The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-11
a sts * ''TRUXTON KING' s &tS;5 Barr

end, to lend herself to the commits
sion of the most heartless and
diabolical of crimes-the destruc-
ton of that innocent, well-wor-
SHIPPED boy of Graustark.
You must he in love with
this supplemented American,
who comes" Peter Brutus
started to say at one stage of the
discussion, when the frail girl
was battling almost physically
with her tormentors.
stop! Peter Brutus, you shall
not say thatl You know where
my love lies! Don't say that to
me again, you beast!" she had
cried, and Brutus was silenced.
Truxton was brought into the
room a few minutes later. He
was white with emotion as he
faced the Committee of Ten. Be-
fore word could be addressed
to- him he blurted out:
You damned cowards Weak
las l am, would have fought for
lyou, Miss Platanova, if l could
have done to convince these dogs!
i would to God l could save you
from this thing you are pledged
to do. 1t is frightful! l cannot
think it of you! Give it up! Ali
lQf you, give this thing up! I will
promise secrecy will never be-
tray what 1 have heard. Only
don't do this awful thing! Think
of that dear little boy"
Olga Platanova cried out and
covered her eyes with her hands,
murmuring 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
two stalwart men.
Enough" he commanded. I'VE
spare you, not for her sake, but
for the sake of the cause we
Iserve. Hear me: you are to be
held here a prisoner until oul
lplans are consummated. You will
be properly fed and cared for.
You have heard Miss Platanova
say that she will cook the food
for you herself, but you are not
to see her. Do not seek to turn
her from her purpose. That you
cannot do. She is pledged to 1t;
lit is irreyocable. We have per-
haps made mistake in bringing
you here: it would have been far
wiser to kill you in the beginning,
but"
King interrupted him. 81
haven't the least doubt that you
will kill me in the end. She may
not be here to protect me after
after the assassination.
"She is prepared to die by the
same bomb that Stays the prince"
was all that Brutus would say in
response to this. but King OBJ
served the sly look that went
round amongst them. He knew
then that they meant to kill him
in the end.
Afterward, in his little room,
he writhed in the agony of help
lessness. The prince, his court,
the governmental were to be
blasted to satisfy the end of this
sickening conspiracy. Lorraine!
She, too, was doomed! He groan-
ed aloud in his misery and awe.
Food and water came after
that, but he ate and drank little,
SO depressed had he become. He
sought for every means of escape
that suggested itself to him. The
walls, the floors, the doors, the
stairway to the armorer's shop
all were impossible, so carefully
was he guarded. From time to
time he heard inklings of the plot
which was to eliminate on the
fatal 26th; he did not get the
details in particular, but he knew
that the bomb was to be hurled
at the prince near the entrance to
the plaza and that Marlanx's men
were to sweep over the stricken
city almost before the echo died
away.
There was telegraph instru-
ment in the outer room. He could
hear 1t ticking off its messages
day and night, and could hear the
discussion of reports as they came
in or went out. 1t soon became
clear to him that the wire con-
nected the room with Marlanx's |
headquarters near Balak in AK
phain, a branch instrument being
stationed In the cave above the
hut. He marveled at the
completeness OF the great con-
piracy; and marveled more be-