Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-19

( u WIN uuUlOUS CVue
Germ. An OK cart was approaching
from the west.
IA rider she cried joyously.
They stopped the cart and bargained
for ride to Rom. The man was a
farmer, slow and suspicious. He bag.
gled.
THE country's full of evil men snd
woman these days." he demurred. "Be-
sides, have heavy enough load as
1t is for my poor beasts
Miss Tullis conducted the negotia-
tons.
"We are bound for Edelweiss. Can
you get US there In two hours?"
with these beasts, poor things?
Never!'
ut will be worth your while. A
hundred gavvos II you carry us to q
place where We can secure quicker
transportation"
In time she won him over. he
agreed to carry them along the way
at his best speed until they came up
with better beasts or reached the city
gates. They climbed up to the seat,
and the tortuous Journey began. The
farmer totted beside the wheel nearly
all Of the way. descanting warmly In
painful English on the present condi-
ton Of things In the hills.
'The rascals have made way with
the beautiful Miss Tullis. She is the
American lady stopping at the castle.
You should see her, sir. Excepting
our dear Princess Yetive God rest
her soul-she is the most beautiful
creature Graustark has ever seen-not
quite SO grand as the Countess lingo
mede. but fairer, believe me. She is
beloved by every one. She Is to be
married to the Count vos Engo, a hne
lad, sir. Now she is gone don't know
what he will do. Suicide mayhap.'
do you know the great Count Mar
lanx?" demanded King, possessed OF
a sudden thought. The man faced him
at the mention Of the name, q sus-
picious CLEAN in his eyes.
"Count Marlanx!" he snorted. There
was no mistaking the angry scowl.
care you friends Of that snake? II
you are, get out Of my cart"
ICES all right" cried TruIton. Tell
him who we are, Lorraine. and why we
must get to the city"
Five minutes later the farmer, over.
come by the stupendous news. was
flashing his oxen with might and main.
The astonished beasts tore down the
road to Rom SO bravely that there
seemed some prospect Of getting q
telegram through in time. At Rom
they learned that the operator had
been unable to call Edelwelss since
Z O'clock
In time the city gates came In sight,
far up the. straight, narrow road.
1t seemed to the quivering Americans
that the gates were mocking them by
drawing farther away instead Of com
ing nearer.
Near the gates, which were still open,
it occurred to him in single fash Of
dismay that, he and Lorraine would be
recognized and intercepted by Marlanx
watchers.
~ was SLC WIZ ndu lAC SOiutAVus
They might succeed in passing the
gates II they hid themselves In the bed
Of the cart, underneath the thick can
vas covering. The farmer lifted the
cloth, and they crawled down among
the melons.
ITO the tower" cried the anxious
Truxton.
'eImpossibler' shouted the farmer.
The streets are roped of, and the
crowds are too great"
"Then let US out as near to the tower
as possible" cried the other.
Here we areT' cried the driver q
few minutes later. pulling up his half
dead oxen and leaping to the ground.
or through an alley they hurried.
They came to the crowded square few
minutes later. The clock In the cathe
dral pointed to II o'clock and after!
The catastrophe had not yet taker
place. They were in time. Every
where they heard glad voices crying
out that the prince WIS coming.