The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-27

Copyright, 1909, by Doui
Mead & Company. Published
Sept, 19O9.)
The fortress, with all guns
stores and ammunition, was il
the hands of the Iron Count anC
his cohorts.
Baron Dangloss had been taker
prisoner with whole platoon Of
fighting constables. This was the
last appalling bit of news tt
reach the Mortified, disorganize6
forces in the castle grounds.
Citizens had fled to theiI
homes, unmolested. The streets
were empty, save for the armed
minions of the Iron Count. They
rushed hither and thither in VIC.
lent detachments. seeking out the
men in uniform, yelling and shoot.
ing like unmanageable savages.
Before two O'Clock the city it.
self was in the hands of the hat.
ed enemy of the crown. He aEJ
his aliens, malefactOrs and all
were in complete control of thc
fortress, the gates and approach.
es, the Tower and the blood
streets. A thousand of them
eager, yelling ruffiang-- marched
to within firing distance of the
castle walls and held every al,-
proach against reinforcement. IS
Except for the failure to destroy
the prince and his counsello:s
the daring, unspeakable plans oil
Count Marlanx had been attend
ed by the most horrifying results
He was master. There was nc
question as to that. The few
hundred souls in the castle
grounds were like rats in a trap
A wise as well as a cruel man
was Marlanx. He lost no time in
issuing a manifesto to the
stunned, demoralized citizens OF
Edelweiss. Scores of criers went
through the streets during the
long, wretched afternoon, an
nouncing to the populace that
Count Marlanx had established
himself as dictator and military
governor of the principality-
pending the aDdication of the
prince and the beginning of a new
and substantial regime. All citi'
zens were commanded to recog
nize the authority of the dictator:
none except those who disobeyed
or resented this authority would
be molested. Traffic would be re.
sumed on the following Monday
Tradespeople and artisans wers
commanded to resume their occu-
pations under penalty of extreme
punishment in case of refusal
These and many other edicts
were issued from Marlanx's tenn
porary headquarters in the Plazf
almost at the foot of the still
yelled monument of the beloved
Princess Yetive.
Toward evening, after many
consultations and countless re
ports. Marlanx removed his head
quarters to the Tower. He hat
fondly hoped to be in the castle
long before this. His rage ant
disappointment over the stupit
miscarriage of plans left no room
for conjecture as to the actua
state of his feelings. For hours
he had raved like mailman
Every soldier who fell into hi:
hands was shot down like a dog
The cells and dungeons in the
great old tower were now oecu
pied by bruised, defeated Officers
of the law. Baron Jasto Dan
gloss, crushed in spirit and bro
ken of body, paced the blackest
and narrowest cell of them all
The gall and NORWOOD that
filled his soul was not to be meas
ured by words. He blamed him.
self for the catastrophe; it was
he who had permitted this appall.
ing thing to grow and burst with
such sickening results. In his
mind there was no doubt that
Marlanx had completely over.
thrown the dynasty and was in
full possession of the government
He did not know that the prince
and his court had succeeded in
reaching the castle, whose walls
and gates were well-nigh impreg-
nable to assault, even by great
army. If he had known this he
might have rejoiced!
Late in the evening he received
visit from Marlanx, the new mas
ter.
The Iron Count, lighted by 9
ghostly lantern in the hands of a
man who, ten hours before. had
been a prisoner within these very
walls, came up to the narrow graf
ing that served as door and
gazed complacently upon the once
great minister of police.
'Well," said Dangloss, his eyes
swapping, "what is it, damn your
Marlanx stroked his chin and
smiled. "I believe this is my ole
confrere, Baron Dangloss," he
remarked. Dear me, I took you
sir, to be quite impeccable. Here
you are, behind the bars. VIII
wonders never cease?"
Dangloss merely glared at him
The Iron Count went on suave-
Ily: "You heard me, Baron. Still
I do not require an answer. How
do you like your new quarters? II
NAV nIaaca Won IN knou thot