Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-29

| luctant charges through small door
and they found themselves in the bag
gage room of the hotel. Despite theil
queries he offered no explanation, but
rushed them along, passing out of the
opposite door, down short stairway
and into a side street. A half dozen
police guards We're awaiting them, and
| before they could catch the faintesi
idea Of what it all meant they were
! running with the officers through an
alley as if pursued by demons.
"Now, what in thunder does this
mean?" painted Lorry, attempting to
slacken the pace. He and Anguish
were just beginning to regain their
/ senses.
do not stop! Do not stopr wheezed
Dangloss. you must get to place of
safety. We cannot prevent something
dreadful happening if you are caughtr'
IF we are caught.' cried Anguish.
why, what have we done?"
! "Unhand ME, Baron Dangloss. This
is an outrage shouted Lorry.
For heavens sake, be calm. We are
befriending you. When we reach the
tower, where you will be safe. / shall
EXPLAIN" gasped the painting chief of
| police. A few moments later they were
inside the prison gates, angry, impa-
tent, fatigued.
rs this plan to prevent the duel?"
demanded Lor1y, turning upon the
chief, who had dropped Imply into a
chair and was hopping his brow. When
he could find his breath enough to an
swer, Dangloss did so, and he might as
well have thrown bombshell at their
| feet
"There'll be no duel. Prince Lorenz
| is dead"
"Dead!' gasped the others.
Found dead in his bed, stabbed to
the hearth exclaimed the chief ''We
have saved you from his friends, gen.
tlemen, but l must say that you are
still in a tight place"
He then related to them the whole
| story. Just before O'Clock Mizrox had
gone to the princes room to prepare
him for the duel. The door was closed,
but unlocked, as lie found after repeat
ed knockings. Lorenz was lying on the
bed. undressed and covered with blood.
The Mortified duke made hasty ex-
animation and found that he was dead.
A dagger had been driven to his heart
as he slept The hotel was aroused, the
police We're called. and the excitement
was at its highest pitch when the two
friends came from their room q few
minutes after 6.
But what have we to do with this
dreadful affair? Why are we. rushed
off here like criminals?" asked Lorry,
a feeling Of cruel gladness growing out
of the knowledge that Lorenz was dead
and that the princess was freed from
her compact
.My FRIEND" said Dangloss slowly,
you are accused of the murder"
Lorry was too much stunned to be
angry, too weak to protest For some
moments after the blow fell lie and
Anguish were speechless. Then came
the protestations. the rage and the
threats, through all of which Dangloss
sat calmly. Finally he sought to quiet
them, partially succeeding.
Mr.. Lorry. the evidence is very
strong against you, but you shall not
be unjustly treated. You are not a
prisoner as yet. In Graustark man
who is accused of murder and who was
not seen by any one to commit the
crime cannot be legally arrested until
an accuser shall go before the princess,
who is also high priestess, and swear
on his life that he knows the guilty
man. The man who so accuses agrees
to forfeit his own life in case the, other.
is proved innocent. If you are to be
charged with the murder of the prince,
some one must go before the princess.
and take oath-his life against yours.
am holding you here, sir, because it is.
the only place in which you are safe.
Lorenz's friends would have torn you
to pieces had we not found you first.
You are not prisoners, and you may de-
part If you think 1t WISE
But how can they accuse me? 1
knew nothing Of the murder until I
reached this place." cried Lorry, stop
ping short in his restless walk before
the little baron.
$50 you say, butt
"If you accuse me, I'll kill your
whispered Lorry, holding himself tense.
Anguish caught and held him.
BE calm, sir" cautioned DangIoss.
Il may have my views, but l am not
willing to take oath before her royal
highness. Listen: You We're heard to
say you would kill him. You began
the fight. You were the aggressor, and
there is no one else on earth, it is said,
who could have wished to murder him.
The man who did the stabbing entered
the room through the hall door and
left by the same. There are drops of
blood in the carpet, leading direct to
your door. On your knob are the
prints of bloody fingers where you
or some one else-placed his hand in
opening the door, 1t was this discov-
cry, made by me and my men, that
fully convinced the enraged friends of
the dead prince that you We're guilty.
When we opened the door, you were
gone. Then came the search, the fight
at the head Of the stairs and the race
to the prison. The reason / saved you
from that mob should be plain to you.