The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-03
Continued from Yesterday

Olga Flatanova was the latest ac-
QUESTION to this select circle. A word
concerning her: She was the daugh-
ter of Professor plGtanova, one time
oculist and sociologist in large Ger
man university. He had been one of
the most brilliant men in Europe and
a member of noble family. Less
than year before the opening of this
tale he was executed for treason and
conspiracy against the empire.
His daughter, Olga. was recognized
as one Of the most beautiful and cub
tured young women in Warsaw. Her
suftors seemed to be without number.
Finally there came one who conquered
and was beloved. He was the son of
a mighty duke, prince of the blood.
The young prince pledged himself to
marry her despite all opposition; he
was ready to give up his noble Inherit
ance for the sake Of love. The all
powerful ruler of an empire learned
of this proposed mesalliance and was
Mortified. The will Of the crown was
made known to him and--he obeyed.
Olga Platanova was cast aside but not
forgotten. He became the husband OF
an unloved. scrawny lady OF diadens.
When the situation beanie more than
he could bear he-blew out his brains.
When Olga heard the news Of his
death she was not stricken by grief.
She cried out her joy to a now ckSlld-
less sky, for he had justified the great
love that had been theirs and would
be theirs to the end of time.
From a passive believer in the doc
trlnes of her father and his circle she
became ut once their most imprisoned
exponent. She threw herself heart
and soul into the deliberations and
transactions of the great red circle:
her father understood and yet was
amazed.
Then he was put 10 death by the
class she had come TO hate-one more
stone In the sepulcher of her tender.
giriish Ideals. When the time came
she Travelled to Graustark In response
to the call Of the committee of ten; she
came prepared TO kill the creature she
would be asked to kill And yet down
In her heart she was sore afraid.
She was there net to kill & man
grown old In wrongs to her people, but
to destroy the life of a gentle, inno-
cent boy of seven,
There were times when her heart
shrank from the unholy deed she had
been selected TO perform. But there
was never a thought OF recedlng from
81 A1x- oat hnr
On Saturday night. following the
last visit OF Truxton King to the
armorer the committee of ten met in
the underground room to hear the lat.
est word from one who could not be
with them In person. but was always
there In spirit. IL they were to believe
his most jealous utterances. The Iron
Count Marlanx, protested hater of all
that was rich and noble, was the
power behind the committee of ten.
The assassination of the little prince
and the overthrow of the royal fam
lily awaited his pleasure. He was the
man who would give the word.
Alas for the committee of ten! The
was never so willy as the Iron Count.
Some day they were to find out that
he was using them to pun his choicest
chestnuts from the fire.
The committee was seated around
the long table In the stifiing, breath
less room, the armorer at the head
Those who came by way of the sewer
ka1 1t. r.
toilet room that once had been secret
vault for the storing Of feudal plum
der What air there was came from
the narrow ventilator that burrowed
its way up to the shop Of William
Spantz or through the chimney hole
In the ceiling. Olga platanova sat far
down the side, q moody, inscrutable
expression : in her dark eyes. At
Spantzs right lounged Peter Brutus,
a lawyer, formerly secretary to the
Iron Count and now his sole represent
alive among these people. lie was
dark faced, snaky eyed young man,
with a mop Of coarse black hair that
hung ominously low over his high, re-
ceding forehead.
julius SpantZ, the AmOTer son,
placid young man OF goodly physical
proportions, sat next to Brutus, while
down the table ranged others deep In
the consideration Of the worlds grav-
est problems, One OF the women was
Nine. Drovnask, whose husband had
been sent to Siberia for life. and the
other Anna Cromcr. rabid red lee
turer, who had been driven from the
United States, together with her amia-
BILE husband. an assassin of some dis
hnction and many aliases. at present
foreman In charge of one of the bridge
building crews ON the new railroad.
Every man In the party, and there
were eight, for Olga was not men,
Der Of the ten" wore over the lower
part Of his face false black beard Of
huge dimensions-not that they were
averse to recognition amouk them
selves, but In the fear that by some
hook or crook Dangloss or his agents
might be able to look In upon them.
Brutus was speaking. 1.-THE man is
spy. He has been brought here
from America to Tullis." "
I'VE shall contlnne to, watch his.
every movement" said William Spantz.
Time will tell. When we are posi-
tive that he is detective and that
he is dangerous there Is way to stop
his onerations."