The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-21
CHAPTER v.
THE COMMITTEE OF TEN

I has been said before that Trux-
ton King was the unsuSpcctiny
object of interest to two sets Of
watchers. The fact that he was
under the surveillance of the govern
ment police is not surprising when we
consider the evident thorouwhness Of
that department. but that he should
he continually watched 10y persons OF
more sinister east suggests II myS-
terry which can be cleared up 10y Wis
ting Il certain UNDERGROUND room I'M
known To the police scarce two blocks
from the Tower of Gr;l$tark.
There We're two ways of Reaching
this windowlcSS rouln, with It's low
ceilings and tlank airs. II one had
the secret III his possession he could
go down through the mysterious trap
door in the workshop of William
SpantZ, armorer to the crown or he
might come up through Il hidden aper-
ture in the walls of the great govern
ment sewer which ran directly paral-
lei with and far below the walls of
the quaint old building. One could
take his choice of direction in ap-
preaching this hole in the huge sewer
he could come up from the river,
half a mile away, or he could come
down from the hills abeye if he had
the courage to drop through one Of
the intakes.
1t is of special significance that the
trapdoor in Spantz's workshop was
reserved for use by the armorer and
his more fastidious comrades, of whom
three We're women and one an estab-
lished functionary in the royal house
hold.
The committee Of ten represented
the brains and the activity Of rabid
coterie in Edelweiss, among them
selves styled the Party of Equals. Ii
plain language. they were reds"
The nominal leader was William
Spantz. he who had son in thu
princes household, julius Spantz. tn
master of arms Far off in the hill
above the Danube there lived the rea
leader of this deadly group-the lrol
Count Marlanx, exile from the land o
his BIRTH hated and eXecrated by CIV
cry loyal Graustarkian, hating an
execrating in return with a tenfol
greater venom.
Olga Platanova was the latest az
QUESTION to this select circle. A wor
concerning her: She was the daugi
ter of Professor Platanova, one tim
oculist and sociologist in large &c
man university. He had been one {
the most brilliant men in Europe an
member of a noble family. LIE:
than a year before the opening of tn
tale he was executed for treason al
conspiracy against the empire.
His daughter. Olga. was recognize
as one Of the most beautiful and CT
tured young women in Warsaw. IL
suitors seemed to be without numbe
Finally there came one who conquer'
and was beloved. He was the son
a mighty duke, a prince of the. bloc
The young prince pledged himself
marry her despite all opposition;
was ready to give up his noble inner
ance for the sake of love. The
powerful ruler of an empire learn
Of this proposed mesalliance and W
Mortified. The will Of the crown W
made known to him and-he obeye
Olga Platanova was cast aside. but I
forgotten. He became the husband
an unloved, scrawny lady of diaden
When the situation beanie more tn
he could bear he blew out his bran
When Olga heard the news OF
death she was not stricken by grl
She cried out her joy to now clo'
less sky, for he had justified the gr'
love that had been theirs and wo'
la theirs to the end Of time.
From a passive believer in the
trines Of her father and his circle
became at once their most impasslol
exponent. She threw herself he
and soul into the deliberations
transactions Of the great red cjrt
her father understood and yet '
amazed
Then he was put to death by
class she had come to hate-one IN
stone in the sepulcher Of her tent
girlish ideals. When the time ca
fhe Travelled to Graustark in respo
TO the call OF the committee Of ten;
came prepared to kill the creature
would be asked to Kill. And yet dc
IL her heart she was sore afraid.