Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-11

here the trio paused. Down a great
marble hallway dim red light shed
Its soft glow. It came from the lamp
at the foot Of the broad staircase.
The cook pointed to the steps and
then gave his thumb jerk toward the
left. Without the least sign Of fear
Geddos and Ostrom glided into the
hall and made for the staircase. The
watchers could not but feel thrill of
admiration for these daring wretches.
But now a new danger confronted
them. The cook remained standing in
the doorway watching his fellows in
crime! How were they to pass him7
There was no time to be lost. The
abductors were creeping up the steps
already, and the cook must be dis
posed Of He Ind blown out the light
which he carried and was now very
dim shadow. Lorry glided forward
and in an instant stood before the
amazed fellow, Jamming a pistol into
his face.
"a sound and you die!' he Kissed.
"Don't mover came another whis-
per, and second revolver touched his
ear. The cook, perhaps, die not know
their language, but he certainly under
stood it's meaning. He trembled and
would have fallen to the floor had not
the strong hand Of Lorry pinned him
to the wall. The hand was on his
throat too.
"Chloroform him, Harry, and don't
let him make sound" whispered the
owner of the hand Anguish's witch
ing fingers succeeded those OF his
friend on the cooks throat, his pistol
was returned to his pocket and the
little bottle came. again into use. +,
tI1l go ahead. Follow me as soon
as you have finished this fellow Be
careful and turn to the left when you
come to the top
Lorry was off across the marble floor,
headed for the stairway, and Anguish
was left in charge Of the cook, Of whom
he was to make short work. Now
came the desperate, uncertain part Of
the transaction. Suppose he were to
meet the two conspirators at the head
Of the stairs. or in the hall, or that the
other traitor, Dannox should appear
to Illustrate all. 1t was the most try
ing moment in the whole life. of the
reckless Lorry.
When near the top of the steps, he
Rugged the high balustrade and eau
tiously peered ahead. He found. him
self looking down long hall. at the
far end Of which, to his right, a dim
light was burning. There was no
sound and there was no sign of the
two men either to the right or to the
left. His heart felt like lead. They
evidently had entered the princess
room. How was he to find that room?
Slowly he wriggled across the broad,
dark hall, Strengthening up in the
shadow of great post. From this
point he edged along the wall for dis
lance Of ten or twelve feet to the left
A sound came from farther down the
hall, and he imagined he heard some
one approaching.
His hand came in contact with a
heavy hanging or tapestry, and he
quickly squirmed sbehind It's folds, find
ing himself against door which
moved as his body@touched 1t. He felt
1t swing open slightly and drew back,
intending to return to the hall. uncer-
tain and very much undecided as to the
course to pursue. His revolver was in
his hand. Just as he was about to pull
aside the curtain man glided past,
quickly followed by another. rrovi-
dence had kept him from running
squarely into them. They were going
toward the left, and he realized that
they We're now approaching the prin-
cess room. How he came to be ahead
of them he could not imagine Again
he felt the door move slightly rs he
pressed against it. The necessity for
partial recovery Of his composure be-
fore the next and most important step
impelled him softly to enter the room
for an instant's breath
1 Holding to the door, he stood inside
and drew himself to his full height,
taking long and tremulous breath.
There was no light in the room, but
through the door crack to his left came
a dim, broad streak. He now knew
where he was. This room was next to
! that in which the princess slept, for
Hio nc Aot seeu IAc L&Ht LrOtn ueI
4 window? Perhaps he was now in the
room of the Countess Dagmar. Next
door! Next door! Even now the dar-
ing Geddos and Ostrom were crawling
toward the bed Of the ruler of Grau-
stark, not twenty feet away. His
first impulse was to cross and open the
fdoor leading to the next room, sur
missing that it would be unlocked, but
he remembered Anguish, who was
doubtless, by this time, stealing up the
stairs. They must not be separated,
for it would require two steady, cool
heads to deal with the villains. It was
not one mans work. AS be turned to
leave the room he thought how won
derfully well they had succeeded in
the delicate enterprise SO far.
His knees struck the door, and there
was dull thump, not loud in reality,
but like the report OF gun to him. A
sudden rustic In the darkness OF the
room, and then sleepy voice, soft and
quick, as Of a woman awakening with
a start:
"Who is itT'
His heart ceased beating, his body