The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-14
CHAPTER V.
THE COMMITTEE OF TFT

- 7 has been said before that Trux-
ton King was the unsuspecting
III 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 thoroughness Of
that department, but that he should
be continually watched by persons Of
more sinister cast suggests a mys-
terry which can be cleared up by Wis
iting a certain underground room IN.
known to the police scarce two blocks
from the Tower Of Graustark
There were two ways Of reaching
this windowless room, with its low
ceilings and dank airs If one had
the secret in 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 a hidden aper-
ture In the walls Of the great govern
lei with and far below the walls Of
the quaint old building. One could
take his choice Of direction in APP
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 above if he had
the courage to drop through one OF
the intakes.
It is OF special significance that the
trapdoor in Spantz's workshop was
reserved for use by the armUrer and
his more fastidious comrades, OF whom
three were women and one al estab-
lished functionary in the royal house
hold.
The committee Of ten represented
the brains and the activity OF IA bid
coterie In Edelweiss, among them
selves styled the Party Of Equals. In
plain language, they were "reds.'
The nominal leader was William
Spantz, he who had a son in the
princes household, Julius Spantz, the
master OF arms. Far off in the hills
above the Danube there lived the real
leader of this deadly group-the Iron
Count Marlanx, exile from the land Of
his birth. hated and execrated by ev-
cry loyal Graustarkian, hating and
execrating In return with tenfold
greater venom.
Olga Platanova was the latest aC
QUESTION to this select circle. \ word
concerning her: She was the daugh-
ter Of Professor Platanova, one time
oculist and sociologist in large Ger
man university. He had been one Of
the most brilliant men in Europe and
a member Of a noble family. Less
than a year before the opening OF this
tale he was executed for treason and
conspiracy against the empire.
His daughter, Olga. was recognized
as one Of the most beautiful and Cul-
tured young women In Warsaw. Her
suitors seemed to be without number.
Finally there came one who conquered
and was beloved. He was the son Of
a mighty duke. a prince Of the blood.
The young prince pledged himself to
marry her despite all opposition; he
was ready to give up his noble Inherit
ance for the sake Of love. The all
powerful ruler Of an empire learned
Of this proposed meSalliance and vas
Mortified The will Of the crown was
made known to him and-he obeyed.
Olga Platanova was cast aside. but not
forgotten. He became the husband of
an unloved, scrawny lady of diadems.
When the situation beanie more than
he could bear he blew out his brains.
When Olga heard the news Of his
death she was not stricken by grief,
She cried out her joy to now cloud
less sky, for he had justified the great
love that had been theirs and would
be theirs to the end of time.
From a passive believer in tie doc
trines Of her father and his circle she
became at once their most imprisoned
exponent She threw herself heart
and soul into the deliberations and
transactions OF the great red circle;
her father understood and yet was
amazed.
Then he was put to death by the
class she had come to hate-one more
stone in the sepulcher of her tender
girlish ideals When the time came
she travelled to Graustark in response
to the call Of the committee Of ten; she
came prepared to kill the creature she
would be asked TO kill And Vet down
in her heart she was sore afraid.
SAc WIS bbtAS Lcl ~ NIL - A4-'1 -
grown old In wrongs to her people. bul
to destroy the life Of a gentle. limo
cent boy Of seven.
There were times when her heart
shrank from the unholy deed she Tad
been selected TO perform. BIT there
was never a thought OF receCtn- from
the bloody task set down for her,
On a Saturday night. following th,
last visit OF Truxton King u Il,
armorer. the committee Of ten me- Il
the underground room 70 hear the lat
est word from one who could not be
| with them in person but was always
there III spirit. If they were t believe
! his most Jealous utter2lces. Tie Iron
Count Marianx. prCfeSsed hateT Of al
that was rich and noble. was ,he
power behind the committee Ct tn
! The assassination Of the little pr..ce
and the overthrow Of the r"ya! N
lily awaited his pleasure He was the
man Who would give the word
Alas for the committee Of tea: HE
widest fox in the history Of the world
was never so willy as the Iron Count
Some day they were 70 find cut that
he was using them 10 pull his choi ST
chaStDutS from tha fire