Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-11


IA spoke not more than half a
dozen times and in the faintest
of whispers. They could hear the
guard pacing the driveway inside the
ponderous gate, but aside from his
footsteps no sound was distinguishable.
A sense of oppression came over the
two watchers as the minutes grew
longer and more deathlike in their still.
ness.
They knew nothing of the surround
ings. If they failed. there was the dan
ger of being shot by the guards before
an explanation could be made If they
succeeded, it must be through sheer
good fortune and not through prowess
of mind or muscle. Both knew the
sensible, judicious act would he to
alarm the guards and thus avoid all
possible chance of a fasco. With mis-
pvings and doubts in their hearts the
two self appointed guardians of the
princess lay there upon the grass,
afraid to give up the project, yet fear
ing the outcome.
The dickens will be to pay, Lorry,
If they dispose of this guard on the in
side and lock the gate. Then how are
we to follow" whispered Anguish.
Lorry was thoughtful for awhile. He
felt the chill of encouragement i'll his
heart.
In that case we must lie outside and
wait till they come out with the prin-
cess; then make a sudden assault and
rescue her. In the darkness we can
~, ii; .I y
cuers,' he whispered at length. After
awhile Anguish asked another appal-
ling question, the outgrowth of brain
racking study:
Suppose these fellows, who will be
IN guards uniform, should turn about
and capture us. What then? We are
strangers and our story would not be
believed. They could slip away in the
excitement and leave us in very awk
ward position"
Harry, if Ne are going to hatch up
all sorts of disabilities, let's give up
the thing right now. | have thought of
q thousand contingencies, and ! realize
how desperate the job is to be. We
must either cast discretion to the winds
or we must retreat. Which shall we
do?
Cast aside discretion and hang our
fears" said the other, once more in
Epircd. "Nell take chances and hope
for the best. If we see we are going to
fail, we can then call for the guards.
The grounds are doubtless full of sol
diers. The only part I'm worried about
Is the cropping through that strange
lark CASTLE
1--WE must do some calculating, and
we must stick close together BY
watching where they station the two
Niennese we can figure about what di-
rection we must take to get to the prin-
cess room. Sh! Isn't that some one
Bpproachingf"
They strained their ears for a mo-
ment and then involuntarily spasmod-
ically shook hands, each heaving the
deep breath of excitement. The stcalthy
rustic of moving bodies was heard,
faint, but positive. 1t was moment
of suspense that would have strained
the nerve of a stone image. Where
We're the abductors? On which side Of
the road and from what direction did
lDty cDllJt! Oll lOE lHc ~ 70 VI IL cat.
There was a slight shulllng of feet
near the gate, suppressed Ssh" and
then deathly silence. The gate opened,
faint creaking attesting the fact, fol-
lowed by the heavy breathing of men,
the noise Of subdued activity, the scent
of chloroform, some whispering and
then the creaking Of the gate.
"They've gone,' whispered Anguish.
IOrry's form arose to a crOuchinS pos
ture and a moment later he was cross
ing the road with the tread of a cat,
his cane gripped firmly in his hand.
Anguish followed with drawn revolver.
So still was their approach that they
We're upon the figure of man before
they were aware of the fact. In the
darkness the foremost American saw
the outline of human figure bending
over long object on the ground. He
could smell chloroform strongly and
grasped the situation The VienE.se
was administering the drug, his com
panions having left that duty for him
TO perform. No doubt the treacherous