The Washington times., 1909-11-18

standstilI- There was no
mistaklng the angry scowl. Are you
friends OF that shaker II you are get
out Of my cart"
Hes all right" cried Truxton. Tell
him who we are, Lorraine and why We
must get to the city.
Five minutes later, the farmer over
come by the stupendous news, was lash
ing his oxen with might and maini the
astOnished beasts tore down the road 10
Rom so braVely that there seemed
some prospect OF getting telegram
through in time. All the way the ex-
cited countryman grOaned and SWore
and sputtered his prayers. AT Rom
they learned that the operator had been
unable TO call Edelwetss since Z O'Clock
The wires were down or had been cut
Truxton left a message to be sent TO
Dangloss in case he could get the wire,
and OF tley started again for the city
gates, having lost considerable time oy
the diverted mile or two.
Not a man. woman, or child did they
encounter as the miles crept by. The
country was barren Of humanity. Ahead
of them was the ascent to be conquered
tv oxen so old and feeble that the pros
pect was more than dubious.
IF il should be that my team gives
out I viii run on myself 70 give the
alarm" cried the worthy, persplring
chariOteer 1T shall not be! God pre-
three times the oxen broke down.
uantinR and stubborn; as many times
cursed them into action again. They
stumbled pitifully, but they did manage
10 go forward.
In time the city gates came in sight
far up the straight, narrow road, Pray
God we may not be too late groaued
the farmer. Damn the swine who took
their horses 20 town before the sun was
up. Curse them for fools and imbeClles.
Fools never get into heaven. Thank the
good Lord for that
Ii seemed 10 the QUivering Americans
that the gates were hooking them by
drawing farther away instead OF coming
nearer.
Are we going backward groaned
Truxton, his hands gripping the side Of
the bounding seat
Near the gates, which were still open.
81 occurred to him I'm a single flash Of
dismay that he AMI Lorraine would be
recognized and intercepted by MarlanX
watchers. Between the fierce jolts Of
the great cart he managed TO convey
his fears to her
IT was she who had the solution
They might succeed in passing the gates
81 they hid themselves In the bed of the
cart underneath the thick canvas COW
ering The farmer lifted the cloth and
they craWled down among the melons
in this fashion they not only covered
the remainder Of the distance, halI
Stifed by the heat and half murdered
ny the uncomfortable position, but
passed through the gates and We're tax
en- gathering down the streets toward
the center OF town
ITO the tower cried the anxious
TruXtOn.
"ImpossibleT' shouted the farmer.
''The streets are roped on and the
crowds are too great
Then let us out as near the tower
as possfble" cried the other.
"Here we are cried the driver.
few minutes later, pulling up his half
dead oxen and leaping 70 the ground.
He threw of the covering and they
lost no time In tumbling from their
bed OF melons 20 the CObblestOne pave
ment Of a narrow alley into which he
had turned for safety. Through this
passage he gasped, hoarse with eE-
clteme nT- 1.-THE tower is below. Fol
low me- Ny oxen Will stand. I am go
ing with your his rugged face was
aglow.
on through the alley they hurried.
King disoalning the pain his ankle
crowded square a few minutes later.
The clock In the cathedral pointed TO
2 o'clock and after! The catastrophe
had not yet taken place; the people
were laughing and singing and shout
Ing. They were In time. Everywhere
they heard glad voices crying out that
the prince was coming! II was the
royal band that they heard through
"Great Godr' cried Truxton. stop
ping suddenly and pointing with
street and a little below where they
had pushed through the reseutful,
staring thrOnR on the sidewalk
There she isi AT the cornerl stop
herr
He had caught sight OF olga Plata
nova
The first row Of dragons was already
passing IN front Of her. Less than two
hundred feet away rolled the royal
coach Of goidi All this flashed before
the eyes Of the distracted pair. who
we're now dashing frantically into the
open street, oisreRarding the shouts OF
ire police and the hOWls Of the crowd
"An anarchist" shouted King hOaree-
IS. Ee looked Ike one himself 'sTHe
bomb The bomb Stop the princer"
Colonel QuinnOG recognized this beard
ed. unc0uth figure. and the flying, ter
rifed girl at his heels. King was drag
ging her along by the hand. There was
an instant confusion on the part Of the
vanguard, a drawing Of Eabers a move
ment toward the coach "a which the
prince rode.
Quinnox alone prevented the dragons
from cutting Down the pallid madmau
Who stumbled blindly toward the
coaches beyond Re Wiliried his steed
after an astonished glance in all dircc-
ions. shouting eager commands an the
while When he reached the side Of the
Easping American, that person had stop
ped and was pointing toward the treTa-