The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-28

Barr McCutcheon.)
Copyright, 1000, by Doud,
Mead g Company. Published
Sept, 1909.)
CHAPTER UVIII
Truxton ON Parade.
Count Marlanx was a soldier.
He knew how to take defeat and
to bide his time; he knew how to
behave in the hour of victory and
in the moment of rout. The mis-
carriage of detail here and
there in this vast, comprehensive
plan of action did not in the least
sense discourage him. 1t was no
light blow to his calculations, of
course, when the designs of an or
ganization separate and distinct
from his own failed in their pur-
pose. 1t was part of his plan to
hold the misguided Reds RESPONSE
BILE for the lamentable death of
Prince Robin. The people were
to be given swift, uncontroverti-
BILE proof that he'd had no hand in
the unforeseen transactions OF
the anarchists, who he would
make it appear, had by curious
coincidence elected to kill the
prince almost at the very hour
when he planned to seize the
lcity as a conqueror.
His own connection with the op-
CREATIONS of the mysterious Com
mittee of Ten was never to be
known to the world. He would
see to that.
At nine O'Clock on Sunday
morning a. small group of people
gathered in the square: a meet
ing was soon in progress. A goods
box stood over against the very
spot on which Olga Platanova
died. An old man began harangu-
ing the constantly growing
crowd, made up largely of those
Whose curiosity surpassed dis
creetnes. In the group might
have been seen every member OF
the Committee of Ten, besides a
full representation of those who VI
to now had secretly affiliated
,rty of Equals. A red
flag waved above the little, excit-
ed group of fanatics, close to the
lgoods-box rostrum. One member
| of the Committee was absent
from this, their first public es-
lpousal of the cause. Later on we
are to discover who this man was
Two women in bright red waists
were crying encouragement to
the old man on the box, whose
opening sentences were no less
than an enchanted requiem for
the dead martyr, Olga Platanova
In the midst of his harangue,
the hand of William Spantz was
arrested in one of it's most en-
phatic gestures. A look of won
der and uncertainty came into his
face as he gazed, transfixed, over
the heads of his hearers in the
direction of the Tower.
L
Peter Brutus was approaching
at the head of group of aliens
all armed and marching in omi-
nously good order. Something in
the face of Peter Brutus sent a
chill of apprehension into the
very soul of the old armorer.
And we'll it may have done so.
lone moment" called out Pet
er Brutus, lifting his hand imper-
atively. The speaker ceased his
mouthings. Count Marlanx de-
sires the immediate presence OF
the following citizens at his office
in the Tower. l shall call off the
names" He began with William
Spantz. The name of each of his
associates in the Committe OF
Ten followed. After them came
a score of names, all of them
known to be supporters of the an.
archist cause.
What is the business, Peter?'
demanded William Spantz.
Does it mean we are to begin
so soon the establishing of the
new order" began Anna Gro
mer, her face aglow. Peter smiled
wanly.
do not ask me-" he said, EN-.
phasizing the pronoun. II am
only commanded to bring the
faithful few before him."
But why the armed escort?'
growled Julius Spantz, who had
spent an unhappy twenty-fouI
hours in bondage.
ITO separate the wheat from
the chaff," said Peter. Move on
good people, all you whose names
were not called" The ordN was
to the few timid strangers who
were there because they had no.
where else to go. They scatter
ed like chaff.
Ten minutes later every mem
Der of the Committee Of Ten
except Peter Brutus, was behind
lock and bar, together with theiI
shivering associates, all of them
dumbly muttering to themselves
the awful sentence that Marlan1
had passed upon them.
you are to die at sunset
Graustark still knows how to
punish assassins. She will make
an example of you today that all
creatures Of your kind, the world
over, will not be likely to forget
in century to come. There is
no room in Graustark for anar.
chy. I shall wipe it out today
"Sir, your promise!" gasped
lwilIiam CDantz ssWa ara vour