davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

HE HAS NOT THE p erture. DOth
KEY. with drawn PTS
tolls. The girl leaped between them
and the helpless, defeated American.
Remember she cried. "You ara
not to Kill him.
Peter Brutus had risen from tha
floor, half dazed, but furious. He made
vicious leap at King. his knife ready
foE the lunge.
"Tm glad it's your roared King,
leaping aside. His fist shot out. and
again Brutus went down.
Miss Platanova. call your uncle
| she was ordered. .'It Is now necessary
to bind the fellows hands. They are
too dangerous to be allowed to roam
at large In this fashion"
All day long Truxton paced his little
prison, bitterly lamenting his i'll timed
effort Now he would be even more
carefully guarded. His hands were
bound behind his back. He was pow
erless. If he had only waited! Luck
had been against him. How was he to,
know that the guard with the keys
had gone upstairs when Olga brought
his breakfast down? 1t was fate.
The 23d dragged itself into the past.
and the Oath was following in the
gloomy wake OF Its predecessors. Two
days uiore! He began to feel the APP
proach Of madness. His own death
was not far away. 1t would follow
that of the prince and Of Olga Plata-
nova, his friend. But he was not
thinking Of his own death; he was
thinking Of the princes life.
Forty-eight hours! That was all!
Early that night as he lay with his
ear to the crack Of the door he heard
them discussing his own death. 1t was
to come as soon as Olga had gone to
her reward. She was not there to de-
fend him. Spantz had said that she
was praying In her room. committing
her soul to God. Truxton King sud-
denly pricked up his ears, attracted
by sentence that fell from the lips
Of one Of the men.
"Tullis is on his way to the hills OF
Dawsbergen by this time He will be
out of the way on the 26th safe
enough"
Count Marlanx was not to be salts
fed until he had found the means to
draw him away from Edelweiss." said
another. This time It will work like
a charm. Late this afternoon Tullis
was making ready to lead troop OF
cavalry into the hills to effect res
cue. Santa Maria! That was q clever
stroke! Not only does he go himself. I
but with him goes captain with 100
soldiers from the fort. Ha, hal Mar
lanx is a fox--a very exceptional foxr'
Tullis of to the hills with soldiers
to effect rescue! Truxton sat up, his
brain whirHng
"A wise fox!' agreed Peter Brutus
thickly. II wonder what our fine pris-
oner will say to 1t when the new pris-
oner comes to keep him company over
the 26th." /,
| <Srn I,a CnnfirpoH l-ttr-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

The door to the stairway iead1ng into
the armorers shop was Of iron and
heavily barred; the door opening into
the sewer was even more securely
bolted. Besides. there was great
stone door at the foot of the passage.
The keys to these two doors were
never out of the possession OF William
Spantz. One Of his guards held the
key to the stairway door. His only
chance lay in his ability to suddenly
overpower two men and make Oh hy
way Of the armorer's shop.
When his little door was opened on
the morning Of the Esd Tru1ton Kings
long, powerful figure shot through as
If sped by a catapult The man with
the candle and the knife went down
like beef, foored by blow on tho
jaw.
The American, his eyes blazing with
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

know today what the world will know
next week. Then the world will say
that Olga Platanova was not beast.
but deliverer, creator! Let him
bear!'
The listeners blood was running
cold. The life of Prince Robin! An
assassination! 1.-THE thing that will
destroyv' A bomb!
For half an hour they argued with
her. seeking to turn her from the stand
she had taken. Then they came to
terms with her. Truxton King owed
his life to this strange girl. who knew
him not at all, but who believed In him.
Truxton was brought into the room
few minutes later. He was white
with emotion as he faced the commit
tee Of ten. Before a word could be
addressed to him he blurted out:
"You towards! Weak as I am, l
would have fought for you, Miss Pla-
tanova, II could have got through
that door. Thank you for what you
have done to convince these dogsl
Only don't do this awful thingl Think
Of that dear little boyv'
Olga Platanova cried out and covered
her eyes with her hands. She was
led from the room by William Spantz.
Peter Brutus stood over King, whose
arms were held by two stalwart men.
Enough" he commanded. 1--WE
spare you not for her sake but for
the sake Of the cause we serve. Hear
me! You are to be held here prisoner
until our plans are consummated. You
will be properly fed and cared for.
You have heard Miss Platanova say
that she will cook the food for you
herself, but you are not to see her."
King interrupted him. II haven't
the least doubt that you will kill me in
the end. She may not be here to pro-
tect me after-after the assassina ton"
"She is prepared to die by the same
bomb that Stays the prince" was all
that Brutus would say in response to
this, but King observed the sly look
that went around among them. He
knew then that they meant to kill him
in the end.
Afterward. in his little room, he
writhed in the agony Of helplessness.
The prince, his court, the government
AL were to be blasted to satisfy the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

CHAPTER X-Continued.)
''Your name is King. | believe" came
from the thin lips of the old man.
Eyes. May inquire
mo; you may not inquire. Put a
gag in his mouth. don't care to hear
anything from him. Gag him and cut
the rope from his feet. He may walk
from now on"
Three men sprang to do his bidding.
King felt in that instant that he was
looking for the first time upon the fea-
lures Of the Iron Count Marlanx the
dishonored. He lay there helpless,
speechless for many minutes, glancing
at this cruel tyrant 1t was enough
that Marlanx suspected him Of being
in the way. To be suspected was to
be condemned.
Marlanx was speaking. Truxton
looked up. as at an executioner. The
Iron Count sat upon bowlder near his
feet.
Eve have met before. Perhaps you
remember meeting. my eye in Dame
Babba's ca bin-twice, think. You
remember. | see. Fla. ha! You were
very slow not to have caught such an
old man. l dare say you are wonder
ing what intend to do with you. now
that have you. Well. am not the
man to mince words. Mr.. King, you
are quite young. but the good die
young. l am very old, you Observe l
will not say that you are to die to-
night or tomorrow or any day, for l
do not know. I am going to send you
to court. Not an ordinary court Mr..
King, but one Of extreme perspicacity.
I fancy you will die before long. We
can spare you do not approve of
meddlers. 1t seems to be quite settled
that you are police agent"
The steady. cruel eyes fascinated
King. He knew that he was in des-
perate straits.
Il am glad you called again at my
temporary abode. Mr.. King. Ameri-
cans are always welcome: the sooner
they come the sooner it's over. 1t
may interest you to know that am
very partial to Americans. Were I
q cannibal l could eat them in relish.
If had my way, all Americans should
be in heaven. The earth surely is
not good enough nor big enough for
them, and hell is already overcrowded.
Yes. love the Americans dearly. l
should enjoy similar visit from Mr..
John Tullis. expect him to visit me
in my humble castle before many days.
I should like to have him remain there
until his dying day."
King shuddered.
"Night is coming. I must say fare
well, my bold young friend. My way
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

Wesley Green, the state horticultur-
list, fears that the fruit crop will be
ruined this year. He believes that the
present hot spell will be succeeded
within a short time by very cold one
and he looks for the first frost to ruin
everything. These expert persons
won't let us have a bit of enjoyment
without trying to spoil it. 1t won't do
us any good to be told that the wealth
er man is just teasing us and that we
will have to do without our fruits and
berries to make up for the fun we've
been having this March. Why not let
us believe that summer is here to stay
and enjoy every day Of it? What's the
use of borrowing trouble?
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

"Ottumwa has more cause for joy, y
says the Burlington Hawk-Eye, COM
menting on the report of Forest E.
Ensign, state inspector of high schools,
who inspected the Ottumwa high and
declared it to be model school.
Surely the Hawk-Eye continues,
...things are coming Ottumwaward this
wonderful March of 1910, and surely
Ottumwa appreciates every good
thing and is ready for more. And, of
course, everybody in the state is glad
that she is getting all sorts of good
things, and hopes that her good for
tunes may continue. Here and there
wrong-headed, pig-headed person
may imagine. that if one Iowa town
falls into decay and rusts or rots the
others will benefit thereby. Which is
as far from the real facts Of the case
as possible The more Ottumwa pro-
crosses and wakes up and makes good,
and the more windfalls she has, and
the more good things she gets by
hard, intelligent, constant effort, the
better for the state of Iowa and for
all of it's towns
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
II STORY 81
BY GEORGE Il
600, by George Barr r1ccutcheon

p,.u::.sd through hole in what ap-
peared to be heavy brick WALL He
realized at once where he was. The
gurgle of running water came up to
him. 1t was the great sewer that ran
from the hills through the heart Of the
city, flushed continuously by diverted
mountain stream that swept down
from above.
He did not know how long they
trayersed the chill sewer. In time,
however. the water got deeper; rats
began to scurry along the sides Of tho
circle or to swim frantically on in front
of the disturbers.
At last the strange journey ended.
They came to niche in the Shiny wall.
Up into this the men climbed. The man
above was cautiously tapping on what
appeared to be solid masonry. To
Kings surprise section Of the wall
suddenly opened before them. He was
seized from above by strong hands and
literally jerlsed through the hole, up
narrow steps and then into long, dim
" lighted room. in the center Of which
stood long table.
He was passed on into a small room
adjoining. Some one, speaking IN Eng
lish, told him to sit down. The gag
was removed from his stiff. infamed
mouth.
Fetch him some water said a
voice that he was sure he recognized
high, querulous voice.
"Hello, Spantzv articulated Truxton,
turning to the black bearded. bent hg-
ure.
There was an instant of silence.
Then Spantz spoke, with soft laugh:
.You will not know SO much tomor-
row. Herr King. Give him water,
man. He cannot talk with dry
throat"
King was pushed out into the larger
room, where he was confronted by a
crowd of bewhiskered men and snaky
eyed women with most intellectual
nose glasses. It required but glance
to convince him that the whiskers
were false.
For nearly an hour he was probed
with questions concerning his business
in Edelweiss. Threats followed close
upon his unsatisfactory answers,
though they were absolutely truthful.
"We'n find a way to make you talk
tomorrow, my friend! Starving is not
pleasant"
"You would not starve me" he cried.
'eNo. You will have the pleasure of
starving yourself" said thin eyed
fellow whom he afterward knew as
Peter Brutus.
He was thrown back into the little
room. To his surprise and gratlfica-
ton the bonds on his wrists were re-
moved.
He found a match in his box and
struck it. There was no article OF
furniture. The floor was bare. the
walls green with age. A chimney hole
in the ceiling was perhaps the only
means by which fresh air could reach
this dreary place. Sleep was claiming
his senses. He made pillow Of his
coat and stretched his weary bones
upon the relentless floor.
'No one will ever know he MUIR
INJURED. his last waking thought being
of dear one at home.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
e ~ ~-%-H->>%~-& 49, %N@~N~V =
MAKES TASK OF 'PRECEPTOR
EASIER."

Editor Courier
It is pleasure to discover man
with an open mind, free from the
preiudices so commonly encountered
among the would-be arbiters of scien-
tiic destiny. 1t makes the task of the
"preceptor" easier Senex announces
humbly that he is willing to learn For
some time have entertained the sus-
picion that he is an unusual character.
Suspicion now becomes assurance.
To take his difficulties in the order
of their statement. we will consider
the quotation (Rom. 5-12) that he ad-
vances, presumably, as evidence that
Adam was the first human being ever
created: GAS by one man sin entered
into this world" etc. Senex supposes
that this passage affirms the unity OF
the race and points to common orr
gin of all men. 1t certainly does. Adam
surely was the man by whom sin en-
tered into the world. But listen. Co
pernicus was the man by whom the
prevailing theory Of astronomy came
into the world Did Copernicus exist
alone? Jesus was the man by whom
the Christian religion came into the
world. Did Jesus exist alone? Adam
was the beginning of the creation Of
God, as the scriptures declare. But they
also declare the same thing about
Jesus. The trouble with Senex lies in
his false conception Of the meaning OF
the word "origin." Life is perpetuated
by periodic involution Of the essence
of its being into the germinal state. as
Senex can abundantly verify by obser-
walton anywhere in the biOlO9ic do
main It is so with the human race,
considered as a whole. The progress
sive forces of humanity determine to-
wards the periodic reproduction Of the
central germ of all life, the visible
Deity. manifest 1900 years ago as the
Christ. AS the function Of the germ Is
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
ANOTHER TRAGEDY.

After more than a dozen lives have
been sacrificed In Chicago fire. it is
discovered that the building was not
equipped with fire escapes. 1t is the
same old story. 1t was not known I'M
til after hundreds of lives had been
sacrificed in the Iroquois theater fire
that the fire prevention and fire
escape regulations had been utterly
ignored, 1t is not until after fifty per-
sons are killed that we find 1t Is
dangerous to sandwich two frail wood
en- passenger coaches between steel
built Pullmans and mail cars in a
train drawn by two engines running
backwards. Mine disaster follows
mine disaster the tragedies being due
to the same causes and the only diff
ference being the number of human
beings slaughtered, yet we accept 1t
all as matter of course
There is too much laxity in the adj
ministration of our affairs, national,
state and municipal. Too much
politics. We shudder with horror at
each recurring tragedy and then we
return to our political chickering's,
seemingly with no thought of correct
ing the evils which caused these
tragedies and looking about for other
preventative measures needing prompt
legislative and administrative action.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
e. >>-%->->-<-> 1.
4 HARRISBURG. =

Mrs. Chesley Rogers left Saturday
for her home in Waterloo after visit
Of three weeks with her parents, J. O..
Dorothy and wife.
Mrs. Jake Smith of Unionville. Ia.
returned to her home Saturday after a
visit with relatives here.
Owen Swain and wife Of Unionville
spent Saturday night at the Paris
Smith home.
Grace Williams is spending part Of
the week at the J. Ross home north Of
town.
Laura Smith of Ottumwa spent last
Sunday with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Calvin Smith.
j. E. Cohagan and wife spent Sat
uriay night at Herman Shows in AL
bia.
Mrs c. f. Petit and son Edwin
returned Saturday from a visit at
Mt. Pleasant.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Peterson went
to Corydon Saturday to consult an eye
specialist. Mrs. Peterson Will remain
there's ONE time for treatment
Mrs. Ann Alternately and NJ. 3. Alb
ernathy spent Sunday at Ed Barnes
south of town in honor of Mrs. Mary
Barnes birthday.
The Misses Stella and Petty McVey
returned to their home in Rathbun on
Monday after visiting at the Frank
Tinsley home.
Mrs Emmett Smith and babe spent
Sunday with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs Henry Wilson.
Mrs VIM. Jackson who has been
visiting relatives here returned to OF
tumwa Sunday evesing.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
AN OUTSIDE VIEW OF oTTuMWA

AN OO ] Due VIEW Vt ~ - Nv " ~
The Burlington Hawk-eye in its eol-
torial Iowa news and notes pays "
tumwa a pretty compliment lie
Hawk-eye says:
Ottumwa is rejoicing. She is keep
ing busy and she finds that hustling is
happiness She got the Democratic
state convention. She has raised DIG
sum for her Young Mems Christian
association. She has established pc
yond fear of contradiction, the fact
that the Des Moines river is naviga-
I BILE for she navigates it. She wiz
order new street fusher. And SHE
lis looking around for other things TO
do There are few better towns in the
world of her size, and she will be get
ting into a bigger class ere long. and
her speed will make unhappy some OF
the fat and lazy towns in the higher
class.
1t should be gratifying to the Of
tumwa boosters, who are Loyalty work
ing together for Ottumwa's interests
to be given this recognition by a
friendly neighbor. 1t should spur them
on to greater efforts.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29
CHAPTER XII.
UNDER THE GROUND.

UNDER THE GROUND.
IN HE second day after his incar.
ceration began King was given
food and drink. 1t was high
time, for he was almost fam.
ished. Thereafter twice day he was
led into the larger room and given 9
surprisingly hearty meal.
Peter Brutus had Just voiced the
pleasure Of the majority by urging the
necessity for physical torture to wiring
the governments secrets from the pris.
oner. King. half famished. half crazed
by thirst, had been listening to the
fierce argument through the thin door
that separated the rooms. He heard
the sudden. eager movement toward
the door Of his cell and squared him
self against the opposite wall, ready tc
fight to the death. Then there came q
voice that he recognized.
A woman was addressing the con
spirators in tones Of deadly earnest
ness. His heart gave bound. 1t was
the first time since his incarceration
that he had heard the voice Of Olga
Platanova. she who still must be his
friend
"No! You shall not torture him.
have said he is no spy. still say IT.!
she was exclaiming.
"God, girl, we cannot turn hinqb ssse
now. He must die" This wasN I'm
Spantz. Ia.
1--WE cannot release him, l gra
you," she said, and Truxton's heaH''
sank. mot now. but afterward, ye.,
When it is all over he can do no harm
But hear me now, all Of you. If he Is
harmed in any way shall not perform
my part of the work on the 26th. This
is final"
''You cannot withdraw exclaimed
Peter Brutus. "You are pledged. Yor
are sworn. It is ordained"
81. Olga Platanova. say this to you
It Is not plea, not petition: it is an
ultimatum. Spare him or the gloriou.
cause must suffer by my detection
'Sh! Not SO loud. girl! He can hear
every word you say"
"Let him hear. Let him know thai
I, Olga Platanova, am to hurl the thing
that is to destroy the life OF Prince
Robin. am not afraid to have him
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

o L 70 U G T o m the tense
FRIEND muscled captive
and directed his final instructions to
the guards. With curt nod to the
men, he strobe out through the mouth
Of the cave and was gone. Dusk had
settled down upon mountain and val
ley. One of the men cut the rope that
bound TruXton's feet.
sect up said the Newport man.
We've got to be movin'."
Still gagged and somewhat dizzy.
King was hurried off into the narrow
mountain path, closely surrounded by
the five men.
The silent, cautious march down the
valley, through the gap and along the
ridge carried them far into the night
This much he knew--they were in
the hills directly above the northern
gates. The vague. black shadow Of
lightless house loomed up before them.
In twinkling he was hustled across
the road and into door. then down
flight of stairs, through pitchy dark
ness. guided by two Of the men. a
whispered word Of advice now and
then from the Yankee saving him from
perilous stumbles. He was jerked up
sharply with command to stand still
A light flashed suddenly In his face,
binding him for moment.
Soon he saw that they were in a
broad, bare cellar; three men in heavy
black boards were in earnest converse
ton with several Of his captors; all
were gesticulating fercely.
His Newport companion enlightened
him between puffs Of the pipe he was
struggling with. Here's where we
say goodby, young fellow. We turn
you over to these gents, whoever they
are. You go into the village gay with
these 'swabs' by the sewer line, l
guess" Truxton pricked up his ears.
1.-THE old man has had hole chopped
III the sewer here, they tell me, and it's
a snap to get into the city Not very
clean or neat. but it gets you there.
Well. so long! They're ready, see.
They don't monkey long when they've
got thing to do
In another moment his guardianship
was transferred: he was being hurried
across the cellar toward an open door
way. Down few stone steps he was
led hv the bearded crew. and then
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

end Of this sickening conspiracy. To-
raine! She, too, was doomed! He
groaned aloud in his misery and awe.
There was telegraph instrument
in the outer room. He could hear 1t
ticking of It's messages day and night
and could hear the discussion of re-
ports as they came In or went out. 1t
soon became clear to him that the wire
connected the room with Mafianx's
headquarters near Balak. in Axphain.
branch instrument being stationed in
the cave above the witch's hut.
On his third night he heard the COM
mittee discussing the conditions at the
castle.
1.-THE count is more afraid Of this
man Tullis than Of all the rest" aver
red Peter Brutus. "He has reasons to
hate and fear the Americans. That is
why he desires the death Of our pris-
oner. He has said time and again
over the wire that King will In some
way escape and play the deuce with
our plans. 1t does not seem possible,
however. We have him absolutely se-
cure"
"This is the 22d: Saturday is the
26th. Nothing could be done to stop
,,;us in four days." said one of the wo-
,men.
ct "Count Marlanx will be ready on the
,,gg.6th. He has said 50. A new strike
lMwill be declared on the railroad on the
tffe5th, and the strikers will be in the city
Of til their grievances. Saturdays cele-
at ,tion will bring men from the noun
Ie ls and the mines to town. A single
h y, and we have won" So spoke
B tus.
We must not-ve cannot fall" graf.
ed William spants. and the cry was re-
itera.ed by half a dozen voices.
The aext morning. after sleeplese
night. Truxt0n King made his first de.
termineh attempt to escape.
He kna that two armed men stood
guard in, he outer room day and night.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

lies to the north.
This is merely a
land Of promise to
me. You go south
ward. to the city
Of Edelweiss. But
not through the
ga t e S; oh. no!
There are other
ways. as you will
find. Goodby, my
brave Sir Galahad /;
l may never see
you again."
With a courtly
bow he turn e Il
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-29

The wires are crossed somewhere
They told us out here on the prairie
That, the tariff bill was enacted just
for the benefit of the Massachusetts
people. Now the same ones who told
us that say that the election Of Eos:
is the result of dissatisfaction in
Massachusetts over the said tariff
bill. What the free trader says today
has no connection with what he said
yesterday or may say tomorrow. He
believes in letting tomorrow take care
of itself