The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-28
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It was an unusual thing for him to be there at all. I heard a captain of the guard ask him the reason.
 ''The kings orders," he answered shortly.
 Then there was the flare of torches in the square, and the king came out, followed by several knights. only noticed one particularly. the one. who walked beside him, the strange knight who had come to the city yesterday. saw the king whisper to him, and the knights eyes wandered round the square in search of some one.
 With my comrades I had risen to my feet and stood waiting.
 The king did not look toward me, but the knight did and our eyes met. Then he turned to the king and spoke to him.
 Perhaps 1t is no sight for such eyes as yours,'' heard the king say. "Re- tire if you wil''
 square toward one of the entrances to the palace. There he paused.
 There is a traitor among us. Guard the square well. We shall find a short way of dealing with him. It is easy to play the traitor, but he shall find 1t difficult to bear the punish ment." Escape seemed impossible, but that short method the king spoke of came as a tonic to me and gave me the courage of desperation. I saw O'Ryan with his company waiting for the kings command. saw the knight still at the palace entrance regarding 1 the scene as he might have watched an interesting comedy. Who was he? 1 Surely it was he who had betrayed me. l cfI io1a seemed long. Then the king looked at me quickly, straight and without hesitation. He knew exactly the spot where I stood.
 Seize the traitor, CIiuton!" and his arm shot out, pointing at me as he | spoke.
 It was no time to plead. My sword was In my hand in moment, and rushed to the open side of the square. It never occurred to me that I could save my life, but might escape the 1 fortress. I looked to see O'Ryan rush to fight his way out with me, but he did not do sd. Instead he gave word of command to his company and, lead l ing them, roared as he came:s
 For the kings honor! Seize the traitorYf
 I I was betrayed, indeed, and by the I man I. had trusted. I dashed onward. That the command to arrest me had l come suddenly gave me the advantage l for moment. Those about me had no time to lay hands upon me. I was half across the space toward my only hope of escape before a man came l within reach of my sword, and then I seemed to be surrounded. 'Take him aliveY' I heard a voice cry. The devil who cried it was be- 1 k 11w.6 Into the thick of my enemies went. always a little space before me clear ed by the swing of my weapon Yet they closed in upon me. Hands be- hind attempted to hold me, but I shook them off.
 They rushed in upon me on every side. struck right and left with my sword. I struck out with my left arm. I struggled forward. My enc
 mics fell back from me. Only one man seemed to stand between me and freedom. I cut him from my path l and sprang over him as he fell. ''Take him aliver' The cry was behind me. My enc mics were behind me, and rushed znadIy through the streets of the city. I did not know the city well, and to my dfsmay soon discovered that l had travelled in a circle. Suddenly man across the street beckoned to me. | It was the strange knight. He led me into narrow passage and through door but few moments before my pursuers rushed past. O'Ryan, it seemed, was the trattora not the strange knight.
 1 'I believed that it was you who had l betrayed me. have wronged you,'' I said.
 'I have a message for you from a woman who loves you welI,'' said the | strange knight, ''so well indeed that your heart is her only home, and thus she enters it-''
 The last words were hissed out as a swift blow struck me. was saved from death by the mailed shirt wore. I knew the strange knight now-Lady Aldrida!
 I She threw her arms around me and called to my pursuers: I had to tear myself from her. She staggered back ward and fell escaped into the next street and soon found myself opposite ORyan's house.
 There were lights within Two or three torches were before the door, throwing grotesque shadows of men standing there, and in the street to the left and to the right were torches.
 The place was well watched. I drew back into the passage down which I had come and considered my position. O'Ryan knew of the rope, and since he had turned traitor it was probably no longer in it's place ready for use.
 The more weighed the possibilities
 so much the more did it seem to me
 that my only escape lay through the
 house opposite. There was another fact which hurried my decision.
 heard the distant cries of other bands
 of enemies who had been securing the city in search of me. If desperate effort was to be made, now was the
 time to make it. I eripped my sword firmly, made certain that the dagger
 in my belt could be easily drawn and