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

CHAPTER VIII.--In the evening Lorry
and Anguish ramble about the grounds of
the castle where dwels the court of the
Princess Of Graustark. They overhear a
plot to abduct the princess and resolve to
capture the plotters red handed.
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued)
I'VE cannot fail II your men on the
inside do their work WELL" said Ged-
dos, repeating, what Ostrom had said.
"All depends on their faithfulness."
They will not be found wanting
Your cutthroats must be sent on to
CALAIS with the empty carriage after
you have reached Ganlook in safety.
You will need them no more. Ostrom
will pay them, and they are to leave
the country as quickly as possible. At
Caias they Will be able to Join pack
train that Will carry them to the Great
Northern railroad. From there they
will have no trouble in reaching Wen
ma. You Will explain to them, Geddos
AL we need them for. as you know, Is
to provo by their mere presence In case
of capture that the attempt was no
more than ense of burglary conceived
by g band Of Viennese robbers. There
will be IN danger of capture IL you
once get her outside the walls. You
can be lislf Wsy to Ganlook before she
is missed from the castle. Nor can
she be found at Ganlook if you follow
the Instructors gave last night. 1t
is now nearly l o'clock, and in half an
hour the night will be as dark as
Erebus. Go. men; you have no more
time to lose, for this must be accom-
plished slowly, carefully, deliberately.
There must be no haste until you are
ready for the race to Ganlook. Co. but,
for Gods sake, do not harm her! And
do not failw
Failure means more to us than to
you, Michael" half whispered the
hoarse Ostrom.
Failure means everything to mel
must have her!'
Already the two hirelings were NOV
ing off toward the road that ran west
of the castle grounds. Michael watch
ed them for moment and then start
ed swiftly in the direction Of the city.
The watchers had not been able to
distinguish the faces Of the conspira-
tors, but they could never forget the
calm, cold voice of Michael, with its
quaint, jerky English.
"What shall we do?" whispered An
guish when the men were out of hear
ing.
God knowsv' answered Lorry. "This
is the most damnable thing I ever
heard of. Are we dreaming? DID we
really see and hear those men?" He
had risen to his feet, his companion
sitting weakly before him.
There's no question about it! It's a
case Of abduction, and we have 1t in
our power to spoil the whole fob. By
CAD. but this is luck, Grenw Anguish
was quivering with excitement as he
roae to his feet. 'Shall we notify old
Dangloss or alarm the steward? There's
no time to. be lost If we want to trap
these fellows. The chief devil Is bound
to escape, for we can't get him and tho
others too, and they won't peach on
him. Come, we must be lively! What
are you standing there for? The trap
must be setP'
"Wait! Why not do the whole Job
ourselyesT
"How-what do you mean?'
"Why should we alarm anybody 2
We know the plans as well as these
scoundrels themselves. Why not fol-
low them right into the castle, capture
them red handed, and then do the alarm
ing? I'm in for saving the Princess Of
Graustark with our own hands and
right under the noses of her Wanted
guardsmen, as Michael says" Lorry
was thrilled by the spirit of adventure.
His hand gripped his friends arm and
his face was close to his ear. at Is
the grandest opportunity two human
beings ever had to distinguish them
selves"
Great heaven, man! We can't do
such thingp gasped Anguish.
"It's the easiest thing in the world.
Besides, il we fail, we have nothing to
lose. II we succeed, see what we've
donel Don't hesitate, old man! Come
nni Come on! Well take 'em our