The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-18


] vas lying on my back In one Of
the barraek hospital beds. There
was a sudden movement near mo.
and O'Connell. the one man In tho
Guard with whom | had become al
all friendly. rose from n chair near
tho window.
fiou,"
"Ah. that's good. You recognized
me You are better"
The sound OF our voices brought
In nurse Who ordered no morc
talking. began 10 mend rapidly
once | had taken the road towards
recovery. and with my returning
strength o'ConnelI's attendance be.
came constant.
You're disappointment 10
me-" ! said 10 him ono day. You
don't look the kind OF stuff OF
which traitors are made"
"All kinds OF stuff are worked
up into that article. air: still, I
shouldn't call myself q traitor.
You see. the circumstances are
peculiar
There are no circumstances
which ercus. a man for allowing
himself TO be bought"
Bought Faith. I had no
chance OF selling myself. The
Guard was bought. that's true
enough. whether they've done
much harm Is another matter.
Captain Huismann they didn't at.
tempt to buy. and he's dead. Thoy
didn't attempt 10 buy you. and how
you come 10 be alive In a marvel"
'lH the Count master OF Draw
stadtf DO tho people call him
KingF"
They will as soon as be has time
10 get crowned"
And the Priucess'" ! asked.
she is stlll In the city. but who
knows whether Christian OF varna
will marry her now"
And what do you suppose tho
Count intends TO do with moT ]
asked after a pause.
That IA moro than can tell.
but the Count sends you this"
O'Connell said. 1T slipped from
your tunic when YOU were picked
up that night. Love seems to have
armored you to some purpose"
He tossed upon my bed a little
gray shoe Gray and dainty
s,Ill: but there were narrow. clean
cuts In IL. and deep hole in the
heel, and the gray OF Il was stain.
ed, dark and red. stained with
blood mine.
Undoubtedly this shoe had saw
ed my life. These cuts In II must
have served 10 change a little the
direction OF the thrusts which
made them. and from one vigorous
blade the heel had saved me alto
gether.
But as to what the Count want
cd OF me did not learn until. heal
ed Of my wounds. | was able 10 an
swer a summons TO his presence
The Count was seated I'm the
room where King Philip had been
wont TO give audience TO his Off
GERS. With him. besides several OF
the prominent men who had come
from Varna. were some who had
been deeply In the counsels OF King
Philip.
Trooper Heselton." the Count
said, motioning me TO approach
noted that 7 was no longer consid.
/ cred an officer In the Guard. and
I realized that he spoke az king,
conscious OF his position and his
power.
"You have done your utmost TO
uphold and defend King Philip" he
continued: "let me show you that
you fought in a poor cause. His
people. high and low. except a few
recipients on his special favors,
hated him. his rule was tyranny:
his treatment OF Princess Suzanne
a scandal; moreover. he was a
usurper on the throne.
Naturally. ! have many enc
mics yet to deal with" he said, aft.
ter pause II may put them TO
fire and the sword. but such meas
ures do not make for lasting peace.
! would first make an attempt TO
turn such enemies into friends. SO
I ask for your friendship"
And the condltions7" I said.
There are none. | am not max
ing a bargain nor offering a brlbe.
II you elect 10 swear allegiance TO
me. ! shall trust you 10 keep your
oath; If not-need I put the alter.
native into words?"
~ will take an oath of allie,
| glance" I said.
The oath ! was required to take
was sufficiently binding. When the