The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-07
ASTORY OF GRAUSTARK
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GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1903. by Dodd. Mead s. Co.

he is afraid OF what he calls .Ameri-
can luck. He IS even superstitIons
about it,"
we must not-we cannot fail"
grated William Spantz, and the cry
was reiterated by half a dozen voices.
The world demands success of Gsl'
cried Anna CTOmer. I'VE die IOr
success, we die for failurel II is an
OneI
The next morning, after a sleepless
night TruXton King made his first
determined effort to escape. All night
long. he had lain there thinking of
the horrtd thing that was TO happen
on the black 26th. He counted tho
DAYS, the hours, the minutes. Morning
brought the 25d. only three DAYS
more! on. II he could but get one
word TO John Tullis, the man MaraInx
feared; II he could only break away
from these nends long enough TO
utter one cry of warning to the
world, even with his dying gasp.
Marlanx feared the Americans! He
even feared him, "a helpless captive,
The thrill of eXulIation that ran
through his veins was but the
genesis OF an impulse that mastered
He knew that two armed men stood
guard in the outer room daV and night
me door TO the stairway leading into
the armorers shop was of iron and
heavily barred; the door opening iato
the sewer was even more securely bolt
ca; besides, there was a great stone
door at the foot of the passage. The
Keys TO these two doors were never out
OF the possession Of William Spantz: one
OF his guards held the key to the stair
way door. His only chance lay in his
ability TO suddenly overpOwer two men
ana make off by way OF the armorer' s
shop.
When his little door was opened on
the morning of the 23d, TruxtOn king S
long, powerful figure shot through as
u sped by catapult- The man with the
candle and the knife went down like a
peer, noored by a blow on the Jaw
The American. his eyes blazing with
nope and desperation, kept onwap1-to
ma himself face 70 face with Olga Pa
tanOvai
She was staring at him with fright
ened eyes. her lips apart, her hands
90 her breast The tableau was brief
He could not strike her down. With
a curse ne was turning to the man on
me u0ors eager TO snatch the keys from
his belt A scream from her drawn lips
held him; he whiTled and looked into
the now haggard face Of the girl ne had
considered beautiful The penalty for
her crime was already written there.
She was to die in three days.
He has not the keyl" she cried
Nor have ]. You have no chance to
escape. Go back! Go backi They are
A key ratified in the door. When #
swung open, two men stood in the aper-
ture. both with drawn pistols The girl
leaped between them and the helpless,
defeated American
'Rememberi' she cried. you are not
10 kill hint"
Peter Brutus had risen from the floor.
half dazed but furious. He made a
vicious leap at King, his knife ready
for the lunge."
I'm glad it's you. roared King.
leaping aside. His fist shot out and
again Brutus went down. The men in
the doorway actually laughed.
a good blow. even IL il avafIs Won
nothing" said one OF them drvly Gle
is not an especial favOrite with Us. Re
turn TO your room at once Miss Plata
nova, call your uncle. It is now neces-