The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-05
ASTORY OF GRAUSTARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1893. by Dodd. Mead & 90.

With courtiy bow he turned from
the tense-muscle captive and directed
/ his final instructions TO the men. ''Take
him at once to the city. but be on your
guard. A single false move now means
utter ruin for all Of Us. Our affairs
so so well at present that we cannot
amOrd tD offend Dame Fortune. She
smiles Oh us, my men. Take this fool
TO the house on the Monastery road.
Ihere you VIII turn him over to the
others. It is for them TO drag the
truth from his lips I'd suggest, dear
AIR. King, that you tell them all you
know before they begin the dragging
process. 1t is very unpleasant way
they have" With a curt nod to the
men, he strobe out through the mouth
OF the gave and was gone. Dusk had
settled down upon mountain and val
| ley; a thin fog swan high in the air
above. One Of the men cut the rope
that bound Truxton's feet.
Get up" said the Newport man.
| We've got TO be mOvin'. How'd you
! like the old man? Smart bug, amt he
| say, he'll throw the hooks into them
guys down in Edelweiss so hard one of
these days that they won't come out
/ till they rot out"
Stln gagged and somewhat dizzy, King
/ was hurried of into the narrow noun
/ tain path, closely surrounded by the
/ five men,
"They tell me your friend. the Cook
/ guy. got plugged down in the Gap when
/ he tried to duck this afternoon volun-
] teered the Yankee uncOncernedly.
| Hobbs shot? Kings eyes suddenly
| filed with tears. a great wave Of Pity
! and shame rushing TO his heart POOr
/ Hobbs! He had leo him into this; 20
/ crafty a Vain-glOriOus whim, he had
| done the little Englishman TO death.
| The silent, cautious march down the
/ valley, through he Gap and along the
/ ridge carried them far into the night.
/ King knew that they were sEirdng the
I fra HFarr 70 Na ali
| den trails Of the mOuntaineers. They
/ carried no light nor did they speak to
1 each other, except In hoarse whispers.
| IN single file they made their way, the
/ prisoner between them. weary. fOOtsOre
/ and now desperate in the full reauza-
/ ton Of his position. Being gagged, he
/ could make no appeal TO the one man
/ who might befTiend him-his Villainous
| thOught-that the astute MaTlanx mad
/ considered that very Obability. and
J had made Il impossible for him TO re-
/ sort to the stupidity OF the hireling.
/ At last, when he could scarcely DRAG
1 his feet after him, they came to a halt
i A consultation followed, bat ne could
/ not understand a word This much he
/ knew: they were in the hills directly
/ above the northern gates. Two of tue
/ men went forward, moving with eX-
/ IRENE caution. In half an hour they re-
/ turned and the march was resumed.
/ Their next halt came sooner than he
]
/ a Hghtless house doomed up before them
] In twinkling he was hustled across
/ the road and into a door. Then down
/ a flight OF stairs. through pitchy dark
! ress, guided by two of the men, a wins
pered word Of advice now and then from
! the Yankee saving him from perilOus
/ stumbles. He was ierlled up sharply
l with a command to stand still A Ifght
/ flashed suddenly In his face, binding
I him for the moment Voices in ca ger
! quick conversation came TO his ears Ions
/ before his eyes could take in the situa-
/ ton.
/ Soon he saw that they were In a
] broad. bare cellar; three men in heavy
. black boards were in earnest couversa-
/ ton with several Of his eaptors; an were
/ gesticulating fierceiy.