The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-26

Two officers struck at the I'M
couth, desperate American as he
lifted the girl from the ground
and deliberately tossed her into
the coach.
Turn back!" he shouted. A
horseman rode him down. He
looked up as the plunging ami
mails hoofs clattered about his
head. Vos Engo, with drawn
sword. was crowding up to the
carriage door, shouting words of
rejoicing at sight of the girl he
loved.
Somehow he managed to crawl
from under the hoofs and wheels,
not without thumps and bruises,
and made his way to the side
walk. The coach had swung
around and the horses were being
dashed into a gallop for the cas-
tie gates.
He caught glimpse of her,
holding the prince in her arms,
her white, agonized face turned
toward the mob. Distinctly he
heard her cry:
Save him! Save Truxton
KING"
From the sidewalks swarmed
well-armed hordes of despera-
does, firing wildly into the ranks
of. devoted guardsmen grouped in
the avenue to. cover the flight of
their royal carriage. Truxton fled
'frem the danger zone as fast as
his legs would carry him. Bullets
were striking all about him. Lat
er on he was to remember his
swollen. bitterly painful ankle;
but there was no thought of it
now. He had played football
with the same ankle in worse con-
.dition than it was now-and he
had played for the fun of it, too.
He realized that his life was
worth absolutely nothing if he
fell into the hands of the enemy.
His only chance lay in falling in
with some sane, loyal citizen who
could be prevailed upon to hide
him until the worst was over.
There seemed no possibility of
getting inside the castle grounds.
He had done his duty and-he
laughed bitterly as he thought of
it-he had been ridden down by
the men he came to save.
Someone was shouting his
name behind in the scurrying
crowd. He turned for a single
glance backward. Little Mr..
Hobbs, pale as a ghost, his cap
gone, his clothing torn, was
painting at his elbow.
God save us!" gasped Hobbs.
"Are you alive or am seeing all
the bloody ghosts in the world p"
I'm alive all right" cried
King. Where can we go? Be
quick, Hobbs Think! Don't
sputter like that. / want to be
personally conducted, and damned
quick at that"
Before God, sir, I 'aven't the
Idea where to CO." groaned
Hobbs. 'It's dreadful Did you
see what the woman did back
Don't stop to tell me about it,
Hobbs. Keen on running. Go
ahead of me. I'm used to follow
ing the man from Cooks"
Right you are, sir. 1 say, by
Jove, I'm glad to see you'll am.
You came right up out of the
ground as if"
us there no way to get off
this beastly avenue?" painted
King. They're shooting back
there like a pack of wild men. I
hate to think of what's going on"
"Dangloss will ave them all in
the jug inside of ten minutes,
take my word-''
They'll have Dangloss hang
ing from a telephone pole.
Hobbs! Don't talk! RUM"
Soldiers came riding up from
behind, turning to fire from
their saddles into the throng of
cutthroats, led by the grim old
man with the bloody saber. In
the center Of the troop there was
a flying carriage. The duke of
Perse was lying back in the seat,
his face like that of a dead man.
Far ahead ratified the royal coach
and the wildly flying carriages of
state.
II "The prince is safe!" shouted
King ioyously. They'll make it!
Thank God!"
Colonel Quinnox turned in his
saddle and searched out the own
err of that stirring voice.
"Comei" he called, drawing
rein as soon as he caught sight
OF him.
Even as King rushed out into
the roadway horseman gall
Hoped up from the direction OF
the castle. He pulled his horse
to his launches almost as he was
riding over the lodging Ameri-
can.
"Here!" shouted the newcomer,
scowling down upon the young
man. Swing up herei Quick,
fool"
It was Vos Engo. his face black
NTH frrv Oufnuox haa uaIxaH