The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-03

W eASA NC ASdppcdIcu, TIC uldA III
whom they had confidence, and the
man who had confidence in himself.
With such an adversary King Michael.
or even the stouter soul now at. his
side, might well find pause.
Soon it will be indeed too late, your
majesty" exclaimed Count Frederick.
Conceive must find some safety in
the inner chambers of the palace.
Luckily it was built for precisely such
a crisis as this in it's fate. Come,
mademoiselle, your hand, quick. Your
majesty, it is not beneath your dig.
nifty to hasten now"
Pursued by vague noises of combat
and by countless vague fears conjured
up by their surroundings, deep in the
hidden Businesses, they went on until
at length they were far below the
level of the rooms devoted to the usual
purposes of the daily life of the palace.
Below them, before them, all was dark.
ness and gloom. They were well
among the subterranean dungeons
which had held SO long their secrets
against all corners.
Michael was the prey Of yet added
apprehensions as he found himself
thus leaving the light of day and ven
turing among these regions whose-tra-
ditions held them. so. potent in ter
TOR for the. human mind as cnce they
had offered terrors to the human body
Yet he could do no more than follow
the guidance of the bolder mind which
now led on.
They were followed in some part
! by the refugees of the palace, as anx-
ious as themselves to find some ref
uge. So at length they halted in an
abiding place which. for the time at
least was silent-a deep dungeon
where light and sound alike were cut
of. Such had been their haste that
all were swell,nigh .exhausted-Mi-
esael spent most OF all and voicing
most OF all the babbling of his NOR
tai anguish. Thus circumstanced,
they found such places Of rest as
offered and waited for what. might
| come.
Meanwhile the relentless Sachio was
searching some entrance into the pal
ace, the hiding place Of his enemies,
and, as he supposed, also Of the wom-
/ an whom gladly he would have called
his friend-the woman whom he
feared most Of all.
Break in the door, men," he cried.
Smash in any window. Enter, in the
name of our own king. We have them
defeated now, and they must not es-
cape-they are trapped here, and we
will soon have them in our hands. "
His men obeyed. There came soon
the splintering of wood, the crashing
OF glass at the palace windows. Be-
fore many moments had passed the
legions Of Grahoffen were pouring
through the breach and over-unning
the interior of the palace. Sachio,
with some hurried instructions to an
aide. led on the advance. All through
the upper portion of the palace the
echo of hurrying footsteps resounded
"They are coming" said Kitty at
length quietly to her companions.
They have taken the palace. We can
not escape. This must be the end.
They will have us out now at any
cost"
what shall we do? Where shall
we hide? What will become Of me?"
walled Michael. Save me, Frederick,
save me. What shall do?'
you shall keep silent, your ma.
jesty, II you please. You can 60 no.
where better than this. will do
what l can" rejoined Frederick. Most
beloved majesty, you are in hard
case, but pray you. trouble US not too
much in the work Of doing what we
can for your majesty and ourselves
Trying now this door, now that, sd
vancing, receding, the men of Ora.
hOffen came on. They filed up the
corridors, all the reception halls OF
the front and rear of the Gretzhoffen
palace. Count Sachio. his king, his
leaders and their soldiers-all now
joined in the last dash upon what they
thought to be the finish of their en-
emy's last citadel.
Aloof and apart, concealed for the
time in the remote cell which had re-
] ceived them, Count Frederick and his
companions hoped against hope fol
yet . little while. but hoped in vain
Again came the crashing Of doors, the
rush of feet on the stone floors. Use
less to contend against their numbers
the last door was broken through
Discovered, surrounded, trapped
Count Frederick and his companions
faced their assailants.
.'So," laughed Sachio, ~ he stood
painting but triumphant, after his last
attack. so. ct last! You have rur
far. my friends. and lodged US very
nimbly. Where shall you 60 now. my
good count-where shall you 60, my
pretty one-and you, your august ma
jesty Of 0retzhonen, before whom
must tremble-what is the next place
Of retreat for your"
His taunt had truth under it. The
last card seemed to have been played