The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-08
CHAPTER XII.
A NEW PRISONER ARRIVES

TT was far past midnight when
King was reused from the dOze
into which he had fallen. eX-
hausted and disccnsolate, an
hour earlier. Sounds Of unusual COM
motion reached him from the outer
room. Instantly he was wide awake
breathing heavily in the sudden over
towering fear that he had slept for
many hours and that the time had
come for the conspirators to go forth
Was Il the 26th?
Loud, quick commands came 10 ms
ears the moving Of eager footsteps
the drawing OF bolts.
'sThey are here at last" he heard
some one say. God, this suspense
has been horrible. But they are here.
stand ready, then, with the guns
,,vfer5 Foe.er Rrt5f5gS eft may be a
trick. after all. Don't open that door
down there, Spantz, until you know
who is on the outside
Then followed a long interval or
sfrs ali right" came at last in the
relieved, eager voice OF Peter Brutus.
~Clear the way. comrades give them
roomi BY our Holy Father this is a
brave triumph. Ah|
Heavy footsteps clogged into the
room, accompanied by stertorOus
breathing and no small amount OF
grunting from masculine Threats
Doors were closed, bolts shot and
then many voices let loose their flow
Of eager EXPLANATIONS. Not one but
three or four different languages were
spoken by the excited, intense occu-
pants Of the outer room; King could
make nothing OF what they said.
Finally the sharp, inCisive voice Of
William Spantz broke through the
babble, commanding silence, still un-
conscious" he said. when some
measure OF order was secured.
Yes" gTunted one of the men, evil
n since
house above the ramparts. No need
for gags or bonds. but we used them,
just the same Now. that we are here.
what IS 10 be done?
We will have our Instructions to-
morrow. The count is 10 inform US
before nightfall where she Is TO be re-
Schloss Marlanx" Brutus inserted a
cruel. heartless laugh. and then added:
There she is to remain until he is
quite ready 70 take her TO new apart
Tnents-in town. Trust the master TO
dispose Of her properly. He knows how
4 handle women by this time"
A woman, thought TruEtOn. The
CONTEST They had brought her here
from Balak, after all. What a re-
Iaorseless brute Marlanx must be to
Tnaltreat his beautiful wife as-Trux-
ton did not complete the angry re-
hecti0n. Words from the other side
Of the door checked the train Of
'sTo my mind she is more beautiful
than hts own wife" observed Anna
CrOmer "She will be a fine morsel
for the count. who has even cast long
ing eyes on so homely a mortal as J. "
"Au women are alike TO him." said
6pantz sententtously Il hope she is
not TO be LETT here for long. ] don Z
ike women about al a time like this.
No OfIense, Madame DrOvnask'
She u go tomorrow night I'm sure d"
Eaid Peter. i told the count we could
not keep her here over the-over the 26th.
You see, there IS a bare possibility
that none OF Us may ever come back
after the bomb IS hurled See? We
Don't want a woman 70 die Of star
walton down here In that event
cont care what happens TO the man
IN there But the count does not want
this one 10 starve- Oh, no; not her,
we must put her In the room with
the American for the present. You
are sure he viii take her away be-
FORE saturday, A Womau's cries are
most distressing" II was spantz who
spoke.
I'll stop her crying" volunteered
Anna Cromer harshly.
] fancy you could, my dear" agreed
Epantz. They all laughed.
She's regaining her senses ex-
claimed one OF the men. STAND back
every one. Give her air
ARR. cried Anna Conner. TITS at
q premium down here, 2aOui."
Presently the door 20 Kings room
was thrown open. He had got 70 his
feet and was standing iu The center
Of the room, his eyes blinking I'm the
"FIeIIoi' cried Peter BrlItus. s.vou Nm
eh? We've got a fair lady for you, NV
friend. Get back there, you dog Keep
81 your corner"
Truxton faced the ugly crowd beyond
the door for a moment, and then fell
back 10 the corner 20 watch the uro-
ceedings with wondering. plying eyes
You are a fine bunch OF human be-
fngst" he blurted out. savage with de-
SPAR and rage. No one gave heed 10
the compliment
4 man with a lighted candle entered
first, holding the light above his head
He was followed by two others, who
supported the dropping lettering figure
let her sit there against the wall,
She must not be left in the dark. He
saws she is not TO be frightened TO
death Women are afraid of the dark
and strange dogs. Let there be light +"
Fcoffed Peter Brutus, splitting toward
mi get YOU for that some day"
srafed The American, white with anger
Iefer hesitsted, then spat again and
laughed loudly
Spantz. we are not children. Turn
ing to the King, he went on, a touch Of
Kindness in his voice. Cheer her n you
can. She IS one Of your class. DO not
let the lights go out
Raising his hands. he fairly drove the
others from the doorway. An instant
fater. King and his miserable half-cOn-
sscfous companion were alone, locked lu
fogether. the htfuI light from the candle
on the floor playing hide and seek Do
shadows he had not seen before during
his age of Imprisonment
FOR r long time he stood IN his corner,
watching the figure huddled against the