The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-06
ASTORY OF GRAUS TARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1863. by Dodd. Mead & CO.

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pleasure Of the majority by urging the
necessity for physical torture 70 wiring
the governments secrets from the prls-
ouer. King, half famished. hair crazed
nv thirst had been listening 10 the
fierce argument through the INN uoo5
that separated the rooms. he nedtd
the sudden, eager movement toward the
door of his cell, and squared hlInseI
against the opposite wall, ready 10 nght
10 the death. Then there came voice
that he recognized.
A woman was addressing the rabld
cOnspirators in tones OF deadly earnest
ness. His heart gave great bound. IL
was the first time since his incarcera-
ton that ne had heard the voice of
Olga PlatanOva. she who had warned
him, she who still must be his friend.
once more he threw himself 10 tne
floor and glued his ear to the crack;
her voice had not the strident quail
ities Of the other women In this lovely
company.
You are not to do this thing" she
was saying. King knew that she stood
between her companions and the door
You are not to touch MIN 10 you
hear. me, Peter Brutus2 All Of your
There followed the silence of stupetac-
ton, broken at last by voice which ne
recognized as that of Old man Spantz'
"Olga! Stand asideH
NO! You shall not torture him.
have said he IS no spy / stiH say II.
He knows nothing Of the police ana
their plans. He has not been spying
upon us. ] am sure Of t..
How can you be sure OF itE' cried
a woman's voice, harsh and strident.
He has played with YOU" sneered
another.
II viii not discuss the point. / know
he Is not what you say he Is. feu
have no right TO torture him You have
no right 10 hold him prisoner.
God. girl, we cannot turn MIN loose
now. He must never 20 free again. He
must die" This was from Spantz.
we cannot release him. I grant you.
she said, and Truxton's heart sank.
Not now, but afterward, yes. When
IT is all over he can do no harm. But
hear me now. all Of you. If he Is
harmed In any way, II he is maltreated,
or IL you pursue this design TO staTve
him. I shall not perform my part OF the
work on the 26th. This is final"
For a full minute, Ii seemed TO King,
no one spoke.
Peter Brutus. You are pledged. You
are sworn. You are ordained
TRY me and see If ] VIII not do as
say He IS to be treated kindly so long
as we hold him here. and he is to be
released when the committee is IN pow
er. Then he may tell all that he knows,
for 1t VIII be Of no avail. He cannot
escape, that you know. If he were
spy I would offer no objection TO your
me lods. He is an American gentleman
a traveller. I, Olga Platanov2, say this
TO YOU II IS not plea. not a petition;
il is an ultimatum Spare him or he
glorious cause must suffer by my de-
fecIlon."
"shl Not so loud, girl, He can hear
every word you say"
"Whv should it matter, madam? He
is where he can do no harm 10 our
cause. Let him hear. Let him under
stand what 1t IS that we are doing. Are
we ashamed Of our duty TO the world?
If so. then we are criminals, not de-
liverers. ] am not ashamed of what
God wills me to do. II Is horrible, but
II is the edict of God. ] Will obey. But
GOd does not command as to torture
an innocent man who happens 70 fall
into our hands. MOI Let him hear.
Let him know that I, Olga PlatanoVa,
am to hCrl the thing that IS to destroy
the life Of Prince Robin. ] am not
afraid 20 have him know today what
the world viii know next week. Let
him hear and revile me now, as the
world will do after II IS over and / am
all the people Of this great globe are
Joined to our glorious realm. Then the
world win say that Olga Platanova was
not a beast, but a deiiverer. creator!
Let him heart"
The listeners blood was running cold.
The life of Prince Robin! An assassi-
nation! The thing that Will Destroy"
For half an hour they argued with
her, seeking 10 turn her from the stand
she had taken: protesting TO the last
Stage FUESltlg AtE TOT a sentimental
fool Then they came TO terms with
her. TTUxtOu King owed his life to this
strange girl who knew him not at all,
hut who believed in him. He suffered
intensely in the discovery that she was
i'm the end TO lend herself 70 the COM
mission OF the most heartless and dia-
bolical Of crimes-the destruction of that
innocent, well-worshiped boy Of Grau-
You must be in love with this sim
ple-minded American, who comes"
Peter Brutus started to say at one stage
of the discussion when the fTail girl
was battling almost physically with her
tOrmenters.
stop peter Brutus. you shall not
say that You know where my love
lies Don't say that to me again, you
besstP' she had cried, and BTutus was
Truxton was brought into the room
with emotion as he faced the committee
of ten. Before a word could be adj
DRESSED to him. ne blurted out:
You damned towards! Weak as
am 7 would have fought YOU, Miss
Platanova, IL ] could have got through
that door Thank you for what you
have done to convince these dogsf
would 10 God / could save YOU from
this thing you are pledged 10 do. It is
frightfult ! cannot think II of yOui
Give Il M! All Of you, give this thing
up! I will promise secrecy viii never
betray what / have heard. Only don't
do this awful thing! Think OF that dear
Olga PIatanova cried out and covered
her eyes with her hands, murmuriDg the
words dear little boy" over and over
again. She was led from the room by
William Spantz. Peter Brutus stood
over King, whose arms were held by
ell -