Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-06-30

plished slowly. carefully, deliberately.
There must lie no. haste until you are
ready for the race to Ganlook. Go, but,
for Gods sake, do not harm heri And
do not fail!'
you, Michael" half whispered the
hoarse Ostrom.
Failure means everything to mel 1
must have her!"
Already the two hirelings were NOV
ing of 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 dot" whispered An
guish when the men were out of hear
ing.
God knows" answered Lorry. This
is the most damnable thing 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 it in
our power to spoil the whole job By
CAD. but this is luck. Gren!" Anguish
was quivering with excitement as he
rose to his feet. Shall we notify old
Dangloss or alarm the steward? There's
i,,o 10, no, Q
these fellows. The chief devil is bound
to escape. for we can't get him and the
others too. and they won't peach on
him. Come. we must be lively! What
are you standing there for? The trap
must be set!''
WAIT! Why not do the whole job
ourselves?"
"How-what do you mean?"
why should we alarm ANYBODY?
we know the plans as well as these
scoundrels themselves Why not fol-
low thcm right into the castle. capture
them red handed, aud 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 vaunted
guaNsmen, 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. "It is
the grandest opportunity two human
beings ever had to distinguish them
| selvesv'
1 Great heaven. man! We can't do
such q thing!' gasped Anguish.
Its the easiest thing in the world.
Besides, ii we fail, we have nothing to
lose. II we succeed, see what. we've
done! Don't hesitate, old man! Come
on! CoMe on! Well take lem our
selves, as sure as fate. Have you no
nerve2 What kind of an American are
your This chance won't come in ten
lifetimes! Are we not equal to those
two sccuEdrels?"
1.-TWO! There are at least ten Of
them@
you fool. The three guards are dis
posed of in advance, two of the Wen
nese are left with the horses, two are
chuckcd of under the princess win
dow, and one stands at the gate. We
can slug the man at the gate, the fell
lows under the window are harmless,
and that leaves but our two friends
and the cook. We have every advan-
tage in the world. Can't you seer"
"You are right! Come on! I'll risk
It with yau! We will save the Princess
OF Graustark!"
Don't you see it will be just as easy
for us to enter the castle as for these
robbers? The way will be clear and
will be kept clear. Jove. man, we need
not be more than thirty seconds behind
them. Is your pistol all right?"
BY this time the two men were speed
ing along the grassy stretch toward the
road that ran beside the wall. They
N,Oked to their pistols and placed them
carefully in outside coat pockets.
We must throw away these heavy
canes. whispered the painter to his
i friend. who vas pace or so ahead.
i Keep It: Well need one Of them to
crack that fellows head at the gate.
Gnd. it's dark along herew
How the devil are we to know where
to goy'
Wen stop when we come to the
gate where we climbed up the wall to-
day. That is the only entrance saw
along the west WALL and it is near the
i castle. Just as soon 40 the gang en-
tiers that gate We'll crawl up and get
rid Of the fellow who stands watch"
TWAS so dark that they could barely
see the roadway, and they found 1t nee
essary to cease talking as they skunk
along beside the wall. Occasionally
they paused to listen, fearing that they
might draw too close upon the men
who had gone before. At last they
Il esme to big gate and halted.
rs this the gateY whispered An
| guish.
"Sh! Yes; I'm quite sure We are
undoubtedly near the castle, Judging
by the distance we have come. Let US
cross the road and lie directly opposite
Be carefulv'
/ Like panthers they stole across tn,
road and down short grassy embank
J ment. At Anguish's suggestion Lorry
wrapped his handkerchief tightly abou
the heavy end Of his cane, preparing IL
that way to deaden the sound of the
blow that was to fall upon the Vienna
mans head. Then they threw aside
their hats, buttoned their coats tightly
!, and sank down to wait, with bound
ing hearts and tingling nerves, the ar
rival of the abductors, mutely praying
| that they were at the right gate.
ITO be continued