The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-13
CHAPTER TX.

Sph AI1O1 oc lOhh1 AND ANGUlb6.
EN- URING the half hour spent in
the grassy ditch or gutter they
WD 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 vas 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, 1t must be through sheer
good fortune and not through prowess
Of mind or muscle. Both knew the
sensible, judicious act would be to
alarm the guards and thus avoid all
possible chance Of a fasco. With mis-
givlngs 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,
IL they dispose of this guard on the in
side and lock the gate. Then how are
we to follow7" whispered Anguish.
Lorry was thoughtful for awhile. He
felt the chill Of encouragement in his
heart.
"In that case we must lie outside and
wait till they come out with the prin-
cess; h make n sudden assault and
rescue her. In the darkness we can
make them think there are q dozen res
cuers," he whispered Mt 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
n 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 q very awk-
ward position"
Harry, If we are going to hatch up
all sorts Of possibilities, let's give up
the thing right now. / have thought of
a thousand contingencies, and 1 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:
spired. "We'll take chances and hope
for the best. If we sec we are going to
fall, 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
dark CASTLE"
eve must do some calculating, and
we must stick close together. BY
watching where they station the two
Viennese we can figure about what dl-
rection we must take to get to the prin-
cess room. Sh! Isn't that some one
approachingT
They strained their ears for q mo-
ment and then i~nvoluntarily, spasmod-
tcally shook hands, each heaving the
deep breath OF excitement. The stealthy
rustic Of moving bodies was heard,
faint, but positive. 1t was a moment
of suspense that would have strained
the nerve of a stone image. Where
were the aDductors? On which side of
the road and from what direction did
they come? Oh, for the eyes of a catl
There was q slight shufHing of feet
near the gate, n suppressed "Shp' and
then deathly silence. The gate opened,
a 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.
Lorry's form arose to n crouching pos.
ture, and a moment later he was cross.
Ing the road with the tread of Il cat,
his cane gripped firmly in his hand.
Anguish followed with drawn revolver.
SO still was their approach that they
were upon the figure of n man before
they were aware of the fact. In the
darkness the foremost American saw
the outline of q human figure bending
over o long object on the ground. He
could smell c%hloroform strongly and
grasped the situation. The yiennese
was administering the drug, his com.
panions having left that duty for him
to perform. No doubt the @treacherous
guardsinan was lying calmly on his
back, bound and gagged, welcoming
unconsclousness with q smile of securi-
ty.
a soon as Lorry gained his bearings
fully he prepared to fell the wretch
WHO was to stand watch. Anguish
heard his friends figure suddenly shoot
to nm erect position. There was a whir-
ring sound as OF disturbed air and then
a dull thud. Something rolled over ON
the ground, and all was still. He waa
at Lorry's side In an instant.
X hope T haven't killed himis whis-