The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-05
OF THE
S 7 A r
BY Percy
Br@[bm@r

restored little before we punish you
for your treaehery. 1t would be a |
poor recompense to see such a man
die like a woman"
''Your highness shall not see that
I said.
1--WE have heard many a strong man
boast as much" he answered. 1--WE
have good arguments against the
boast. TO the fortress with him, but
treat him gently. He shah have a
chance OF proving his boast. You,
madame, too, are weak, for all you
stand so brave4y. You shall have rest
and gentle treatment for awhile Then
we shall find means to pay you for the
lives of our subjects which your re-
bellion has caT1sed. To the fortress /
with them both.':
I was placed in the litter again and
carried up to the fortress. They were
very gentle with me, and, knowing
what was In store for me, some of
them may have pitied me.
The, guard of the fortress received
us, and with considerable amount of
Formally was handed over to my
new jailers. 1 hardly noticed them,
for my eyes were fixed upon figure
sitting in porch within the gateway.
The man sat Imply, looked as though
he were in pain, and I saw that his
arm was in q rough sling. Hope was
not dead. 1 had a friend in the for
tress
"O'Ryan?' I cried, tone of Joy In
my voice doubtless.
He looked at me, but did not move.
There was an exasperat1ng chuckle
at my ear, and turned to face the
Spaniard, Costa.
He was fatter and greasier than ever,
and he was tricked out in bright ar
NOR.
.sYou'n ind that friendship dead.'' he
said
I glanced at Organ He had risen
from his seat and looked SO different
from what 1 had known him that l
concluded that the wound I had given
him in that desperate fight upon the
stairs must have been deeper than I
had thought
81 will come and make you comfort
able presently when I have attended
to your princess" Costa said. t"Truly
this fortress is honored now
He laughed as the heavy door closed
upon me. Presently he returned. fol-
lowed by two men carrying rugs, with
which they proceeded to make me
not uncomfortable bed in one corner
Costa sat down on a stool and re-
manned silent until he dismissed them.
''You have good COUCH he said
directly we were alone. ''You1 will
have good food and drink. You are
well lodged
I answered.
He laughed.
''That is q good description"
stMy position anluSeS you?''
mot yours SO much as the wo1n-
ans
s.Do you mean she rrincess:"
"Call her SO if you WILL" he an
swered. Carrying herself like a
queen-in armor,. too; nothing of the
miserable prisoner about her. All, it
amuses me greatly"
els she lodged in the fortress ?"
asked as funconcernedly as possible.
Eyes, my friend. AS chief of the
fortress have the honor to entertain
you both. She is now clothed as
! woman, and as a woman All, she is
better, much better. She has beauty
enough to make fools of some men"
stTake care you are not one of them"
| I said.
"You are too good a warning" he
| answered. See what the love of a
woman has brought you to-"
Lover laughed. els that laid TO
my charge too7"
s'Do you say you are not in love with
| this woman who calls herself prin-
cess? Count Vasca spoke differently
| "Am I to be judged by what Count
Vasca says of ne?'
''There are other matters, many other
matters, that need not tell you off,
| 'And the punishment
'sIn good time. It will come
<EWhen am strong enough to bear
it,"
He nodded.
tsThe machinery and torture, then
death and an exit from Yadasara that
way I pointed to the corner of the
cell where the locked fagstone was.
stYes,'' he said, rising, ''but it may be
easier than you think-it depends
upon what?''
"The executioners.''
'And the princess rs 1 asked after p
pause.
/ He shrugged his shoulders.
at is always difficult to prophesy the
fate of beautiful woman he an
swered. But for you, my friend, let
me advise-make friends with the exc
cutioners.''
i Go BE Continued.)
POINTS OF INTER EST