The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-05-12

cried SADDLE
Quinnox as he waited inside the gates
for the wild rider.
General BraZe, with ii few Of his
men, bloody and heartsick. was the
last Of the little army to reach safety
in the castle grounds.
I The fortress, with all guns, stores and
ammunition, was in the hands OF the
Iron Count and his cohorts.
Baron Dangloss had been taken pris-
oner with a whole platoon Of fighting
constables. This was the last appall-
ing bit of news to reach the horrihed,
disorganized forces in the castle
grounds.
A wise as we'll as a cruel nan was
Marlanx. He lost no time in issuing
q manifesto to the stunned, democrat
lied citizens Of EdelweisS. Scores of
criers went through the streets during
the long, wretched afternoon. announc-
ing to the populace that Count Mar
lanx had established himself as die
tator and military governor OF the
principality pending the abdication
Of the prince and the beginning Of a
new and substantial regime. All cit
izens were commanded to recognize
the authority of the dictator.
Toward evening, after many con
situations and countless reports, Mar
lanx removed his headquarters to the
tower. He had fondly hoped to be in
the castle long before this.
The cells and dungeons in the great
old tower were now occupied by
bruised, defeated officers Of the law.
Baron Jasto D~angloss, crushed in
spirit and broken of body. paced the
blacklist and narrowest cell Of them
all.
At 8 o'clock on Sunday morning {
small group Of people gathered in the
square. A meeting was soon in prog
ress. A goods box stood over against
the very spot on which Olga Plata
nova died. An old man began haran-
guing the constantly growing crowd.
In the group might have been seen
most members Of the committee of ten.
In the midst of his harangue the
hand Of William Spantz was arrested
In one of its most emphatic gestures.
Peter Brutus was approaching at the
head of a group Of aliens, all armed.
"One moment" called u Peter
Brutus. lifting his hand imperatively
The speaker ceased his mouthings
Count Marlanx desires the immediate
presence of the following citizens al
his office in the tower. | shall cal
off the names" He began with vii
liam Spantz. The name Of each Of his
associates in the committee of ten fol
lowed.
Ten minutes later every member OF
the committee of ten, except Peter
Brutus. vas behind lock and bar. to
gether with their shiyering associates
all Of them dumbly mutterhg to them
selves the awful sentence that Mar
lanx had passed upon them.
You are TO die at sunset. Grau
stark still knows how to punish assas
sins. There is no room in Graustarb
for anarchy. l shall wipe it out to
day"
"Sir, your promise" gasped William
SpantZ. I'VE are your friends-tht
true party off,
Enough! Do not speak again
Captain Brutus, you will send criers
abroad to notify the citizens that |
Count Marlanx, have ordered the exc
cution Of the ~ringleaders in the plot
to dynamite the prince, at sunset in
the square. Away with the carrionv'
Then it was, and not till then. tina
the committee Of ten found him out
Then it was that they came to know
Peter Brutus!
The unrecognizable corpse of Olga
Platanova had been buried in quick
lime outside the city walls. There was
something distinctly grewsome in the
fact that half a dozen deep graves
were dug alongside hers hours before
death came to the wretches who were
to occupy them.
At 3 o'clock the Iron Count coolly
sent messengers to the homes Of the
leading merchants and bankers Of the
IA MI ~ - - -