The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-14
sss 'TRUXTON KING" s A.ss;.s B."

(Copyright, 1909, by George
Barr McCutcheon.)
Copyright, 1909, by Doud,
Mead s. Company. Published
Sept, 10O0.) .
you can imagine what l
thought when l saw you here a
little while ago." she said, again
looking hard at his face as il to
make sure. 1--WE had looked ev-
Brywhere for you. You see, was
ashamed. That man from Cooks
told us that you were hurt by
by the way / treated you the day
before you disappeared, and
we'll, he said you talked very
foolishly about it."
He drew a long breath. Some
how he was happier than he had
been before. Hobbs is a dread
full ass" he managed to say.
1t seems that the ministry was
curiously disturbed by the events
attending the disappearance of the
Countess Ingomede. The decep-
ton practiced upon John Tullis,
frustrated only by the receipt of
a genuine message from the
countess, was enough to convince
the authorities that something
serious was afoot. 1t may have
meant no more than the assassin
alton of Tullis at the hands of a
jealous husband; or it may have
been a part of the vast conspiracy
which Dangloss now believed to
be in progress of development.
Development" Truxton King
had exclaimed at this point in
her narrative. Good God. If
Dangloss only knew what
know!"
There had been a second brief
message from the countess. She
admitted that she was with her
husband at the Axphain capital.
This message came to Tullis and
was to the effect that she and the
count were leaving almost imme-
diately for stay at Biarritz in
France. "Mr. King" said the
narrator, 1.-The countess lied. They
did not go to Biarritz. l am con-
WINGED now that she is in the plot
with that vile old man. She may
even expect to reign in Graustark
some day If his plans are carried
out. saw Count Marlanx yester-
day. He was in Graustark. /
knew him by the portrait that
hangs in the duke of Perse's
house-the portrait that lingo
mede always frowns at when l
mention it to her. So, they did
not go to France"
She was becoming excited. Her
eyes flashed; she spoke rapidly.
On the morning of the 23d she
had gone for her gallop in the
famous Ganlook road, attended by
two faithful grooms from the
Royal stables.
II was in for a longer ride than
usual" she said, with sudden con-
straint. She looked away from
her eager listener. II was ner-
vous and had not slept the night
before. A girl never does, 1 sup
pose"
He looked askance. "Yes?"
he queried.
She was blushing, he was sure
of 1t. 81 mean a girl Is always
nervous and distract after-after
she has promised, don't you see?"
mo, l don't see."
81 had promised Count Vos En-
go the night before that l oh,
but 1t really has nothing to do
with the story. /"
Truxton was actually glaring
at her. You mean that you had
promised to marry Count Vos
Engo!" he stammered.
eve will not discuss"
"But did you promise to be his
wife? Is he the man you lover"
he insisted. She stared at him in
surprise and no little resentment.
81 beg of you, Mr.. king
she began, but he Interrupted her.
Forgive me. I'm fool. Don't
mind me-" He sank back against
the wall, the picture of detection.
1T doesn't matter, anyway. I've
got to die in day or two, Sc
what's the odds?"
"How very strangely you talk
Are you sure-I mean, do you
think it is fever? One suffers
So"
He sighed deeply. well, that's
over! Whew! 1t was a dream,
by Jove!"
Il don't understand"
"Please go on"
She waited a moment and then,
looking down, said very gently:
"I'm so sorry for you" He laugh
ed, for he thought she pitied him
because he had awakened from
the dream.
Then she resumed her story, not
to be interrupted again. He seem
ed to have lost all interest.
She had gone six or eight miles
down the Ganlook road when she
came up with five troopers of the
Royal Guard. 1t was a lone spot
at the junction of the Kings High
way and the road to the mines.
One of the troopers came forward
and respectfully requested her to
turn off into the mine road until
detachment passed, in charge OF
gang of desperadoes taken at
; the Inn of the Hawk and Raven
the night before. Unsuspecting,
she rode off into the forest lane
for several hundred yards.
1t was trap. The men were
not troopers, but brigands gotten
up in the uniform of the guard.