhat angrily. "A long ILL
ness makes man irritable
you'll obIige me by asking no ques-
tons. I'm on oath to a lady not to
answer Them
Jasar was my only hope, and he kept
out of my way: However, he came
one morning and was not in hurry.
He expressed himself pleased at my
appearance and said he had come to
have long talk with me.
"And win, I hope, answer my ques-
hons"
: s'Some of them, doubtless, but all
! All, Sir Verran, that might not be
wise. Stay; we will have a quiet talk
He spoke to Organ and the nurse,
who left us at once
ssWho is my nurse?" asked
S'One of the ladies' attending upon
the princess. You are growing well
, again, SO it is fair to say that her
. h1ghness made good choice. It was
|. suggested that Lady AIdrida should
= be sent to nurse you, but there were
> circumstances which might have made
. the lady an awkward nurse. No, ]
cannot tell you what the circumstances
were
''Why am prisoner here? Has
vasca headed a revolution and been
successful?' ga
.'Had he done SO you would have
been no longer even a prisoner. But
I come; will save your questionings
and tell you what can. You perhaps
remember what the man who attacked
: you said when he was dyingg'
s"That he should be free If he killed
me-"
| .
said Jasar. tI tried to get him to tel
more, but he died too quickly. He
: | must have been deceived, for freedom
had already been granted to all the
prisoners without conditions. There
fore, Sir VerralI, an enemy has en-
deavored to take your life by the han6
Of this prisoner"
> "And the enemy ?' asked.
! 1.-THE man died before he could
speak, Jasar answered.
'tBut how did he pass the guards al
the head Of the staircasef'
"As soon as your safety had beer
a looked after and you had been brought
here her highness sent for the men
The truth will perhaps never be known
g There was treachery in our midst" ia
sar continued 1.-THE whole palace wa:
l. awake at once, and even In the town
there was little sleep that night. SearcI
was made for the murderers in vain
:. At the council next day her highnesi
did her utmost to probe the matter tt
4 the root She let it be understood tina
: she believed it treachery against her
: self; that the assassin's dagger was in
y tended for her, and shout of loyalt,
was the answer. It rang in the rafter4
n | of the council hall and found an ech,
in every street in the city. Then, ST
=. | VerFaIl-and mark YOU this weII-he
: highness said that it was you who hat
! saved the life Of the sovereign, comm.
near to your own death in the act
|