The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-26
THE CROSS OF KAZZA
PART III.

mon stable boys, had been given
the famous Gross uf Kazza, =
given only to members OF the royal
family, and for brave deeds. He
found his voice and said:
Princess, Eya, thou hast paid
me a great honor. Wouldst not
thy father be angry at thee for
giving the famous Cross of Kazza'
to me?"
HE will never know. Besides,
it is my own to give to one that
has done a great deed for me.
But. Oh, Taxa, never must thou
speak of the scene in the garden,
or should die. Perchance some
day you will learn all, but keep this
silver cross. 1t has a legend that
whenever the owner does some
thing good and brave the diamond
will turn a brilliant red. If the
owner does evil, the diamond will
become a dark green. So, brave
Taxa, never let it blaze green Let
it always be red or pure white"
And the princess fled before Taxa
could utter a word. He put the
silver chain around his neck and
put the silver cross out Of sight be-
meath his blue tunic.
That night the pale moon cast
her light over the sleeping castle;
but Taxa could not sleep, SO,
slipping into his clothes, he went
out to walk in the fresh night air
AS he neared the window of the
court room, he heard low, voices.
and listened. The voices were
coarse low voices, and they came
from the treasure rooms, and one
was the voice of man in the
garden.
Courage gave wings to his feet,
and slipping along the long. silent
hall, he stopped in front of the
treasure room door. The voices
could be heard plainly now. !
Then the voice of the man in
the garden said: "Ah! Look at the
gems, men; we are rich! Thou
thick-skulled sons of the Devil,
thou wouldst still be poor if it
were not for. me-"
Taxa pushed against the door 1t
gave way, and he walked in softly,
where the highly polished silver
candlesticks with their tall white
candles. burned brightly, and four
men, including the man of the gar
den, were STOPPING over the large
gold caskets, in which were the
priceless gems. Ta-the man of
the garden-had wonderful rope
of sparkling rubies in his hand,
and they sent out rays of crimson
in the candle light.
Taza's mind was made up, and
he drew a short gold dagger from
his tunic "a queer weapon for a
stable boy) and, in his clear voice,
said:
IF thou art done admiring the !
gems, | think thou hadst better
co."
The men turned quickly (and
Taxa saw they were all ugly crea- /
.ures). Then Ia dropped the
sparkling rubies and in his evil
loarse voice, said:
We'll, well, so tho vast worried
about me, and hast come searching
or me? Thou art faithful friend,
Is faithful as beautiful Ely"
That's far enough" said Taxa,
cOldly, before Ia had
inished the sentence.
'Dost tho think that l came
earching for you to protect you?
Way, Oh, Evil One, l would stand
" and watch you burn in Hades
nd be filled with laughter"
Very fond of thee, Ta," MUIR
lured On of the men.
Now, no more talk, but thou
adst better go before the dawn
atches thee"
And Taxa stepped aside u he
aid this, to let them pass, his dag
er ready for action.
Ia started for the door first, as
lough to obey, but he turned
uickly and grabbed Taxa; and
aza fought. Down tumbled the
liver candlesticks and the rogues
,rgot the gems in thei rexcite-
tent of the fight.
First, Ia was choking Taxa;
len, by a simple boxing trick,
aza was on top and tried tos