Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-18

fHB WHOLE WEIGHT OF TRUXTON KINGS
P0DY WAS EEItlND THE TERRIFIC BLOW
sand. You may rs well know the
truth"
"Oh, can't bear the thought of that
dreadful old man." she cried, abject
distress in her eyes.
He sritteG his teeth and turned
away.
Late in the afternoon Anna Cromer
appeared before them. accompanied
by two Of the men. Crispy she COM
inanded the girl to come forth.
She was In the outer room for the
better part OF an hour listening to
Anna Croner aud Nine. Drovnask,
who dinned the praises of the grea.
Court Marlanx into her ears They
hathed the girls face and freshened
her garments II occurred to her that
she was heiig prepared for visit Of
the rcdoubtab;e Marlanx himself and
pIt the question plainly.
NO" said ANA Cromcr. Hes not
coming here You are going to him.
lie viii not be Count Mar!anx after
tomorrow. but Citizen Marlanx. one
IF the coplc. one of us
Little did they know 'Laranx
Julius and Peter VIII come for you
tcnight,' said Nine DrovnosH. With
an evil. suggestive smile
TruXtcu was beginning to trerble
with the f"i. that she would not be
returned TO their room when tie doc,
was opened and she came IN.
Some time in the tense. suffocating
hours of the night they heard the
sounds of many footsteps shutlling
about the outer room. There were
hoarse. cultural. suhdued soodbys and
well wishes. the crcaking Of heavy
doors ana tn" dropping Of bolts
Eventually King. who had been lis.
trniuc alorily. realized that bu: two Of
the men remained in the room. Peter
Brn'us nnd julius Spant2.
Az hodr crept by and another. King
was grooming under the suspense The
time was too slowly approaching
when he was TO attempt the most dcs-
pcrate act in all this sanguinary trag.
ody.
He had told her OF his plan. She
knew the part she was to play. And
II all went well-ah. then.
Suddenly he started to his feet, his
jaws set, his eyes cleaning. The tele-
graph instrument was clicking in the
outer room.
Iaking his position near the girl,
who WAS crouching in real dlsmay, he
leaned against the wall, iss hands be.
hind him. every muscle strained and
taut.
The door opened. and Julius Spantz,
bewhlskcrod and awkward, entered.
lie wore raincoat and storm hat and
carried rope in one of his hands.
Thine you were asleep" he said
stupidity, addressing King. He turned
to the girl. Come. madam, ! must
He did not complete the sentence.
The whole weight Of Truxton Kings
body was behind the terrific blow that
landed on the mans jaw. Julius
Spantz's knees crumpled. He hinged
against the wall, The man was stun
ned beyond all power of immediate
UCAioN. IL WIS the WOFk OF an instant
TO snatch the revolver from his coat
pOcka-.
Guard the door, whispered King
to the girl, pressing the revolver into
her hand, "and shoot IL you have to-"
A handkerchief was stuffed into the
unconscious mans mouth. The long
coat and boots We're jerked from his
limp body before his hands and feet
were bound with the rope he carried.
The bushy whiskcrs and wig were re-
moved from his head and transferred
in fash to that of the American.
Then the boots, coat and hat found a
new wearer
Peter Brutus was standing In the
stairway leading to the sewer.
Hurry up. julius" he called i'm
peratively. They are below with the
boat"
When tall. grunting man emerged
from the inner room bearing the limp
figure OF girl In n fraycd raincoat he
did not wait to ask questions, but rush
I'd over and locked the cell door. Then