Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-05
1909. by George Barr r1cCutchcon

the little room with him.
TT will give you courage" he urged.
"Poor little grill"
She looked up into his face, new
light coming into her eyes.
Don't talk now" he said softly.
"Take your time. Hold to my arm,
please Therer'
For five Or ten minutes he led her
bhck and forth across the room very
tenderly. AT first she was faint and
uncertain: then. as her strength and
wits came back to her, courage took
the place of despair. She smiled wanly
and asked him to sit down with her.
where are we? What is it all
about!" she asked.
mot so loud" he cautioned. "I'll be
perfectly candid with you. You'll have
to be very, very brave. But wait.
Perhaps it will be easier for you to
tell me what has happened to you, so
far as you know. can throw light
OIL the whole situation. think"
She became more 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 longer ride than usu-
al" she said, with sudden constraint.
She looked away from her eager listen
err. IT was nervous and had not slept
the night before. A girl never does,
I suppose"
He looked askance. "Yes?" he que
ried.
She was blushing. he was sure OF
it. II mean q girl Is always nervous
and distract after-after she has prom
Used, don't you see"
"No; don't see"
IT had promised Count Vos Engo the
night before that l. Oh, but it really
has nothing to do with the story. r.
Truxton was actually glazing at her.
''You mean that you had promised to
marry Count Vos Engo" he stammer-
ed.
How very strangely you talk! Are
you sure-I mean, do you think 1t Is
fever? One suffers SOL
He sighed deeply. "Well. that's
over! Whew! 1t was a dream, by
lover
She waited a moment and then, look
ing down, said very gently, I'm so
sorry for you
Then she resumed her story.
She had gone six or eight miles down
the Ganlook road when she came up
with five troopers Of the royal guard.
One of the troopers came forward and
respectfully requested her to turn of
into another road until detachment
passed, in charge Of gang OF despera-
does taken at the inn Of the Hawk
and Raven the night before. Unsus-
pecting, she rode off into the forest
lane for several hundred yards.
It was trap. The men were not
troopers, but brigands got up In the
uniform Of the guard. Once away
from the main highway, they made
prisoners Of her and the two grooms
Then followed q long ride through
roads new to her.
When night came they were high
in the mountains back Of the monas-
terry. many hours ahead Of any pur-
suit. They became stupidity careless,
and the two grooms made dash for
freedom. One of them was killed, but
one had escaped.
Some time during the slow. tortur-
ing ride through the forest she sWoon-
ed. When she came to her senses she
was in dimly lighted room, surround
ed by men. The gag had been re-
moved from her mouth. She would
have shrieked out in her terror had
not her gaze rested upon the figure OF
man who sat opposite, his elbows
on the back Of the chair which he
straddled, his chin on his arms. He
was staring at her steadily, his black
eyes catching her gaze and holding IL
as snake holds the bird 1t mas
charmed.
She recognized the hard, hawklike
face. There could be no mistake. Sne
was looking into the face that made
the portrait Of the Iron Count so alb
horrent to her-the leathery head OF
cadaver with eyes that lived. She
broke down and cried herself into the
sleep Of exhaustion.
All the next day she sat limp and
helpless in the chair they had brought
to her. She could neither eat nor
drink. Late in the afternoon Marlan2
came again. She knew not from
whence he came; he stood before her
suddenly as if produced by the magic
of some tabled genie, smiling blandly,
his hands clasped behind his back, bis
attitude one of designing calculation.
"He laughed when demanded tina,
he should restore me to my friends
He chidcd me when pleaded and beg
ged for mercy. Ny questions were
never answered. Where am I, Mr.
King? Oh, this dreadful place! Why
are we here-you and II"
Kings heart throbbed fercely once
more. A vast hunger possessed his
soul. In that moment he could have
laid down his life for her with smile
Of rejoicing.
.