Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-06-08
7RUXTON
( King
! Copyright. 1909. by George
NJ Barr Mccutcheon
III Copyright. 1909, by Dodd.
j Mead q Company
CHAPTER XI.


surprisingly hearty meal.
Peter Brutus had just voiced the !
pleasure Of the majority by urging the
necessity for physical torture to wiring |
the governments secrets from the pris-
'oner. King, half famished, half crazed |
by thirst. had been listening to the |
fierce argument through the thin door |
that separated the rooms. He heard |
the sudden. eager movement toward |
the door Of his cell and squared him.
self against the opposite wall, ready to
fight to the death. Then there came a |
voice that he recognized.
A woman was addressing the con-
spirators in tones of deadly earnest
ness. His heart gave bound. 1t was
the first time since his incarceration
that he had heard the voice of Olga
Platanova. she who still must be his
friend
"No! You shall not torture him. l
have said he is no spy. l still say itv'
she was exclaiming.
"God, girl, we cannot turn him loose
now. He must die" This was from
Spantz.
I'VE cannot release him, l grant
you" she said. and Truxtons heart
sank. Not now, but afterward, yes.
When 1t is all over he can do no harm.
But hear me now, all of you. If he is
harmed in any way shall not perform
my part Of the work on the 26th. This
is final"
"You cannot withdraw" exclaimed
Peter Brutus. you are pledged You
are sworn. 1t Is ordained"
Il, Okla Platanova, say this to you.
1t is not plea. not a petition; it is an
ultimatum. Spare him or the glorious
cause must suffer by my detection"
Ssh! Not so loud, girl! He can hear
every word you sayr'
"Let him hear. Let him know that
i, Olga Platanova, am to hurl the thing
that is to destroy the life Of Prince
Robin. l am not afraid to have him
know today what the world will know
next week. Then the world will say
that Olga Platanova was not a beast,
but a deliverer, q creator! Let him
'hearw
The listeners blood was running
cold. The life Of Prince Robin! An
assassination! "The thing that will
destroyw A bomb!
For half an hour they argued with
her, seeking to turn her from the stand
she had taken. Then they came to
terms with her. Truxton King owed
his life to this strange girl. who knew
him not at ALL but who believed in him.
Truxton was brought into the room
a few minutes later. He was white
with emotion as he faced the commit
tee Of ten. Before a word could be
addressed to him he blurted out:
you towards! Weak as l am,
tanova, if / could have got through
that door. Thank you for what you
have done to convince these dogs!
Only don't do this awful thing Think
Of that dear little boyp'
Olga Platanova cried out and covered
her eyes with her hands. She was
led from the room by William Spantz
Peter Brutus stood over King, whose
arms were held by two stalwart men.
Enough he commanded. I'VE
spare you not for her sake, but for
the sake OF the cause we serve. Hear
me! You are to be held here a prisoner
until our plans are consummated. You
will be properly fed and cared for.
You have heard Miss Platanova say
that she will cook the food for you
herself, but you are not to see her."
King interrupted him. 81 haven't
the least doubt that you will kill me in
the end. She may not be here to pro
tect me after-after the assassination
"She is prepared to die by the same
bomb that Stays the prince" was al
that Brutus would say in response tt
this, but King observed the sly lool
that went around among them. HI
knew then that they meant to kill hin
in the end.
Afterward, in his little room, b.
writhed in the agony Of helplessness
The prince, his court, the government
--all were to be blasted to satisfy tn
end Of this sickening conspiracy. Lo
raine! She, too, was doomed! II
groaned aloud in his misery and awe.
There was a telegraph instrumen
in the outer room. He could hear
ticking of It's messages DAY ana nlgn
and could hear the discussion Of re
ports as they came in or went out
soon became clear to him that the wir
connected the room with Marlanx'
headquarters near Balak, in Axphair
a branch instrument being stationed i
the cave above the witch's hut.
On his third night he heard the con
mittee discussing the conditions at tn
castle.
"The count is more afraid Of thi
man Tullis than of all the rest" ave-
red Peter Brutus. "He has reasons t
hate and fear the Americans. That
why he desires the death of our pri!
oner. He has said time and agai
over the wire that King will in som