The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-19
The Cross Of Kazza
Chapter v.
PAGE THREE

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dressing, the King led him to
where the Royal Queen had met
her unhappy end. Then Taxa said
quietly:
III you have horse saddled for
me and two strong men to accom-
pany me in case of an attack l will
bring back your daughter just as
she left you and all your gems in
GLIDING the Cross of Kazza and the
murderer of your wife. If I can
not, / will not return"
King Moza ordered three of his
fastest steeds saddled and told two
Of his favorite knights Sir Vaza
and Sir Cyar to accompany Taxa in
his adventure. (Va-za). (Si-ar).
The sun shone down on three rid.
ers that day, on three coal black
steeds.
This was Taxa and the two
knights Vaza and Cyar. At noon
they rested under a tree in the
shade and ate their simple lunch,
then journeyed on.
One day, three days later they
slipped upon the camp of the
thieves and Taxa saw Ia, the man
of the garden and Taza's blue eyes
grew hard for he knew Ia had the
girl he loved-Princess Eya. Taxa
turned to the two men at his side
and said:
Comrades, I will go thither, dis
guised as a hungry, thirsty, foot
sore, dying stranger and perhaps l
can make good my promise. Stay
close. If / blow three blasts on
the horn / wear around my neck
come at once. farewell and the
three parted, the two taking Taza's
horse with them.
Then Taxa made up his simple
disguise. He ran his fingers thru
his thick yellow hair and threw
gravel in it, then threw dirt over
his dark red suit and drawing off
one sandle threw it away in the
grass and started limping towards
the camp.
A seminal met him at the gate
but Taza's gasping breath and
limping gait led to no suspicion
Also Taxa had put on a black patch
over his right eye and a long
brown beard Che had, brought for
this purpose) disguised him so Ia
would not recognize him. Some of
the rogues were really kindheart-
ed and fed the stranger and brought
him pair of their sandles for his
feet. Taxa told them his name was
Patch O'Deil' and the men all had
heard of Patch O'Deip the greatest
rogue off the gallows but had never
seen him so they readily took him
as their comrade. When Taxa was
brought before Ia, Taxa gritted his
teeth to keep from killing the beast
but he put on bold front and Ia
accepted him as one of his gang.
In a week Taxa grew disguised
at the r0gues' everlasting boasting
and took a walk around camp. "Per-
haps," he though. 81 can find Eya."
At the large tent of the captain
he saw a slight youth in blue
clothes struggling to carry bucket
of water which was too heavy for
him. Taxa walked quickly towards
the slim youth and said quietly:
Here, here. my lad thou art too
frail to lift that, let me carry It,"
The youth raised his face and
Taxa almost cried out for it was
Princess Eya.
"Eya, Eya," he murmured.
The youths face grew puzzled
and then in the voice Taxa knew
was Eyas said:
who art thou that knowest my
name? And Taxa pulling off the
patch and beard said:
Look beloved. l have come to
take you home"
Taxa" cried the happy maid and
threw herself in her lovers arms.
Then she said softly:
I'm so happy just now. Taxa, for
| love you but | can never go home.
If you knew all you would despise
me. | will tell thee all now.
Nay, nay, dear Eya, do not tell
me something that pains thee to
tell for thou coulds't not do wrong,
thou angel of purity"
Yea, | must tell thee first, Ia,
the rogue, is my lawfully welded
husband" -Thelma /. Darby.
(To be continued.)