The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-09
CHAPTER Xv.

X4
 turn of the frightened. quivering
 groom who had escaped from the
 brigands in the hills Jack Tullis was granted permission by the war department to take a hundred picked men with him in the effort to over- take and capture the abductors of his sister. The dazed groOm's story hard ly had been told to the mortified broth CT before he was engaged in telephon- ing to General Braze and Baron Dan- gloss. A hurried Consultation fol- lowed.
 Baron DangIoss was sadly upset. Three prominent persons had been stolen from beneath his nose. so to speak. He was beside himself with rage and dismay. This Il last outrage was the climax. The old man adored the sister of Jack TuIlis. He was heartbroken and crushed by the news of the catastrophe.
 Captain Haas of the dragons was party was armed and equipped for a bitter chase. Word had been sent to Serros. the capital of Dawsbergen, asking the assistance of Prince Dan- tan in the effort to overtake the ab- -ductors. A detachment. it was an- nounced in reply, was to start from Serros during the afternoon bound for the eastern passes.
 Baron Dangloss rode to the southern gate with the white faced. suffering Tullis. We will undoubtedly receive <An d s~s afternoon or tomorrow" he said gloomfly. "They will not be. slow to make a formal demand for ransom. knowing that you and your sister are possessed of unlimited wealth. Hello! Who's this?'
 4 man who had ridden up to the gates. his horse. covered with foam. was demanding Admission. The ward CTS halted him unceremoniously as Dangloss rode forward. They found that he was one of the foremen in the employ of the railway construction company. He brought the disquieting news that apOther strike had been de clared. that the men were ugly and determined to tear up the track al- ready laid unless their demands were considered and. furthermore. that there had been severe lighting between the two factions engaged on the work. He urgently implored Dangloss to send troops out to hold the rioters in check.
 'What is your nameY demanded the harassed minister of police.
 'Polson." replied the foreman. He lied. for he was no other than John Cromer. the unsavory husband of Anna Cromer of the committee of ten.
 Come with me-" said Dangloss. 'sWe will go to General Braze. Good by and good luck. Tullis."
 At that very moment Lorraine TuIlis was comparing notes with Truxton King in the room beneath the armor- CTS shop. Count Marlanx was hiding in the traders inn outside the northern gates. The abductors themselves were scattered about the city, laughing tri- umphantly over the success of the ruse that had drawn the we'll feared Amer ican away on a wild goose chase to the distant passes of Dawsbergen. More than that, at o'clock in the afternoon a second detachment of soldiers left the city for the scene of the riots in the construction camps, twenty miles away.
 Surely the well laid plans of the Iron Count were being skillfully car ried out!
 All aftefnoon and evening men strag- gled in from the hills and surrounding country, apparently 1oath to miss the early excitement attending the cere- monies on the following day. Sullen strikers from. the camps came down, cursing the company, but drinking noisy toasts to the railroad and it's fu- ture. The city by night swarmed with reveling thousands. The bands were playing, the crowds were singing and mobs were drinking and carousing in the lower end.
 At o'clock in the morning word flew from brothel to brothel, from lodging house to lodging house, in all parts of the slumbering city. A thou sand men crept out into the streets after the storm, all animated by one impulse, all obeying a single fierce in- junction.
 They were to find and kill a tall American! They were-to keep him or his companion from getting in touch with the police authorities or with the royal castle, no matter what the cost!
 At 3 o'clock stealthy whisper went the rounds, reaching the ear of every vagabond and cutthroat engaged in the untfring vigil. Like smoke they faded away. The silent watch was over.
 The word had sped to every corner of the town that it was no longer nec- essary to maintain the watch for Truxton King. He was no longer in a position to give them trouble or un- easiness.
 The 26th dawned bright and cool after the savage storm from the north.
 n don't like the looks of things y !