Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-25

gether with their shivering associates.
all Of them dumbly muttering 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 Graustark
for anarchy. shall wipe it out TO-
day"
"Sir, your promise" gasped William
Spantz. I'VE are your friends-the
true party Of
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 rlngleaders In the plot
to dynamite the prince. ut sunset in
the square. Away with the carbon"
Then 1t was. and not till then. that
the committee Of ten found him out!
Then 1t was that they came to know
Peter Brutus!
The unacceptable corpse Of Olga
Plutanova had been buried In quick
lime outside the city walls. There was
something distinctly grewsome in the
fact that half 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
city. They. with the priests. the doc
tors, the municipal officers and the
manufacturers. were commanded to APP
pear before him at O'Clock for the
purpose of discussing the welfare OF
the city and its people.
Marlanx stated his position clearly.
He left no room for doubt In their
minds The strings were in his hands.
Without hesitation he Informed the
leading men OF the city that he was
to be the Prince Of Graustark.
II will rule Graustark or destroy her.
Those Of you who do not expect or
desire to live under my rule. which. l
promise you. shall be a wise one. may
leave the city for other lands" he said
calmly, lust as soon as my deputies
have Completed the formal transfer Of
all your belongings to the crown treas
ury-all, l say. even to the minutest
tribe. Permit me to add in that con-
nection. gentlemen. the transfer will
not be prolonged affair."
They glared back at him and subsid-
ed into bitter silence.
II am well aware that you love little
Prince Robin. Now, respecting young
| Doh
to Kill him"
He waited to see the effect Of this
brutal announcement. His hearers
stiffened. and-yes. they held their
breath.
ale has one alternative-he and his
lords. trust that you. rs sensible
gentlemen. will find the means to con-
yey to him your advice that he seize
the opportunity shall offer him to es'
cape with his life. Let me interrupt
myself 10 call to your attention the
fact that | am Furnishing the anarchists
at sunset To resume the boy may
return to America, where he belongs
will give him free and safe escort
J to the United States. lt he chooses to
accept my kindly terms, all well ano
good; II not. gentlemen. l shall starvs
him out or blow the castle down. II
may interest you to hear that expect
to establish n new nobility IN Gran
stark. trust l may now be address
Ing at least a few Of the future noble
lords Of Graustark. Good day. gentle
men,"
At the castle the deepest gloom pre-
: vailed. 1t was like nightmare Il
. the beleaguered household. dream
: from which there seemed to be M
awakening. Colonel Quinnox as com
Mander Of the royal guard ruled 81