The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-22

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 1t out to-
day.
Sir, your PROMISE. gasped William
Spantz I'VE are your friends-the
true party
Enough! Do not speak againl
Captain Brutus, you will send criers
abroad to notify the citizens that l.
Count Marlanx. have ordered the exc
cution of the ringleaders In the plot
to dynamite the prince, at sunset in
the squire. 4 way with the carrion.h ~
Then 1t was, and not till then. that
the committee of ten found him out!
Then II was that they came to know
Peter Brutus,
The unacceptable corpse of Olga
PIatanova 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 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 It's people.
Marlanx stated his position clearly.
lie 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 be 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,
promise you. shall be 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-ali. I say. even to the minutest
trife 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.
Il am we'll aware that you love little
Prince Robin. Now, respecting young
master Robin, have no great desire
to kill him"
He waited to see the effect of this
brutal announcement. His hearers
stiffened. and-yes. they held their
breath.
HE has one alternative--he and his
lords. trust that you. as sensible
gentlemen. will find the means to con-
vey to him your advice that he seize
the opportunity / shall offer him to es-
cape with his life. Let me Interrupt
myself to call to your attention the
fact that atn Furnishing the anarchists
at sunset. To resume, the boy may
return to America. where he belongs.
I win give him free and safe escort
to the United States. u he chooses to
accept my kindly terTa& all well and
good: IL not, gentlemen | shall starve
him out or blow the castle down. 1t
may interest you to hear that l expect
to establish a new nobility In Grau-
stark. trust may now be address
ing at least few of the future noble
lords of Graustark. Good day. gentle
men,
At the castle the deepest gloom pre-
vailed. 1t was like a nightmare to
the beleasuered household. dream
from which there seemed to be no
awakening Colonel Quinnox as COM
mander OF the royal guard ruled SUI
prene. General Bravy tore of his
own epaulets and presented himself
to Quinnox as soldier Of the file.
Prince Robin. quite recovered from
his fright. donned the uniform Of q
colonel Of the royal dragons. buckled
on his jeweled sword and. with boyish
zeal. demanded ut 4 council of war
Colonel Quinnox's reasons for not go
ing forth TO. siay the rioters.
Your highness." said the colonel
bitterly. 'the rear army is ositsfde the
walls. not inside We are pit,fui
handful. less than 800 men all told.
rcunting tho wounded Count Mar