Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-22

with my two hands alonew
| lie took 4 stride toward Simon who
shrieked in terror and dartcd behind
| a heavy table.
palm down. on the table. vaulted it.
and caught the man by the throat
forcing him to his knees and shaking
him like a rat
Nainiy the usurpcr plucked at those
iron wrists and strove 10 free his
throat that the terror Of death which
chokcd him-as much as the pressure
OF Philips thumbs upon his windpipc-
might be a little eased.
And then. of sudden, Philip an
Dreciatsd what he was doing a great
ioathinE flied him. for himself. for his
purpose which he conceived to be u
molly duty. but mostly for that writh-
ing mask. mottled red and blue and
gray with fear and stranculatiou.
which swayed beneath his vision. Ana
he knew that he could not finish this
task to which lie had set his hands.
Abruptly he released Simon's throat
and threw him to the floor.
You are too foul thing for me to
XIII. he said. II am not public ex
ecutloher. But stay there till
I give YOU leave to rise"
He was momentarily pcrplexod hy
the look on Simon's face. Neither Era d.
titude for this respite nor apprehcn-
sion of future punishment was there.
that lie could sec, but something as
tonishingly like triumphant contempt.
The cause of this was speedily made
apparent. With snarl. Simon raised
on an elbow and levelled q uuiyeriny
arm at Philip.
Seize him." he shrillcd shoot him
down If he stirs q hand"'
The cold nuzzle of revolver was
pressed against the base OF philip's
nrain. He stiffened to absolute inmo-
hiliiy Then two troopers Of tho pal
acc guards appeared on either side
OF him and began to search him for
weapons In tho meantime others has
tened to assist the usurper to his feet
fhiiin had neglected to secure the
door; tho room had filled behind him
with people of the palace.
saEcing in the arms of the troopers
Simon cNerted n terrific effort 10 over
com" what seemed to hc n mortal
seizure. His countcnance. livd and
CHASTITY. was for a moment tho battle
heid Of intense physical anguish His
eyelids huttered. his hard lips srinned
back from his teeth. \ servant stem
ped TO his side with n draucht i'm a
glass. forcing few drops Of this into
tn" mouth of the sufferer. At this he
oeEan TO recover. In another minute
he was able to resume command Of tho
situation. His action was PROMPT.
Lead him 10 the window. there" he
ordered open II. Stand him upon
the balcony outside. where his would
be loyal subjects may see him. Half
dozen Of YOU with pistols stand here
AS firing squad Let those dogs that
howl outside my palace gates sec this
dog die
There was dead hush in the apart
ment as Simons orders were carried
out: but as the long French windows
opening on the balcony were thrown
open and Philip was thrust through
them. great waves Of sound beat into
the room-the roaring of an infuriated
mob
Philip looked down upon sea NJ
faces that stretched unbrokcn from the
far,hcst boundaries OF the great plaza
TO the closed gates of the palace court
yard.
The instant he appeared he was
recognized; howl of adulation and
welcome went up. then imme diately
was stillcd as those nearer the gates
perceived Philips plight and communi-
Gated the word to their fellows.
And the silence without the room
was as the silence within. where tho
firing squad stood in readiness for
Simon to speak the word.
"A minute heightened without event.
Philip looked around curiously. TO dis
cover that Simon was suffering sec
ond seizure. But the ministratious Of
his attendants were speedily. all too
speedily. bearing fruit. The man was
recovering with alarming rapidity.
He stood erect. now. unaidcd. cruel
smile wreathinE the lips that a moment
since had been pale and distorted in
pain.
He opened them to utter tho com
mand TO fire.
BEFORE this could happen, tho Prin-
cess Julia broke through fringe of
people Of tho palace and threw her
self between Philip and the firing
squad
Her action was synchronous with
Simon's third and final stroke. AS il
smitten TO earth by some great unseen
hand the usurper dropped where he
stood and lay writing in his last
agony.
y priest appeared to linccl on his one
side a physician on his other. The
latter rested a hand on Simon'S heart.
Simon lay still now: and there was
silence for sixty seconds.
Then, withdrawing hts hand. the
physician announced
The King is dead
ono of the officers of tho palace
guards moved out 10 join Philip on
the balcony.
The King is dead" he shouted to
tho populacc.
trumpet call Of juhiiation:
Long live King Philip the Third"
THE END.