The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-08
SContinued.l
Copyright. 1863, by George Barr
 ficCcicheon CAayridh- 1909 by Dedd. Mead Q


 ..a.sa-f..s..- ~asasss@.s
 (Continued.l Precisely .--. al looking at 1t differently. 1 don't mind telling you that I'm in love with you-desperately in love. It's been so with me ever since that day in the park. 1 loved you as duchess or a princess and without hope Now. l-I-well. Pm going to hope. Perhaps vos Engo has the better of me just now. but I'm in the lists with him-witb all of them. If 1 get you out of this place and myself as weIl-I want you to un- derstand that from this very minute am trying 10 win you if it lies in the power of any American to win girl who has suitors among the nobility" "Are-are you really in earnestT" she murmured.
 "I mean every word of 1t. do love you"
 Fl cannot talk about it now, MT. King" sLe futtered. moving away from him in a sudden panic. Pres- ently he went over to her. She was standing near the candle. staring down at the flame. with a strangely preoc- cupied expression in her eyes.
 Forgive me" he said. "1 was nasty. inconsiderate. T'-
 You quite took my breath away" she panted. looking up at him, with a queer little smile.
 'T know" he murmured.
 Her troubled gaze resumed its sober nH ha Ao
 "You won't leave me to my fate be- cause you think I'm going to marry some one else?'
 He grew very sober. Miss Tullis. you and I have one chance in thou sand. You may as well Know vhe truth"
 "Oh. I can't bear the thought of that dreadful old man." she cried. abject distress in her eyes.
 He gritted his teeth and turned away.
 Late in the afternoon Anna Cromer appeared before them. accompanied by two of the men. Crisply she com manded the girl to come forth.
 She was in the outer room for the
  Anna CrDmer and Mime. Drovnask, who dlnned the praises of the great Count iarIanx into her ears. They bathed the girls, face and freshened her garments. It occurred to her that she was being prepared for visit of the redoubtable Marlanx himself and put the question plainly.
 "No." said Anna Cromer He's not coming here. You are going to him. He will not be Count Marlanx after tomorrow. but Citizen Marlanx, one of the people. one of us."
 Little did they know Marlanx.
 "Juiics and Peter will come for you tonight" said Mime. Drovnask. with an evil. suggestive smile.
 Truxton vas beginning to tremble with the fear that she would not be returned to their room when the door was opened and she came in.
 Some time in the tense. suffocating hours of the night they heard the sounds of many footsteps shuffling about the outer room. There were hoarse. guttural. subdued goodbys and well wishes. the creaking of heavy doors and the dropping of 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. King was grooming under the suspense. The time was too slowly approaching when he was to attempt the most des- perate act ;n all this sanguinary trag- edy.
 He had told her of his plan. She knew the part she was to play. And If all went well-ah. then!
 Suddenly he started to his feet. his jaws set. his eyes gleaming. The tele- graph instrument was clicking in the outer room
 Taking bis position near the girl, who was crouching in real dismay. he leaned against the wall, his hands be- hind him. every muscle strained and taut
 The door opened. and Julius Spantz. bewhiskered and awkward, entered. He wore raincoat and storm hat and carried rope In one of his hands. .'Time you were asleep" he said stupidly. addressing King. He turned to the girl. Come. madam I must"- He did not complete the sentence. The whole weight of Truxton Kings body was behind the terrific blow that landed on the mans jaw. Julius Spantz's knees crumpled. He iunged against the wall. The man was stun- ned beyond all power of immediate action It was the work of an instant to snatch the revolver from his coat pocket
 Guard the doorr' whispered King to the girl. pressing tf1e revolver into her hand. "and shoot if you have to!' A handkerchief was stuffed into the unconscious mans mouth. The long coat and boots were jerked from his limp body before his bands and feet were bound with the rope he carried The bushy whiSkers and wig were re -~-sS from his head and transferred f- | .Sh to that of the American Then the boots. coat and hat found new wearer
 Peter Brutus was standing in the stairway leading to the sewer.