The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-20
GEORGE BARR McCuTcHEoN
CHAPTER TX (cosrINuED).
...By..
isai. ~ tSerosst 8. Stone

icIt. WITHOUT inc letSC Sign OF JEear
Geddos and Ostrom glided into the
hall and made for the staircase. The
watchers could not but feel a thrill, of
admiration for these daring wretches.
But now q new danger confronted
them. The cook remained standing I'm
the doorway watching his fellows in
crime! How were they to pass him2
There was no time to be lost. The
nbductors were creeping up the steps
already, and the cook must be dis
posed Of. lie had blown out the light
which he carried and was now n very
q dim shadow. Lorry gllded forward
and In an instant stood before the
amazed fellow, jamming u pistol into
his face.
"a sound and you die!" he Kissed.
Don't mover came another whis.
per, and a second revolver touched his
ear. The cook, perhaps, did not know
heir language, but he certainly under
food it's meaning. lie trembied and
Would have fallen to the floor had not
Inc 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 n sound" whispered the
= owner of the hand. Anguish's twltch-
Ing fingers succeeded those of his
Friend OH the cook's throat. his pistol
WAS returned to his pocket, and the
little hottie came again into use.
"Ill go AHEAD. Follow me as soon
rs YOU have finished this fellow. Be
careful and turn to the left when you
como to the top"
IOrry was off across the marble floor,
headed for the stairway, II Anguish
was left in charge of the cook, Of whom
he was to make shor work. Now
s came the desperate, uncertaia 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 n long hall, Mt 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 q great post. From this
point he edged along the wall for q dis
lance of ten or twelve feet to the left.
A sound came from farther down the
hall, and he imagined he heard some
approaching.
His hand came in contact with a
heavy hanging or tapestry, and he
quickly squirmcd behind its folds, find
ing himself against n 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 n 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 a man glided past,
quickly followed by another. ProvI-
dence had kept him from running
squarely into them. They were going
toward the left, and he realized that
they were now approaching the prin-
WOO AOohi' llOW hC Guile 10 De tueuu
OF them he could not imagine. Again
he felt the door move slightly rs he
pressed against 1t. The necessity for q
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.
Holding to the door, he stood inside
and drew himself to his full height,
taking q long and tremulous breath.
There was no light I'm 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
had h9 not seen the light from her
Window Perhaps he was now in the
room Of the Countess Dagmar. Next
doarI 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 md open the
door leading to the next room, sur
missing that 1t would be unlocked, but
he remembered Anguish, who was
doubtless, by this time, stealing up the
stairs. They must not be separated,
FOR II would require two steady, cool
heads to deal with the villains. 1t was
not one mans work. AS lie turned to
leave the room lie thought how won
derfHlly well they bad succeeded In
the delicate enterprise SO far.
His knees struck the door, and there
was q dull thump, not loud i'm reality,
but like the report of a gun to him. A
sudden rustic In the darkness of the
room, and then a sleepy voice, soft and
quick, as Of a woman awakening with
q start:
"vho is III?
His heart ceased beating, his body
grew sim ana immovaDlc. Again the
Foiee, o toneh Of alarm In 1t now:
lis that YOU, DannoxT
She spoke In German, and the voice
came from somewhere I'm front and to
his right. He could not answer, could
not movc. The paralysis Of indecision
wae upon him.
"H9w Ia It that the outer door is
apep@ f6s8 500
This time there was something like
e reprimand In the tones, still low.
He ALMOST could see the wide open,
searching eyes.
CHAPTER x.
YErIvE.
A APIWA ~ Ltn II Aa"tl L. - HxallaA. fA.f