Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-03-05

all of them dumbly mutterng 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 it out to- day"
 sir, your promise" gasped William Spantz. "We are your friends-the true party of''-
 Enough! Do not speak again! 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 square. Away with the carrion" Then it was, and not till then, that | the committee of ten found him out! | Then it was that they came to know i Peter Brutus!
 The unrecognizable corpse of Olga | Platanova 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 8 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 ap- pear before him at 5 o'clock for the purpose of discussing the welfare of the city and its people,
 Marlanx stated his position clearly. He 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 he was to be the Prince of Graustark.
 "I will rule Graustark or destroy her. Those of you who do not expect or desire to live under my rule, which. l promise you. shall be wise one, may leave the city for other lands," he said calmly, just as soon as my deputies have completed the formal transfer of all your belongings to the crown treas ury-all, 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.
 I am well aware that you love little Prince Robin. Now, respecting young master Robin, 1 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 ain punishing the anarchists at sunset. To resume, the boy may return to America. where he belongs will give him free and safe escort to the United States. If he chooses to accept my kindly terms. all well and good: if not gentlemen, shall starve him out or blow the castle down. 1t may interest you to hear that l expect to establish new nobility in Grau- stark. 1 trust may now be address lords of GrauStark Good day. gentle men,"
 At the castle the deepest gloom pre- vailed. It was like a nightmare to the beleaguered household. dream from which there seemed to be no awakening. Colonel Quinnox as com mander of the royal guard ruled su- preme. General Braze tore off his own epaulets and presented himself to QuinnoX as a soldier of the file.
 Prince Robin. quite recovered from his fright. donned the uniform of a colonel of the royal dragons, buckled on his jeweled sword and. with boyish zeal. demanded at council of war Colonel QulnnoX's reasons for not go- ing forth to slay the rioters,
 Your highness." said the colonel bitterly, "the real army is outside the walls, not inside. We are pitiful handful, less than 3r) men all told, counting the wounded. Count Mar lanx heads an army of several thou sand. He"-
 ! "He wants to get in here sos he can kill me. Is that so, Colonel Quin- nox?' Tho prince was very pale, but quite calm.
 | "0h wouldn't mt if just that way your"-
 "Oh, know! You cant fool me! I've always known that he wants to kill me. But how can he? Nobody can. He ought to know that. He must be awful stupid"
 Gro Ie continued)