Abilene Semi-Weekly Farm Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 15, 1910 Page: 2 of 8
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TASK TWO
iIWi
3
2R
rtmiMHiiitMnmiin
TRUXTON
KIN6
l Story of
....Grattftarfi
By GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON "
Cf jrrisht 1989 by Gcori Bur
MeCutcheon
CamUM. 1707. by Dodd. McJ 4
Company
HMHHWMMIimWH
CHAPTER XVI.
THIS TltROWIKd OF THE DOUB.
THE scene that followed beggars
nil description. A scora of
ineij und horses lay writhing
In tbo stroot: others crept
wway'pcroninlng with pain littrann Ucsfi
B that of animals lay n the path
t the frunzled panic stricken holiday
rewd; blood mingled with tho soft
I of Regcngetz circus slimy' slip
..sM
Otfca
i& FlutiUibVA-tueru nun botbing
left of liert Wi draw rt veil across tile
"pfctsro of Olgu Platanova after tin
tosBb left her baud. No one may look
tpon the quivering uhnttrrcd thing
Itat was once u living beautiful worn-
Down lu nri alley below the tower
'5 trembling wont team of oxen stood
W?
9SB SESFEItATE AMERICAN TOSSED UKlt
INTO 1 UK COACH
Star a day nud night awaiting the re-
Stsrn of u master who was never to
J
4- & Z.
IS. ' aseaae back to them God test his Him-
90 HOUlI f
"Truxton King picked himself up
3om the street dazed bewildered but
BBhurt Tho revolutionists had begun
- 3be assault qu tbe paralyzed minions
rtf tho government.
So looked back toward the gory en-
raaco to the circus. There was Mar-
3anx mounted and swinging n saber
a blgb. Ahead 'was n mass of car-
riages tilled with tho white faced pnl-
aried prey from the court of Graustark
TSrom somewhere near the spot where
XHga riatanova felt came a harsh pen-
etrating command:
""Cut them ofT! Cut them off from
"e castlei"
It" was his cue. He duulied Into the
freet and ran .toward tho carriages
crating with nil hit strength:
Turn bnckl It Is Marlnhx! To the
xfttrtle!"
Then It -wiis that ho haw the prince.
arte boy was standing on a seat on the
3yal cpnch of stnte holding out bis
jcager JlttlQ uqnds to some one In tho
-tticTc of tho crowd that surged about
ahlm. IIo was calling some one's name
lmt no otic could bavo benid hhu.
Truxton's straiulng eyes caught sight
set the tigurc In gray that struggled
forward in response to the cries and
-tbe extended hand.
'.Aunt LOraiue! Anut Loralue!" He
w beard the nanio the boy cried
with all his little heart.
Two officers struck at the uncouth
aleeporate American us he lifted the
girl from the ground und deliberately
teased her Into the coach
Turn back!" he shouted A horse-
tn rode Idui down. lie looked up as
die plunging animal's hoofs clattered
about his head. Voa Hugo with
alrawn sword was crowding up to the
carriage dport shouting wards of re.
' joking at sight of tho gill ho loved.
He caught glimpse "of her holding
a prlnqo in her arms her white
wgoabted face turned toward the mob.
todnctly be beard ber cry:
- SfKTT l'OKK GJAXTS FIND
THE PAWHEBS YERY EASX
fecial to The Reporter
FORT WORTH March 12 The Pan-
ibera lost to the New York Giants
regular division this afternoon the
eore being eleven to three. It was
mmy work fqr tjie visitors Murray
f )gw York made a home run
Tw More:
Hajf YorK H.IH1IIW.U 1
tort Worta f..UtlMM'.. ? 7
BatUriW-ayaiwd Scott CurM
Ml Wllaog; Weegaartora Daardorff
MMd Ballair.
"Save him! 8ue Tfilxtun KlhgJ"
Frohi tho sidewalks swarmed veil
Armed hordes of dcppcmdocs firing
wildly Into the ranks of devoted
guardsmen. Xruitou fled from tho
danger zone ns fast ns his strained
ankle would permit blm Bullets were
striking nil about him.
Homo one was shouting his mtiuo be
bind in tho scurrying crowd. He turu
cd for a single glnnco backward Llttte
Mr. Hobbs pale as a ghoit Jils cap
gone bin clothing torn was panting at
his elbow
Soldiers anno riding up from bo-
hind turning to fire from their sad
dies Into' lho throng of cutthroats led
by tho grim old man with tho bloody
saber. In tho center of tho troop there
was n flying carriage. The Duko of
Terso wns lying back In tho seat bis
faco like that of a dead man.
"Tho prlnco is safe!" shouted King
Joyoiisly. "They'll ronko ltl Thank
God!"
Colonel Qulnnox turned In his sad
dle and searched out tho owner of
that stirring tolco.
"Come!" bo called.
Ercn ns .-Jng rushed out Into tho
roadway a borwiiinn galloped up from
tho direction of tho castle. Ho pulled
bis horso to bis haunches almost' as
bo was riding over tbo dodging Amer-
ican. "Here!" Hllnlltrwl thn nnnuuuniir
scowling down upon tho young man
"Swing up hcrol Quick you fooll''
It was Vos Engo bis face black with
fury. QuiHtiox tind-seized tno hand
nhu Wds pulling blm up beforo him.
There was nothing foe Truxton to do
but to accept tho timely help of bis J
rival. An instant later he was up
behind htm and they wero off after
tbe last of tbo dragoons.
"If you don't mind count I'll try
my luck" grated tbe American. Hold-
ing on with 'one arm be turned and
flred repeatedly in tho direction of the
howling crowd of rascals.
"Ride to the barracks gates Vos
Engo!" commanded Colonel Qulnnox.
"Be prepared to admit none but tho
royal reserves who rtro under stand-
ing orders to report there In time of
need."
Over bis shoulder Vos Engo hissed
to hli companion: "It wa3 not ldlo
heroics my friend nor philanthropy
on nly part. I was commanded to
come und fetch you. She would never
have spoken to mo again If I had re-
fused." "She! Ab yes I seel Sho did not
forget me!" cried Truxton.
"Understand It Is not for you that
I risk my life."
"I understand" murmured Truxton
a wry smile on his pale lips "i'ou
mean she is going to pay you In some
way for picking mo up eh? Well I'll
put nn cud to that. I'll drop off again.
Theu jou can ride on and tell ber I
wouldn't be a party to thf game. Do
you witch my meaning?"
"You would eh?'' said the count an-
grily. "I'd like to see you drop off
while nq're going at this"
"I've -got my pistol In the middle of
your back" grated Truxton. ''Slow up
a bit or I'll scatter your vertebrae all
over your system. Pull up!"
"As you like" cried Vos Engo "I've
done my part. Colonel Qulnnox will
bear witness." He begau piilllng his
horso dowu. "Now you (ire quite fno
to drop off."
Less than a hundred yards behind
loped a riderless horse. The dragoon
who bad sat tbe
saddle was lying
far back In the
avenue a bullet In
his head. Hob-
bling" to tho mid-
dle of the road
the Ajn e r I e a n
threw up bh
bauds and shout-
ed briskly to the
bewildered n u l
mul. Kli'o seconds
later King was In
the s a d dl e and
tearing along in
tho wake of the
rotrcutiug guard
"Wo need such
men us K n gl" kino was in the
cried Colonel saddle.
Qulunox us be waited Inside the gates
for the wild tider.
General Braze with n few of his
men bloody and heartsick Was the
last of the little army to reach safety
lu tho castlo grouuds.
The fatross with nil guns stores and
ammunition was In tho bauds of tho
Iron Count and his cohorts.
Baron Dangloss had been taken pris-
oner with n whole platoon of lighting
constables. This was tho last appall-
ing bit of news to reach the hprrlfled
disorganized forces In the caBtlo
grounds.
A wise as well at a cruel man was
Marlanx. no lobt no tlmo In issuing
a manifesto to the stunned demoral-
ized citizens of Edelweiss Scores of
criers went through the streets during
the loug wretched afternoon nnnoiinq-
Ing to tho populace that Count Mar-
lanx had established himself as dh
tutor and military governor of the
prluclpallty pending tjie abdication
of the prince and the beginning of a
new and substantial regime. All 'cit-
izens 'were commuuded to recogulzo
the authority of the dictator.
Toward evening after many con-
nltatlons and countless reports Mar-
lanx removed bis headquarters to the
tower. lie had fondly hoped to be in
the castle long beforo this.
The cells and dungeon In tho great
old ower "were now occupied by
bruised defeated ofllcers of tho law.
riaron Jasto Dangloss crushed in
spirit and broken of body paced the
blackest and narrowest iel of them
At 0 o'clock on Sunday morning a
imall group of people adhered lu the
-qaar? A meeting -w won in pro-
f. A pood mx stood utr asratnat
Cif.
tho very spot oil t...idi Olgn Hata?
nova uiod. A Old man begun haran-
guing tho constantly growing crowd
in tbo group might hnvo been -teen
most members of the conibiUteo of ten.
In the midst of his hnrniiguo the
baud of William Spantss was arrested
In one of Its most emphatic gestures.
Polor Drums was approaching at the
head of a group of nllcns all nrmea.
"ouo Mdmcrttr called out Peter
Brutus lifting his hand Imperatively
Tba speaker ceased bis inoUtblngs.
"Count Marlanx desires the immediate
presence of the following citizens at
his ofllco Ih the tower. I shall call
off tho names." Hq began with Wil-
liam Spahtz. The name of each of his
associates In tio committee of ton fol-
lowed Ton minutes later every member of
the committee of ten except Pdtcr
Brutus was behind lock and bar to-
z
w
i
"XOtT ARE TO DIE AT RNSET.r
gether wjth their shivering associates
nil of them dumbly muttering to them-
selves the 'awful sentence that Mais
Innx had passed upon them.
"Ybu are to die at sunset. Grau-
stark still knows how to punish assas-
sins. There Js no room in Graustark
for anarchy. I shall wipe It out to-
day." "Sir your promise!" gasped William
Spantz. "We are your friends the
true pariy of
"Enough I Do not spenk again!
Captain Brutus yon will send criers ;
abroad to notify the citizens that I
Count Marlanx have ordered the exe-
cution of tho ringleaders In the plot
to dynamite tho prince nt sunset In
Hie. square. Away with the carrion!"
Then it was and not till then that
the committee of ten found him out!
Then it wns that they came to know
Peter Brutus!
The unrecognizable corpse of Olgn
Platanovn had been buried in quick
lime outside the city walls. There was
something distinctly grewsome In theJ
fact that half u dozen deep graves
were dug alongside hers hours before
death game to the wretches who were
to occupy them.
At 3 o'clock the Iron Count coolly
sent messengers to the. homes of tho
leading merchants and bankers of tho
city. They with the priestst tile doc-
tors the. municipal officers and tho
manufacturers were commanded tonp-
pear'before him at 5 o'clock for tho
puipose of discussing the welfare of
tho city and Its people.
Marlanx stated his position clearly.
He left no rpon for doubt In their
minds. The strings were in his hands.
Wltbbut hesitation he Informed the
leading men of the city that be was
to be the Prince of Graustark.
"I will rule Graustark or destroy her.
Those of you who do not expect or
desire Jo live under my rule which 1
promise you shall be n wise one may
leave the city for other lands" he said
calmly "Just sis soon ns my deputies
have completed flip formal transfer of
all your belongings to tho crown treas-
ury all I say even to tlje minutest
trlflo. rerralt mo to add In that con-
nection gentlemen the transfer will
not be aprolonged ttffalr."
They glared back nt blm and subsld-'
cd into bitter silence.
"I am well aware that you lovo little
Prince Robin. Now respecting young
mnster Robin I hnvo no great desire
to kill him."
He waited to see the effect of this
brutal announcement His hearers
stiffened and yes they held thqlr
breath.
"Ho has one alternative he and his
lords. I trutt that you as sensible
'gentlcmieji will find the means to con-
voy to him your advice thnt ho seize
the onppitunlty I shall offer blm to es-
cape with his life. Let mo Interrupt
myself to call to your attention tho
fact that I nm punishing tho anarchists
t huuvoi. T resume tho boy may
return to America whelo he belongs
I will filo him free and safo escort
lo th; rnltcd States. vlf he chooses to
accept my kindly terms all well and
good; If not gentlemen I shall starvo
illm out of blow the castle down. It
niny Interest you to hear tjint I expect
to establish n new nobility In. Grnu-
stalk. 1 trust 1 may now be address-
ing ut least n few of thp future noble
lords of Ouuhtitrk. Good day gentle.
men"
At the castlo the deepest gloom pre-
vailed. It was like a nightmare to
the beleaguered household a dream
fro tii which there seemed' to bo no
awakening Colonel Qulnnox ns com.
hinuder of the royal guard ruled su-
preme. General Braze toro off bis
own epaulets and presented himself
to Qulunox (is a Boldler of the (He
Prjnce Robin quite recovered from
his fright donned the Uniform of a
colonel of the loyal dragoons bucklwj
on his Jeweld sword and with boylnh
seal demanded nt a council of war
Colonel Qulimox's reasons for not go.
In forth to Nlay the rioter.
t'Your blebnw" wild tb oloal
Wttariy 'tk real army to owtaid tba
walls aot Itwkbfe W lira a pitiful
s i jl Si 1
jvsE.
landfill less than dfr) men all told
foniltlng tho wounded. Count Knr-
lattx lirndt an army of several thou-
sand. He" '
"llo wants to gel In hero sos ho
car i kill me. Is that so Colonel Quln-
nox?" The prlnco wns very pale but
quite cnliii.
"Oh I Wouldn't pul It Just that toy
your"
"fill. I tttiritv! Von ontt't tnnl nn)
I'vo always known that ho wants to
kill me. -But IiqW enn bo? Nobody
can. He ought to know that. Ho
must be awful stupid."
"Wo must got word to Tnlllsl" crted
several In a brenth. A dozen men vol
unteered to risk
their lives in tbo
attempt to And tbo
American In tho
bills. Two men
ware chosen by
Jot. They wero 'to
venture forth that
ery night.
"My lords" said
tbo prince-ns the
council was dp the
point of dissolving
"Is It nil right for
me to ask n ques-
tion now?"
"Cortnlnly Itob
"he's safe Voun
mqjIness."
K fiflkl tho prim
minister.
"Well I'd like to know where Mr.
King is."
"H' - z ...... ..
. 3iuu J inn mguucoo DUIU
Qulnnox.
"Well you run In and tell Aunt Lo-
ralhe this minute that Mr. King sends
his love to her and begs her to rest
easy. See if It doesn't cheer her up n
bit."
At night iwo attcWpw Were made
by Haddan and nnothertsubnItcrn to
lciivc the castlo to reach Tuills hut
both sorties proved failures. A day
Inter Marlanx sent two men under n
flag of truce to offer his infataous ulti-
matum. His offer of a safe conduct
of tho prlnco to America was refused
for the inmates' of the castle knew full
w.cll tho count would doom the lad to
Instant death if be should get him lu"
his possession.
"A single distant volley nt sunset had
puzzled the men on guard'at the castle.
They had no menus of knowing that
tho cominlttee.of ten andTlts wretched
friends bad been shot down like dogs
In the public square. Peter Brutuy was
In charge of the squad of executioners.
CHAPTER XVII.
TIlCXTOJf EXACTS A PROMISE.
T
RUXTON KING bad been in a
resentful frame of mind for
nearly forty-eight hours. In
the first place be bad not bad
so
much as a tingle glimpse of tho
giri ie now worshiped with nil his
. hpnrt. In tbe BGConil nlacc. hc had
learned with unpleasant promptness
that .Count Vos Engo wns tho officer
In command of the house guard u
position as gravely responsible as It
was honorable.
He had. of course proffered his' serv-
ices to Colonel Qulnnox. The colonel
who admired the Americans gravely
i Informed him that there was no regu
lar duty to which he could be assigned
but that' ho would expect him to hold
himself ready for any emergency. In
case of nn assault bo was to report to
Count Vos Engo.
But hc was not satisfied. Loraluo
had not como forward with a word
of greeting or relief In fact she had
not appeared outsldo the castlo doors.
Toward dusk on Monday long after
tho nrrlval of the refugees be sat in
gloomy contemplation- of his own un-
happiness darkly glowering upon the
unfriendly portals fspm n distant stone
bench.
A brisk guardsman separated himself
from the knot of men ut tho castle
doors and crossed the plaza toward
him.
Judge the dismay flnd anger' when
the soldier q bit shamefaced himself
(briefly nnhouueed that Count Tos
Ene lmf l88cd an on!er against
loitering in close proximity to tho
castle.
Truxton's cheek burned. no saw lu
an Instant "that the order was meant
for him and for no one" else ho being
ho only outsider likely to come under
he hertd of "loiterer."
Truxton turned to blm with n frank
smile. "Please tell Count Vos Engo
thnt I nm tho last person In tho world
to disregard dlsclpllno nt n tlmo like
this."
His" glnnco swept the balcony sud-
denly becoming Used on a couple near
tho thlid column. Count Vos Engo
nnd Lornlno Tuills wero stauding there
together unmistakably watching bla
humiliating departure.
Tho next morning he encountered
Vos Engo near the grotto.
Catching sight of Vps Engo he has-
tened "across tb6 avenue and caught
up to him.
"Good morning" snld Truxton. Vos
Engo did not smile as ho eyed tbe
tall American "I haven't bad n
chance to thank you for coming back
for me last Saturday. Allow me to
say that it was a very brave thing to
do."
"I do not like your words Mr. KJng.
nor the way in which you glare at
me.''
"IJm making R easlor to tell you
tbe agreeable news Count Vos Engo;
that's all. Take your hand off your
Hword please some other time per- J
haps but not In these days when we
need men uot cripples. I'll tell you
what I have discovered and theu vre'll
drop the matter until some other time.
Frankly count I have mRde the grat-
hfylmr dlaeovery that you are a ana-
i oraWe eur"
Count To no went yery "white
'A ypu My there l another and a
batM" tlui Wa ed u4g wt well aa
. tnau In ihM days.'
j Truxton utroltai off o b ttaWw
jifcklajr nf Mr Hobba ok tb way.
l VIL5Rl
IK j-5l
Jrtjbua'' a bald "we've got to Und
John Tulllsj that' all there Is to It."
"I dare say sif" said Mr. Hobbs
with sprightly tWclalvoucs "lie's very
much .teeded."
"I'm going' to heed hlita beforo long
n8 my second."
I-ntcr on iuuch of Truxton's good hu-
mor was restored and bis vanity pleased
by n pollto request from Count Hai-
font ta nttend nn important council In
the "room of wrangles" that evening
stO.
Very boldly hei advanced Upon tho
castlo a few minutes beforo tbe ap
pointed hour.
He camo upon Lornlnc Tuills at tho
edge of tho terrace". Sho wns walking
slowly in the soft shadows beyond tho
row of lights on tho lower gallery. Ho
knew her at a glance this slim girl in
spotless white.
"Loralnol" ho whlspored reaching
tier sldo in two bounds'. Sho put out
her hands and ho clasped them. Plain-
ly sho was confused. "I'vo beoh dying
for a glimpse of you. Do you think
you've treated mo"
"Don't. Truxton!" sho pleaded sud'
denly serious "lou must not como wcIsa nor t0 Bnlok otl condition that
hero. I saw-well you know. I was Russa j0 gfonffie right to use the-
so ashnincdj 1 was so sorry. qo connectlon wltu her owa roads
ZZ i. " u "'
uhj muy orueicu mo to move on as
1 !Li S- vCOm?on J0! b. &.
with a soft chuckle. ''But where hnvfl
you Kept yourscirr
"I have been III Truxton-truly 1
have" sho saldqulckly uneasily.
MVmt fnlil Vrt. T1frt . fin rxnnlr Btirl
AJA IViU IWP JUV IV "UI UUVM UU
pick me up" ho persisted
"Ho told
mo In bo many words. Now I want a
plain answer toralnc. Did you prom-
ise to reward him If he well If ho
saved mo from iUe mob?''
"No" sho said In a low voice.'
"What wfls it then? I must know
Loralne."
"I am very oh so very unhappy j an has" told us quite lately of n re-
Truxton" she murmured. J mark you made which ho happened:
"I enmo near spoiling everything ro overhear. If I quote him correctly
just- now" he whispered hoarsely. you snia to the Englishman Hobb3 that
"What?" you could get away "with it meaning.
"I almost kissed you Loralne.
swear it was nara to Keep rrom u.
Tbat would have spoiled everything."
"Yes it would" she agreed quickly.
"I'm not going to kiss you."untll you
have tQtd me you Iovb Vos Engo."
"I-hI don't understand!" sho cried
drawing back and looking up Into bis
face with bewildered eyes.
"Because theu I'll be sure that you
lovo me."
"Bo--sensIble Truxton."
"I'll know that you promised to lovo
hliq'If he'd sivu me. It's as clear ns
day to me. 'You did tell blm you'd
mnrry htm If hu gut iio to u place of
safety."
"No. I refused to umiry blm if he
did not sno you. Oh TruMou I am
so miserable! What Is lo become of
all of us? 'What Is to become of John
and Bobby and you?'
''I I think I'll kiss you now Lo-
ralne" he whispered almost tremu-
lously. "God bow I love you little
darling! You must make me a prom-
ise." "Ob Truxton don't ask mo to Bay
that I'll be jour'V- She stopped
painfully emhnrrassed.
"That will come later" he said con-
solingly. fI want you to promise on
your sacred w ord of honor that you'll
kiss no man until you've kissed me."
"Oh!" she murmuied "I I cannot
promise that! 1 tun not sure that I'll
ever ever kiss anybody. What Is It
you really want me to say?' she
asked looking up with sudden shy-
ness in her htnrry eyes
"That you lovo me and mo only
Loralne." he whispered
"I will n6t say It!" -she cried break-
ing away fioiu him. "But" as sho
"THAT YOO I.OVH HB ASP ME ONLY XO-
KAINK." rau to the steps a delicious tremor
In her voice. "I will consider the pthcr
thing you ask."
King was ushered Into n large.jje-
dutely furnished room. A score of
men "wore there before hlm-slttlug or
standing Iq Htfltudea of attention; lis-
tening to the words of 'General Braze.
King's entrance was the signal for an
Immediate transfer of interest. The
general bowed moat politely and nt
once turned to Couut Halfont with the
remark that he had quite finished bis
suggestions Tho prime minister came
forward to greet tbe momentarily sby
America').
"Tu .couacU has been extolling vou
Mrt King eaid tbe prime minister
leading hl to a seat -near hli own
Trtfxtoy bhwhad. Involuntarily b
frtafeewl t Voa Engo. Tfeat tenth"
man abirM twtoaa tight kwpi
totufela
I te
4i A
"Hero's the situation in u nutshell"
went on tho prime Inlnlster "Vo are
doomed unless succor renches tit frpiu
tho outsldo. Wo boimh dualilc to warn
John Tuills who If given time might
succeed in collecting a Rilfficfoh't forco
of loyal countrymen to harass And
eventually overthrow the dictator I
f nm lontlt to speak of another alterna
tive that linn been discussed at ierigtli
by the ministers and their friends.' The
Duko of Pcrsti from a bed of pain and
anguish has counseled ua to take
steps In the direction 1 nm about to
speak of.
"We enh appeal to Russia In this
hour of stress but wo will bavo to
make an Utiplcnsant sacrifice. Russia
is eager to take over 0m new Issue of
railway bonds. Hitherto -wobaVo voted
against disposing of the bonds la that
country tho reason being obvloudt St.
Petersburg wants a now connecting
lino with her possessions in Afghanis-
tan. Our lino will provide a most di-
rect route a cutoff 1 bcllovo they calt
It. Last year tho Grand Duko Paulus
volunteered to provide tho money fotr
tho construction of the lino from EdeU
to the orient. You may see tho ad-
vonfm In tlili it Ytitaatn Aft- TTIntv-.
It I land v7ocrd to" the jBntnd Duke
paulus ogreelng to his terms which
atlll remain open to us signing away
a most yolnablo right in what we bad
hope(i would bo our own Individual
property we have every reason to be-
llove that ho will send armed forces
lo our relief ou tho pretext that
Russia Id defending properties of her
own. Timt Is one vny in -whlck we-
may 'oust Count Marlanx. The other
J lies in tho ability of John Tuills to-
give battle to him with our owu peopio-
' carrvlnc tho nuns lieutenant Had-
ns I take it that you could succeed In
reaching John Tunis. May i not lm-
plorc you to tell us how you would.
go nbput It?"
Truxton Tind turned n brick redV.
Shame airil mortification surged within'
him. He was cruelly conscious of am
undercurrent of Irony In the premier's
courteous request. For an instant he
was sorely crushed. A. low laugh from
thcopposlte side 6f the room sent a
shaft to Ida .PO"1- Ho looked up Vos
TSngo was still smiling. In an instant
the- American's blood boiled.
"I did say J could get to John T.ullta
I'll start tonight" -"'
His words created a profound Im-
pression they' came bo abruptly
"Send for Mr. Hobbs please" said"'
Truxton. "There should bo three of
us" addressing the men about blm.
"Ono.of us Is sure
to get awny."
"There Is not a
man here or lu
the service who
will not gladly ac-
company you Mr.
King" cried Gen-
eral Braze quickly
"Count Vos Eli-
go 'is tho man I
would choose if I
may bo permitted
the honor of nam-
ing my compan-
ion" said Truxton
grinning Inwardly
with a -malicious vos E tubned a
joy.. Vos Eugo veixowisii QBEE-jr.
turned a yellowish green His eyes
bulged f
"I I am in command of the person
of his royal highness." ho stammered
suddenly going very red.
''I bad forgotten your present occur
pntlon" said Truxton quietly. "Pray
pardon the embarrdssmeut I may bavo
caused you. After nil I think Hobbs
Will do. Ho knows tho copntry like
n book."
Mr Hobbs came. That Is to say he
was prqduc.ed. It is doubtful if Mr.
Hobbs evpr fully recovered from tbe
malady commonly known as stage-
fright. Ho had noyer been called Mr.
Hobbs by a prlme minister before
nor bad ho ever been asked in pcrson
by a minister of war if bo had a fam-
ily at home. Afterward Truxtou King
was obliged to' tell blm that he had
unwaveringly volunteered to accom.
pnny blm on tho perilous trip to tho-
hllls. Bo sure of It Mr. Hobbs was
not lu a mental condition for many
hours to oven romotcly comprehendi
what had taken place.
But Mr. Hobbs was not tho klud to-
falter onco he had given his word.
"Wo'll bo off nt midnight. Hobbs"
said Truxton.
"As you say Mr. King Just ns you
say" said Hobbs with Una Indiffer-
ence. As Truxton was leaving the castle
ten minutes later nJjrlsk eager faced
young attendant hurried up to him.
"I bear n messago from his royal
highness" said the attendant detain-
Ing blm
youJfiIr"
"Prince Robin has asked far
"I'll see blm" said Klngpromptly.
..
us If be wore granting tbo audience.
CHAPTER JCVIII.
nr TIIK WATKH OATE.
r
T was n vast lofty apartment.
regal In Its .subdued lights. Am
enormous golden bed with gor
geous uauguiK hiuou jar uowm
tho room. Sq huge was this royal
ouch that Truxton t Urst overlooked
tbe igure slttlag bolt upright la the'
middle of It.
Ah old wpmau advanced from the
head of tha couch and motioned Trnx-
toa tu nwcb.
"I nm deeply honored your high-
n" sakl tbe vial (or. bowing very
tew.
Tb prtace'a toga were now hanging
rr tha ado of the bed His ayea
wr aanelu- wtth axcitwipastt
"l ymnt ya t Asa Uaela Jack. Mr.
fiL
-
1
4
v
4
A
V".
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Abilene Semi-Weekly Farm Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 15, 1910, newspaper, March 15, 1910; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth314574/m1/2/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.