The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-10
s ss,I,, < 'TRUXTON KING" s htSs;:s Barr

and-then, into a long, dimly
lighted room, in the center of
which stood a long table.
He was not permitted to linger
here for long. but passed on into
a small room adjoining. Someone,
speaking in English, told him to
sit down. The gag was removed
from his stiff, Inflamed mouth.
Fetch him some water" said
a voice that he was sure he rec
Iognized-a high, querulous voice.
Hello. Spantz. articulated
Truxton, turning to the black
bearded, bent figure.
There was an instance of ST.
lence. Then Spantz spoke, with
soft laugh: You will not know
so much tomorrow, Herr King.
Give him the water, man. He
has much to say to US, and he can
not talk with a dry throat"
Nor an empty stomach" add
ed King. He drank long of the
pitcher that was held to his lips.
This is not the Regengetz,"
growled a surly voice.
You mean, l don't eat?"
Not at midnight, my friend"
1T seems to be an all-night
joint"
Enough" cried Spantz. Bring
him out here. The others have
come"
King was pushed out into the
larger room, where he was con-
fronted by a crowd of bewhisker-
ed men and snaky-eyed women
with most intellectual nose-glass-
es. 1t required but a glance to
convince him that the whiskers
were false.
For nearly an hour he was
probed with questions concerning
his business in Edelweiss. Threats
followed close upon his unsatis-
factory answers, though they were
absolutely truthful. There was
no attempt made to disguise the
fact that they were conspiring
against the government; in fact,
they were rather more open than
secretive. When he thought of it
afterward, chill crept over him.
They would not have spoken so
openly before him if they enter
tanned the slightest fear that he
would ever be in a position to ex-
pose them.
We'll find a way to make you
talk tomorrow, my friend. Starv-
ing is not pleasant"
You would not starve me-" he
tcried.
mo. You will have the pleas.
IRE Of starving yourself" said 8
Ithin-eyed fellow whom he after.
: ward knew as Peter Brutus.
He was thrown back into the
little room. To his surprise and
, qualification, the bonds on his
wrists were removed. Afterwart
: he was to know that there wa.
method in this action of his Jail
! ers: his own utter impotency wa.
to be made more CALLING to hin
by the maddening knowledge tina
; he possessed hands and feet ant
: lungs--and could not use them
} He found a match in his bO,
and struck it. There was no arti
Gle of furniture. The floor was
: bare, the walls green with age
, He had feeling that there would
be rats; perhaps lizards. A search
revealed the fact that his purse
, his watch and his pocket knife
: we're missing. Another precious
! match showed him that there
; were no windows. A chimney hole
in the ceiling was, perhaps, the
only means by which fresh ali
could reach this dreary place.
"Well, l guess I'm here tc
, stay" he said to himself. He
sat down with his back to the
wall, despair in his soul. A pitt
/. full, weak smile came to lin il
the darkness, as he thought Of
the result of his endeavor tc
show off" for the benefit of the
heartless girl in rajah silk. "What
an ass l am" he groaned. "Now
she will never know"
Sleep was claiming his senses
He made a pillow of his coat, COM
mended himself to the charity OF
traits and other horrors, and
stretched his weary bones upon
1.-THE relentless floor.
mo one will ever know" he
murmured, his last waking
thought being of a dear one at
home.
Continued Tomorrow