The Robesonian., 1910-06-13

| Anna Cromer and Nine. Drovnask, !
who dinned the praises of the great |
Count Marlanx into her ears. They |
bathed the girls face and freshened |
her garments. 1t occurred to her that |
she was being prepared for visit of |
the redoubtable Marlanx himself and
put the question plainly
NO" said Anna Cromer Hes not
coming here. You are going to him.
He will not be Count Maranx after
tomorrow, but Citizen Marlanx, one
OF the people. one of u.s.
Little did they know Marlanx.
Julius and Peter will come for YOU
tonight said Nine. Drovnask. with
an evil, suggestive smile.
Truxton was 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 shutting
about the outer room. There were
hoarse, cultural, 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 groaning under the suspense. The
time was too slowly approaching
when he was to attempt the most des-
perate act in all this sanguinary trag-
edy.
He had told her of his plan. She
knew the part she was to play. And
II all went well-ah, then!
Suddenly he started to his feet. his
Jaws set, his eyes cleaning. The tele-
graph instrument was clicking in the
outer room.
Taking his 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
to the girl. Come, madam l 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 lungeG
against the wall. The man was stun
ned beyond all power of immediate
action. 1t was the work Of an instant
to snatch the revolver from his Goa
pocket.
Guard the door, whispered kins
to the girl, pressing the revolver int
her hand, land shoot if you have to-!
A handkerchief was stuffed into tn,
unconscious mans mouth. The lon:
coat and boots were jerked from hi
limp body before his hands and fee
were bound with the rope he carried
The bushy whiskers and wig were re
moved from his head and transferre,
In a flash to that Of the American
Then the boots. coat and hat found
new wearer.
Peter Brutus was standing in tn
stairway leading to the sewer.
'Hurry up. julius he called i'm
peratively. ''They are below with tn
boat"
When a tall, grunting man emerge
from the inner room bearing the lin
figure of girl in a frayed raincoat b
10 did not wait to ask questions. but rust
ed over and locked the cell door. The
st he led the way down the narrow stall
ct way. His only reply to Kings gu
tural remark in the Graustark lal
rs guage was:
be Don't speak, you fool! Not wor
ny until we reach the river
so A moment later the girl was bein
1T lowered through the hole into rougl
eager arms. Brutus and his compa1
ion dropped through, the secret bloc
1T of masonry was closed. and o
ou through the shallow waters of the sew
'ly er glided the party riverward in til
er noiseless boat that had come up
ed ferry them.
I'D There were three men in the boa
M not counting Truxton King.