Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-13

By GEORGE BARR m'curcHEoN
Copyrighted 1901 by Herber, S. Stone.

be encountered. He will be bound
and gagged without the least noise or
struggle. Just as the clock strikes
the cook will walk past the scullery
window in the basement thrice, carry
ing lighted candle. You will see
this light through the window and
will know that oil is we'll inside the
i castle. Ostrom, you will then lead
the two Niennese to a place directly
beneath the third window In the prin-
cess sleeping apartment There are
several clumps Of shrubbery there, and
under these they will hide, protected
| from the gaze Of any Waterman who
is not with us. You and Geddos will
be admitted to the scullery by the
cook, who will conduct you to the hall
leading to her highness' bedroom. The
man who guards her door is called
| Dannox. He will not be ut his post,
but will accompany you when you
leave the castle. You will understand
how carefully you must enter her room
and how deeply she must be chloro-
formed. In the adjoining room her
lady in waiting. the Countess Dagmar.
sleeps. Ii her door Is ajar, you are to
creep In and chloroform her, leaving
her undisturbed Then the princess is
to be wrapped in the cloth you take
with you and lowered from the wiu-
dow to the men below. They are to
remain in hiding until you have left
the castle and have reached their side.
1t will not be difficult. If caution is OBJ
served, for you to get outside OF the
wall and to the carriage in the ravine.
have given you this plan Of action
/! before, know. but desire to Inn
press it firmly upon your minds. There
must not be the slightest deviation.
Tho precision of ciockwork is neces-
sary."
The man named Michael Kissed the
foregoing into the ears Of his compan-
ions. tho palsied Americans hearing
every word distinctly. They scarcely
breathed. so tremendous was the re-
straint imposed upon their nerves. a
crime SO huge, SO daring as the abduc.
ton OF princess. the actual invasion
of castle to commit the theft OF hu.
man being just as an ordinary burglar
would steal In aud mike way with the
contents of silver chest. was beyond
their power Of comprehension.
I'VE understand fully how it is to be
done. and we shall get her to Ganlook
on time," said Geddos confidently.
mot hair Of her head must be-
harmed" cautioned the arch conspira.
tor. 'In four days shall meet you at
Ganlook. You will keep her In close
confinement until you hear from me.
Have you the guards uniforms that
you are to wear tonight!'
"They are with the carriage in the
ravine. Ostrom and will don them
before going to the castle. In case we
are seen they will throw observers on
the track long enough for Us to secure
a good start in our flight"
Remember, there is to be no failure.
This may mean death to you, certainly
a long prison term, il you are appre-
hended know 1t is q daring deed, but
It is Just Of the kind that succeeds.
Who would dream that mortal man
could find the courage to, steal prin-
cess of the realm from her bed and
spirit her away from under the very
noses Of her Wanted guardsmen7 1t is
the bold, the impossible plan that
wins"
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
Caias 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
na. You will explain to them, Geddos.
All we need them for, as you know. is
to prove by their mere presence in case
of capture that the attempt was no
more than case of burglary conceived
by band Of Viennese robbers. There
will be no danger Of capture IL you
once get her outside the walls. You
Gun be half way to Ganlook before she
is missed from the castle. Nor can
she be found at Ganlook If you follow
the instructions gave last night. 1t
Is now nearly 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. Go, but.
for Gods sake, do not harm her! And
do not fail!'
Failure means more to US than to
you, Michael" half whispered the
hoarse Ostrom.
Failure means everything to me!
must have herr
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 consptra-
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.
7 .,,,, stry>B.fe, |