The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-01-17
Good" he exclaimed.

She rebelled at the. mere
thought of sleep, but, unfastenins
her collar and removing the jabot,
she made herself comfortable
cushion of his coat and sat back
in her corner, strangely confident
hat this strong. eager American
would deliver her from the Philis-
.ines-this fighting American with
The ten days growth of beard on
his erstwhile merry face.
Some time In the tense, suffo-
eating hours of the night they
heard the sounds of many foot
steps shuffling about the outer
room; there were hoarse, gutteral,
iubdued good-byes and we'll
wishes, the creaking of heavy
,oors and the dropping bolts.
Eventually King, who had been lis
tening alertly, realized that but
two of the men remained in the
room-Peter Brutus and julius
Spantz.
An hour crept by, and another,
seemingly interminable, King was
fairly groaning under the 'sus-
pense. The time was slowly, too
slowly approaching when he was
to attempt the most desperate act
in all this sanguinary tragedy
the last act, no doubt, but the one
In which he was to see himself
glorified.
There remained the chance
the slim chance that only Provi-
dence considers. He had prayed
for strength and cunning; she had
prayed for divine intervention.
But, after all, Luck was to be the
referee.
He had told her of his plan;
she knew the part she was to play.
And If all went well-ah, then!
He took a strange lesson in the
language of Graustark: one SEN
tence, that was all. She had
whispered the translation to him
and he had grimly repeated it,
over and over again. "She has
tainted, damn ner!" 1t was to be
their "Open Sesame"-if all went
we'll!
Suddenly he started to his feet,
his jaws set, his eyes cleaning.
The telegraph instrument was
clicking in the outer room!
He had wrapped his handker-
chief about his big right hand,
producing a sort of cushion to
deaden the sound Of a blow with
the fist and to protect his
nuckles; for all his strength was
to go into that one mighty blow.
If both men came into the room.
his chance was smaller; but, in
either events, the first blow was
to be mighty one.
Taking his position near the
girl, who was crouching in real
|dismay, he leaned against the
wall, his hands behind him, every
muscle strained and taut.
The door opened and Julius
ISpantz, bewhiskered and awk-
ward, entered. He wore a rain
coat and storm hat, and carried Il
rope in one of his hands. He
vey the picture.
thine you were asleep" he
stopped just inside the door to sur
said stupidity, addressing King.
I'D put you to sleep, Julius, if
Miss Tullis could have managed
to unite these Internal bonds, -
said Truxton, with pleasant dar-
ing.
II don't tie lovers knots, ="
grinned julius, pleased with his
own wit. Come, madam, / must
ask you to stand up. Will you put
your own handkerchief in you
mouth, or must l use force-ah.
that's good! I'm sorry, but
must wrap this cloth about
He did not complete the sen
tence, for he had come within
range. The whole weigh of Trux-
ton Kings body was behind the
terrific blow that landed on the
mans jaw. Lorraine suppressed
the scream that rose to her white
Hips. julius Spantz' knees crum-
pied; he lunged against the wall
and was sliding down when King
caught him in his arms. The
man was stunned beyond all pow
err of immediate action. 1t was
the work of an instant to snatch
the revolver from his coat pocket
! Continued Tomorrow