Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-09

emily he went over to her. She was
standing near the candle, staring down
at the flame, with strangely preoc-
cupied expression in her eyes
Forgive me-" he said. II was
hasty, inconsiderate. T."
''You quite took my breath away"
she painted. looking up at him, with
lueer little smile.
II know" he murmured.
Her troubled gaze resumed it's sober
contemplation Of the fame.
''You won't leave me to my fate be-
cause you think I'm going to marry
some one else?'
He grew very sober Miss Tullis,
you and have one chance in a thou
sand. You may as we'll know this
truth"
"Oh, can't bear the thought of that
dreadful old man." she cried. abject
distress in her eyes.
He gritted his teeth and turned
away.
Late in the afternoon Anna Cromer
appeared before them. accompanied
by two of the men. Crisply she COM
handed the girl to come forth.
She was In the outer room for the
better part OF an hour listening to
Anna Cromer and Nine. Drovnask,
who dinned the praises Of the great
Count Marlanx into her ears. They
bathed the girls face and freshened
her garments. 1t occurred to her that
she was being prepared for visit Of
the redoubtable Marlanx himself and
put the question plainly.
mo" said Anna Cromer Hes not
coming here. You are going to him
He will not be Count Marlanx after
tomorrow. but Citizen Marlanx, one
Of the people. one Of us"
Little did they know Marlanx.
Julius and Peter will come for you
tonight said Nine. Drovnask. with
an evil, suggestive smile.
Truxton was beginning to tremble
with the fear that she would not be
returned to their room when the door
was opened and she came In.
Some time in the tense. suffocating
hours OF the night they heard the
sounds Of many footsteps shutting
about the outer room. There were
hoarse. cultural, subdued goodbys and
well wishes. the creaking Of heavy
doors and the dropping Of bolts.
Eventually King, who had been lis
tening alertly, realized that but two Of
the men remained In the room. Peter
Brutus and julius Spantz.
An hour crept by and another. King
was grooming under the. suspense. The
time was too slowly approaching
when he was to attempt the most des-
perate act in all this sangufnary trag-
edy.
He had told her Of his plan. She
knew the part she was to play. And
If oil 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.
Taking his position near the girl,
who was crouching in real dismay. he
leaned against the wall, his hands be-
hind him. every muscle strained and
taut
The door opened. and Julius Spantz,
bewhiskered and awkward, entered.
He wore a raincoat and storm hat and
carried rope in one Of his hands.
'"Time 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 lunged
against the wall. The man was stun
ned beyond all power of immediate
action. 1t was the work Of an instant
to snatch the revolver from his coat
pocket.
Guard the door, whispered King
to the girl, pressing the revolver into
her hand. land shoot if you have to-!
A handkerchief was stuffed into the
unconscious mans mouth. The long
coat and boots were jerked from his
limp body before his hands and feet
were bound with the rope he carried
The bushy whiskers 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 frayed raincoat he
did not wait to ask questions. but rush
ed over and locked the cell door. Then
he led the way down the narrow stair
way. His only reply to Kings gut
tural remark in the Graustark Ian
guage was:
Don't speak, you fool! Not word
until we reach the river"
A moment later the girl was being
lowered through the hole into rough.
eager arms. Brutus and his compan-
ion dropped through. the secret block
Of masonry was closed. and on
through the shallow waters Of the sew