The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-12-29

|
advisers.
Something that the Committee
of Ten did not know was this
those alien workmen were nc
less than SO many hired mercen.
aries in the employ of the Iron
Count, brought together by that
leader and his agents for the
sole purpose of overthrowing the
crown in one sudden, unexpected
attack, whereupon Count Mar.
lanx would step in and assume
control of the government. They
had been collected from all parts
of the world to do the bidding
of this despised nobleman, nc
matter to what lengths he might
choose to lead them. Brutus, OF
course, knew all this: his com
panions on the committee were
in complete ignorance of the true
motives that brought Marlanx in.
to their operations.
With cunning that com.
mands admiration, the Iron
Count deliberately sanctioned the
assassination of the little prince
by the Reds, knowing that the
condemnation of the world would
fall upon them instead of upon
him, and that his own actions
following the regicide would al
once stamp him as irrevocably
opposed to anarchy and all of its
practices!
In the course of his remarks
Peter Brutus touched hastily up
on the subject of the little
prince.
Hes not very big" said he
with a laugh, land it won't Ae.
quire a very big bomb to bloN
him to smithereens. He will
Stop" cried Olga Platanova
springing to her feet and glarine
at him with diiated eyes. 81 can
not listen to you! You shall not
speak of it in that way! Peter
Brutus, you are not to speak Of
of what l am to do! Never
never again!"
They looked at her in amaze
ment and no little concern. Ma.
dame Drovnask was the first to
speak, her glittering eyes fas.
tened upon the drawn, white face
of the girl across the table.
Are you going to fail? Are
you weakening?" she de.
manded.
mo! am not going to fail!
But l will not permit anyone tc
jest about the thing l am to do
1t is sacred duty with me. But
Madame Drovnask-alI of you
listen-it is a cruel, diabolical
thing, just TIE same. Were il
not in behalf of our great hu.
mainly. l, myself, should call II
the blacklist piece of cruelty the
world has ever known. The
slaughter of a little boy! A dear
innocent little boy! l can see the
horror in all of your faces! YOU
shudder as you sit there, think
ing of the thing I am to do. Yes
you are secretly despising me
your instrument of death! IL
a girl, / am to cast the boml
that blows this dear little body
to pieces. l! Do you know
what that means? Even though
am sure to be blown to pieces b.
the same agent, the last thing
shall look upon is his dear, ter
rified little face as he watches me
hurl the bomb. All"
She shuddered violently as she
stood there before them, her eye:
closed as If to shut out the hor'
rible picture her mind was
painting. There were other white
faces and ice-cold veins about
the table. The sneer on Anna
Cromer's face deepened.
"She will bdngle it," came IL
an angry hiss from her lips.
Olga's lids were lifted. Hel
dark eyes looked straight into
those of the older woman.
"No," she said quietly, hel
body relaxing, 81 shall not bunglt
it."
William Spantz had beer
watching her narrowly, even sus
piciously. Now his face cleared
"She will not fall" he an
nounced calmly. tLet there be nj
apprehension. She is the daugh
ter of martyr. Her blood is his
1t will flow in the same cause
Sit down, Olga, my dear. We will
not touch upon this subject agar
until"
81 know, UNCLE" she sale
quietly, resuming her seat and he
attitude of Indifference.
The discussion went back tt
Truxton King. isn't it possibl,
that he is merely attracted by tn,
beauty of our charming yount
friend here?" ventured Madame
Drovnask, after many opinions
had been advanced respecting hi
interest in the shop and it's con
tents. at is habit with Ameri
cans, I am told"
"Miss Platanova is most worth.
of the notice of any man." agreed
Brutus, with an amiable leer
Olga seemed to shrink within her
self. 1t was plain that she wa'
not kindred spirit to these vi
cious natures.
''It is part of his game" sale
Julius Spantz. "He knows Olga
past; he is waiting for a chanc,
a. nntnh hnx nff hnr crnnrd II.