Abilene Semi-Weekly Farm Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 24, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 1, 1910 Page: 2 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Public Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TAQM TWO
mmfcaMakoMti
I j
I IHIH M-M
l Story of
...mGraustarfi
I By GEORGE BARR
M'CUTOHEON
IS
Copyright. 1909. by Georrfa Dirr '
MeCutchecm
Cwrisht. 1909. by Dodd. Neid B ;
ComDnf
itinniiiiiiniimiiiii
CHAPTER X.
THE mOX COONT.
WIIEN King ! the klndhcss of
his heart grasped the old
woman to keep her frotn fall-
ing to the floor he played dl-
ectly Into the hands of very material
genclcs under her control. The next
sstant something struck him In the
-Stece. Then with a fierce jerk this same
object tightened nbout his neck.
A noose had been dropped over his
ead. As he was pulled backward his
startled bulging eyes swept the cell-
tog. Above him a square opening had
A WANT AD.
May Save You Money in More
Ways Than One. Try a Want Ad
IR SALEFOR SALE Good second
Tiand runabout buggy for wood or
feed. Dr. C. T. Scott. 16-ltd-w4t
YOU WILL FIND ME at Trantham's
& Darby's on Chestnut street paying
highest cJfsh price for chickens and
eggs. W. H.. Tinnin. w4t
FOR SALE A pair of largo work
horses cheap. Also several single rid
lag and diivipg horses sire Denmark
Jft. 1058. Have dry summer cut wood
Idt Bale very cheap. G Wolf Holsteln
near Hamby. 2.25-2t
.NOTICE For the best of sand seeB.
St. Creswell and S. E. Smith at their
.sand pit on W. .1. Marsh's farm 3 1-2
salles west of town. All orders given
prompt attention. Your patronage is
.solicited. 2-25-3t
STRAYED OR STOLEN' One blue
-mare colt 3 years old; unbranded.
JTJnder please notify E. H. McCamant
atcCamant Tex. feb.2w2t
tFOlTSALEbR"TRADE4 sections
aandy land winkler county. $2.00 due
-state 3 per cont interest. One year
lived out. Cheap Write what you
Tmve to trade.glvo full description and
tprlpc. H. O. Pope Duval Texas.
23tdw i
NOTICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE.
(Real Estate.)
Sy virtue of an order of sale Issued
.ut of the Honorable District Court of
Uoll County on the 3rd day of Fobrun-
iy A. D. 1910 in the case of the Bel-
Ion National Bank versus L. F.Grimes
2fo. 747D and to mo as sheriff direc-
ted and delivered I have levied upon
tbo ICtH day of February A D. 1910
sad will between tho hours of 10
-o'clock A M. and ! o'clock P. M on
lao first Tuesday in April A. D. 1910
It being the Cth day of said month at
Ifae Court Houso door qf said Taylor
Ooanty in the City of Abilene proceed
1 Bell at public auction tq tho highest
Wdder for cash In hand all the right
iiUo and interest which L. F Grimes
Juul on the 1st day of Pecomber A. D.
asflfl or at any tlmo thereafter of Jn
wSfld to th following described property
-tawlt:
Ikying and being in the county of
Ttajrlor Stato of Texas and being 150
exes off the North End of Section
Ufa 18 In block No. 18 T. & P. Ry. sud-
ej certificate No. 1-1003: Beginning
-at tho N. Wi Corner of said Section
Jto. 18 at a Stake and 3 pits where a
mesqulte jn diameter vrs. S 31 3. 40
-varaa Thencu South 13 E. 843 78-8 J
vrs. to corner Thenco N. 77 EaatJOOl
vrs. to stake op West Boundary lino
f Grimes County School lcaguo No
348 for corner Thence N. 14-20 W.
nrlth said league No. 148. 84378-84 vrs to
a stake and stono wound tho N. E
Corner of the survey thenco S. 27 W.
Sg? yarns to the plnce of beginnings
Said property being levied on as the
property of L. F. Grimes to satisfy a
Jadgment .amounting to I1847.GG and
Mut further sum of ? 3332.4 5 and
$tt05 costs in favor of tho Bolton Na-
tional Bank and costs of suit.
Given undor my band this lGth. day
f February A D. 1910.
T C. WEIR
Sheriff Taylor County. Texas
"Vtbruwcy 18 At
Jfetlee Farwers.
I aave the Mebne. Cotton Seed for
-!. The. seed are well developed and
matured. This Is a large boll 0 lock
cotton easy to pick sjmI yields from 37
t-j pr cent Jint. Seed 1.00 per
fey. r. PJ B ColertM.i
II Jlllpll H !
n. T Orahftiu jJ 'WMsMo had
bare visit T. C wrwoa re-
taraed today1 tta(r bOfuf at Cisco.
I TRUXTON
' KING
War
appeared Iti the celling. Two ugly
bearded faces yworo leaning over1 tho
edge and strong hands wore grasping
a thick rope. He was strangling.
Frantically he graspad tho rope lifting
himself from the floor in tho effort
to loosen the nooso with his free band.
A hoarse laugh broke upon his dinning
cars tbo leering faces drew nearer
and then as everything went black a
beavy yet merciful blow fell upon his
head.
Not many minutes passed before con-
sciousness which had been but par-
tially lost returned to him. It was
pitch dark and the air was bot and
close. Not a sound came to Ids throb-
bing erirs. With characteristic lrrc-
presslblllty ho began to swear softly
but articulately. A gruff voice star-
tllngly near at hand interrupted him.
"Spit It out young fcllowl Swear
like a man not llko a blamed canary
bird."
Tho hidden speaker was unquestlon
ably an American
"Where am I?" demanded tho cap-
tive "You're here that's where you are"
was tbo sarcastic answer.
"Are you nil American?"
"No; I am a Chinaman. I was born
In Newport" as an afterthought
"Kentucky." t
"This is the worst high handed out-
rage I've ever"
"Hotter save your breath young fel-
low. You wou't have It very long so
save what you can of It."
"You mean 1 am to stop breathing
altogether?" asked tbo prisoner.
"Something like that"
Why?'
"You'll find out when tho boss gets
good and ready. You wanted to get
a poke at the old man's eye did you?
By thunder that's llko an American-
never satisfied to let things aloue. See
what it got you Into?" ' '
"Tho old man's eye? What Old
man?"
"That's for you to Ond out. If you
can. You've made a poor start at it."
"How do you an American happen
to be mixed up In n deal like this?"
"It's healthier wOrk than making bar-
rels at I was going to say Sing Sing
but I benr they've changed the name.
I prefer outdoor work."
"Fugitive eh?"
"You might call it that. I'm wanted
In seven States. The demand for me
is great."
That bo had fallen Into the hands of
a band of conspirators was quite clear
to King. Whether they were brigands
or more Important operators against
the crown he was of course in no posi-
tion to decide. Time would tell.
It was enough that they expected to
kill him sooner or later. This in Itself
was sufficient to convince blm that be
was not to be held for ransom but to
bo disposed of fof reasons best known
to his captors.
Like a shot the warning of Olga
piatauoa flashed Into his brain. His
guard bad mentioned "the old man."
Good bcavensj Could he mean Spantz?
The cold perspiration was standing on
King's brow. Spantz! He recalled the
wickedness in the armorer's face. But
why should Spantz wish him evil?
The anarchists! Tbo reds! Olga wus
an avowed anarchist "By gad they
think I am a detective!" he exclaimed
light coming to him with a rush. .
"What's that?" snapped tho other.
Truxton could almost feel the other's
body grow tense despite tho space be-
tween them. "Aro you n detective?
Are you? If yqu are I'll finish you up
right here. You"
"No! They're on the wrong scent.
By Jover the laugh's on old man
Spantz."
"Oho! SO you do know whnt's up
then? Spantz. eb? Well -what you've
guessed at or found out won't make
much difference my flno" young fel-
low." The glimmer of a light came bob-
bing up from somewhere behind Trux-
ton. He could see tho flickering "shad-
ows on tho wall. Two men crept into
the room a moment later. One of them
carried a lantern; tho other turned
King's body over with his foot. Trux-
ton saw that tho threo ruffians were
MW-rVKU RAVK VOOll llKKATt! YOUNO PEL-
I.lilt UU WONT HAVE ir LONO."
great brutal faced fellows with bared
nrhH that denoted toll as well as spoils.
The jhlrd man grasped the prisoner by
tbo feet swearing In a language of
his own. Tbo Yankee desperado took
his shoulders and together with ear-
nest grunts they followed tjio man
with tho lantern. Ho could see that
they were crowding through a low.
narrow passage finally depositing hlra
with scant courttay upon tho rocky
floor of what proved to bo a rather
commodious cave.
Daylight streamed Into this conven-
ient "holo Jn tho wall;" lying upon his
side. Truxton faced ttio opening that
looked out upon the world. Near the
opening stood tbe all gaunt flgure of
a man tulu shouldered and stooped'
His bck was to the captive but King
observed that the three men with two
companions who M at the bck of
Um cava sever ym4 their kh
from the striking figure outlined
against tho sky.
The watcher turned slowly to take In
the nltcKd conditions behind him.
King saw that bo was old gray haired
and cadaverous. This then was tho
"old man" nhd ho vns hot William
Spantz.
"Your nano Is King I believe" camo
from tho thin lips of tho old man.
"Yes. Mny I Inqulre"-
"Ko; yo may not Inquire. jPut a
gag In Ids month. 1 don't care to hear
anything from him. Gng him and cut
tho rope from hid feet. Ho may walk
from now on."
Three men sprang to do his bidding.
.King felt In that Instant that he was
looking for the first time upon tho fea-
tures of the Iron Count Marlanx the
dishonored. He lay there helpless
speechless for many minutes glancing
at this cruel tyrant. It was enough
that Marlanx suspected him of being
in tho way. To bo suspected was to
be condemned.
Marlanx wns speaking. Truxton
looked up as at an executioner. The
Iron Count sat upon a bowlder near his
feet
"Wo have met before. Perhaps you
remember meeting my eye In Dame
Babba's cabin twice I think. You
remember I see. Hn' ha! You were
very slow not to have caught such an
old man. I dare say yon are wonder-
ing what I intehd to do with you. now
that I have you. Well I am not the
man to mince words. Mr. King you
are quite young but tho good dlo
young. I am very old. you observe. I
will not say that you are to dlo to
night or tomorrow or any day for I
do not know. I am going to send you
to a court. Not an ordinary court Mr.
King but one of extreme perspicacity.
I fancy you will die before long. We
can spare you. I do not approve of
meddlers. It seems to be quite settled
that you are a police agent."
The steady cruel eyes fascinated
King; lie knew that he was In des-
perate straits.
4I am glad you called again at my
temporary 'abode. Mr. King. Ameri-
cans aro always welcome: tho sooner
they come the sooner it's over. It
may Interest you to know that I am
very partial to Americans Were I
a cnnnibal I could eat them In relish.
If I had my way all Americans should
be In heaven. The earth surely Is
not good enough nor big enough for
them and hell is already overcrowded.
Yes I love the Americans dearly. I
should enjoy a similar visit from Mr.
John Tullls. I expect him to visit me
In my humble castle before many days.
I should like to have hunjcemaln there
until his dying day."
King shuddered.
"Night Is coming. I must say fare-
well my bold young friend. My way
lies to the north.
This is merely a
land of promise to
me. You go south-
ward to tbo city
of Edelweiss. But
not 'through the
gates; oh no!
There are other
ways as you will
find. Goodby my
bravo Sjr Galahad;
I may never see
you again."
With ii courtly
'FAREWELL. 1(V
bow he turned
DOLL) YOUNO fro pi
the teiiM?
FBIKND."
muscled en ptive i
and directed his final Instructions to
the guards. With a curt nod to the
men. ho strode out through the mouth
of the cave and was gone. Dusk had
settled down upon mountain and val-
ley. One of the men cut tho rope that
bound Truxton's feet
"Get up" said the Newport man.
"We'vo got to be movIn"
Still gagged and somewhat dizzy.
King was hurried off Into the narrow
mountain path closely surrounded by
tho five men. .
Tho silent cautious march down the
valley through the gap and along the
rldgo carried them far Into the ulght.
This much ho knew they were In
the hlls directly above the northern
gates. The vague black shadow of a
Ilghtless house loomed up before them.
In a twinkling he was bustled across
the road and Into a door thpn down
a flight of stairs through pitchy dark-
ness guided by two of the men. a
whispered word of advice now ond
then from the Yankee saving him from
perilous stumbles. lie was Jerked up
sharply with a comnmud to stand still.
A light flashed suddenly in his face
bltndlug him for a moment
Soon ho saw that they were In a
broad baro cellar; threo men in heavy
black beards wero In earnest conversa-
tion with several of his captors; all
wore gesticulating fiercely.
Ills Newport companion enlightened
him between puffs of tho pipe ho was
struggling with. "Hero's where wp
say goodby young fellow We turn
you over to these gents whoever they
nre. Yoir go Into the village gay with
theso 'swabs' by the sewer line. I
guess." Truxton pricked up his ears.
"Tho old man has had a holo chopped
In tho sewer hero they toll me and it's
a snap to get Into the city. Not very
Clean or ueat. but It gets you thero.
Well so long! They're ready. 1 see.
Thoy don't monkey long when thoy've
got a thing to do"
In nnotlicr moment his guardianship
was transferred! he was being hurried
across tho cellar toward an open-door-way.
Down a few stono steps ho was
led by the bearded crow and then
pushed through a hole In what ap-
peared to be a heavy brick wall He
realized at once whore he was The
gurgle of running water came up to
him Jf was the great sewer that ran
from the hills through the heart of the
city flushed continuously by a diverted
mountain stream that swept down
frpm. above-
He did not knpw how long they
irarenwd tU chill s?wer In time
N llllftlL.
J58 Mill
however tho water got deeper; rata
began to scurry nlong tho sides of the
ehelo or to sultn frantically on In front
Of tile disturbers.
At last the strange Journey ended
They enmo to a niche In the slimy wall
Up into this the men clltnbcd. The man
above wns cautiously tapping on what
rtppenred to be solid hmsoury. To
King's surprise n section of the will
suddenly opened. before them. He was
seized from above by strong hands ahl
literally jerked through the hole. m
narrow steps and then into a long dim-
ly lighted room. In the center of which
ntbod a long table.
lie was passed on Into a small room
ndjolnlng. Some one speaking In Eng-
lish told him to sit down. The gag
was removed from his stiff. Inflamed
mouth.
"Fetch him some wntcr Bald a
voice that he was sure ho recognized
a high querulous voice.
"Hello. Spantz!" articulated Truxton.
turning to tho black boarded bent fig-
ure. There was an instant of silence.
Then' Spantz spoke with a soft laugh:
"Vou will not know' so much tomor-
row. Herr- King. Give blm water
man. He cannot talk with a dry
throat."
King was pushed out Into the. larger
room where he was confronted by n
croud of bewhlskercd men aud snaky
eyed' women with most Intellectual
nose glasses. It required but n glance
to convince him that tho whiskers
were false.
For nearly an hour he was probed
with questions concerning his business
In Edulwelss. Threats followed close
ripbn his unsatisfactory auswers.
though thoy were absolutely truthful.
"We'll find a way to moke you talk
tomorrow my friend! Starving Is not
pleasant."
"You would not starve me!" be cried.
"No You will have the pleasure of
stanlng yourself" said a thin eyed
fellow whom ho afterward knew as
Peter Brutus.
He was thrown back Into the little
room. To his" sprprlso and gratifica-
tion the bonds on his wrists were re-
moved. He found a match In his box and
struck it There was no artlClo of
furniture. TIiq floor was bare tho
walls green with age. A chimney holo
In the ceiling was perhaps the only
means by which fresh air could reach
this dreary place. Sleep was claiming
his senses. He made a pillow of his
coat and stretched his weary bones
upon the relentless floor.
"No One Will ever know" he mur-
mured his last waking thought being
of a dear one at home.
CHAPTER XI.
Tundeu tiik qnouNn.
HE second day after his incar-
ceration began King was given
food and drink. It was high
time for be was almost fam-
ished. Thereafter twice a day he was
led into tho larger room and given a
surprisingly hearty meal.
Peter Brutus had Just voiced the
pleasure of the majority by urging the
necessity for physical torture to wring
the government's 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 tho opposite wall ready to
fight to the death. Then there came u
voice that he recognized
A woman was addressing the con-
spirators In tones of deadly earnest-
ness nts heart gave n bound. It was
the first time since his Incarceration
that be bad henrd tlio voice of Olga
PJatapova she who still must be hi"
friend
"No! You shajl not torture him. I
have said he Is no spy. I still say It!"
she was exclaiming
"God girl wecnunot turn htm loose
now. lie must dip." This was from
Spantz.
"We cannot release him. I grant
you" she said and Truxton's heart
sank. "Not now. but aftetward yes.
When It Is all over he can do no harm.
But hear mo now all of you. If he la
harmed In any way I shall not perform
my part of the work on the 20th. This
Is finol."
"You cannot withdraw!" exclaimed
Peter Brutus -"You are pledged. You
nro sworn It Is prdninod."
"I. Olga Platifnovn say this to you.
It Is not a plea not a petition; It is an
ultimatum Spare him or the glorious
cause must suffer by my defection"
"Sh! Not so loud girl! He can hear
every word you say!"
"Let him hear. Lot him know that
I Olga Platnnova. nm to hurl the thing
that Is to destroy the Jlfo of Prince
Robin. 1 am not afraid to havo him
know today what the world will know-
next week. Then the world will say
that Olga Platiinovn was not a beast
but a deliverer a creator! Let littli
hear!"
The listener's blood was running
Cold The life of Prince Robin!' An
assassination! "Tho thing that will
destroy!" A bomb!
For half an hour they argued with
her seeking to turn her from the stand
sle had taken Then they enmo to
terms with her Truxton King owed
his life to this strango girl who knew
Id in not at all. but who believed In htm
Truxton was brouglh Into the room
ft fow minutes later He was white
with emotion as he faced the commit
teo of ten. Before n word could be
addressed to him he blurted out
"You cowards I Weak as 1 am I
would have fought for you Miss Pla-
tanova If I could have got through
that door Thank you for what you
have done to copvluce these tQgsi
Only don't do this awful thing! Think
if thrtt dear little boy"'
OIku Platanova cried out aud covered
her eyes with her hands She wns
!d from the room by WlltUw Hpinfz
Peter Brutus stood over King whose
nrms were held by two stalwart men.
"Enough!" he commanded. "We
spare you not for her 'sake but for
the sake )f tho cause we serve. Hear
me! You are to be held here u prisoner
until our plans nre consummated. You
will bo properly fed atid eared for.
You havo heard Mlsa IMatanova say
that tiho will cook the food for you
herself but you are not-to sco her."
King Interrupted him. "I haven't
tho least doubt that you will kill mo in'
the end. She' mny not bo here to pro-
tect mo after after tho assassination."
"She is prepared to dlo by tho sanio
bomb that slays the prince." Was nil
thnt Brutus would say In response to
this but King observed tho sly look
thnt went around among them. Ho
know then that thoy meant to kill htm
In the end.
Afterward. In his little room ho
writhed In the agony of hclplcsshcss.
Tho prince his court the government
all were to bo blasted to satisfy the
-'4j
"WEAK AS I AM I WOULD DAVE FOUGHT
FOn IOU."
end of this sickening conspiracy. Lo-
ratne! She. too was doomed! Ho
groaned aloud in his misery and awe.
There was a telegraph Instrument
In the outer room. He could hear It
ticking off Its messages day and night
and could hear the discussion of re-
ports as they ca'me In or went out It
soon became clear to him that the wire
connected the room with Marlanx's
headquarters near Balak. In AXpbaln.
a branch instrument belngi stationed In
the cave cbovo the witch's hut
On his third night be beard the com-
mittee discussing tbo conditions at the
castle.
"Tho count is more afraid ot this
man Tullls than of all the rest" aver-
red Peter Brutus. "He has reasons to
hate and iear the Americans. Thnt Is
why he desires the 'death of our pris-
oner. He has said time and again
over the wire that King will In some
way escape and play the deuce with
our plans. It does not seem possible
however. We hae hfni absolutely se-
cure." "This Is the 22d; Saturday Is tho
20th. Nothing could be done to stop
us In four days" said one of tho wo-
men. "Count Marlanx will be ready on the
2Cth. ' He has said so. A new strike
will bo declared on the railroad oh tho
2.1th and the strikers will be In the city
with their grievances. Saturday's cele-
bration will bring men from the moun-
tains and the mines to town. A single
blow and we have won." So spoke
Brutus.
"Wo must not we cannot fall" grat-
ed William Spantz. and the cry was re-
Iterated by half a dozen Voices.
The next morning nfter a sleepless
night Truxtpn King made his first de-
termined attempt to escape.
He knew that two armed men stood
guard In the outer room day and night
The door to tho s.tnlrway leading into
the armorer's shop was of Iron and
heavily barred; the door opening Into
the sewer was oven moro securely
bolted. Besides thero wns a great
stone door at tho foot of the passage.
Tho keys tq theso two doors wcro
uover out of the possession of William
Spantz. One of 'his guards held tho
ll'nw te thrt atnlpivnu 1ni- ITIa nnlv
chnnco lay In his ability to suddenly
overpower two men and make off by
way of the armorer's shop.
When his little door was opened on
the morning of the 23d Truxtou KJug's
long powerful figure shot through as
If sped by a catapult The man with
the candle and the knlfo went dowu
like n beef floored by a blow on tho
Jaw
Tho American his eyes blazing with
hopo aud despera-
tion kept onward
to find h I in sol f
faco to face with
Olga Platanova!
She was staring
at him with fright-
cned e y e b her
lips a p a r t. her
hands to her
breast He turn-
ed. -
"no has not the
key" she cried
"nor havo I. You
have no chance to
escape. Go back!"
A key rattled In
tho door. When
It swung open two
men stood lu the
"he has mot TiiE aperture both
KEY!" Wtu rnwp ptB.
tols. Tbo girl leaped between thein
tnd the helpless defeated American.
"Remember!" she cried "You are
jot to kill him!" ;
Peter Mnstus ha risen frets the
'"JsiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaBi
floor half dazed but furious. Hmado
a vicious leap nt King hla knlfo ready
for tho lunge.
"I'm glad It's youi" roared King
leaping aside. His flst shot out and
again Brutus went uown.
"Miss Plntnnova call your uncle"
she was ordered. "It la now necessary
to bind tho fellow's hands. They nre
too dangerous to bo allowed to roam
nt Inrgo in this fashion."
I All day long Truxton paced his llttlo
prison bitterly lamenting his 111 timed
effort Now ho would bo even more
J carefully guarded. His bands were
I uoUthI behind bis back. He wob pow
crlcss. If ho had only waited! Luck
had been against him. How was ho to
know that tho guard with tho keya
had gone upstairs when Olga brought
his breakfast dowu? It wns fate.
Tho 23d dragged itself Into the pat.
and the 2lth was following la the
gloomy wake of its predecessors. Two
days more! He began to feel tho ap-
proach of madness. His own death
was not far away. It would follow
that of the prince and of Olga Plata-
nova. his friend. But ho was not
thinking of his own death; be was
thinking of tho prince's life.
Forty-eight hours! That was nil! I
Early that night as ho lay with his
ear to the crack of tho door he beard .
them discussing his own death. It was
to come as soon as Olga had gone to
her reward. She wns not there to de-
fend him. Spantz had said that sho
Was praying Ih her room committing
her soul to God. Truxton King sud-
denly pricked up his ears attracted
by a sentence that fell from the lips
of one of tho men.
"Tullls is on his way to the hills of
Dawsbergen by this time. Ho will bo
out of the way on the 2Gth safo
enough."
"Count Marlanx was not to bo satis-
fied until be bad found the means to
draw him away from Edelweiss." said
another. "Thl3 tlmo it will work llko
n charm Late this afternoon Tullls
was making ready to lead a troop of
cavalry Into the hills to effect a res-
cue. Sauta Maria! That was a clever-
stroke! Not only does ho go himself
but with him goes a captain with 10O
soldiers from the fort Ha. ha! Mar-
lanx Is a fox a very exceptional fox!"
Tullls off to the hills with soldiers
to effect a rescue! Truxton sat up his
brain whirling
"A wise f(i!" agieed Peter Brutus
thickly. "1 wonder what our fine pris-
oner will say lo It when the new pris-
oner comes lo keep hfio company over
the 20th."
t
CHAPTER XII. f
A NEW I'UI.SU.SKIt AimiVES.
IT was far past midnight when King
wns aroused from the doze Into
which ho bnd fallen. Wns It the
20th? Loud quick commands
came to bis cars.
"They aro here nt last." he heard
some one say. "God!' This suspense
has been awful. But they are here."
"Stand ready then with the guns!"
cried- Peter Brutus. "It may bo a
trick after all. Don't open thnt door
down thero. Spantz. until you know
who is on the outside."
"It's all right" came at last in tbo
relieved eager voice of Peter Brutus.
"Clear the way comrades. Give them
room By our holy father' this is a
brae triumph. Ah!"
Heavy fool steps clogged into tho
room accompanied by stcrtorious
breathing iind no small amount ot
grunting from masetillne throats. Not
one but fhnv or four languages were
spoken by I lie excited. Intense occu-
pants of the other room. King could
make uothlngof what they said. Final-
ly the sharp. Incisive voice of Wil-
liam Spantz hrolso through the babble
couituMtiillng silence.
"Still unconscious" he said when
some incisuic of order wns secured.
"Yes." grunted one of thp men.
"We will liavo-our Instructions to-
monow. The count Is to Inform us
before nightfall where she Is to bo re-
moved lo Next Week she Is going to
go to Schloss Mnrlnnx." Brutus added
a cruel heartless laugh.
A woman thought Truxton. Tho
countess! They had brought her hero
from Balnk after all. What a re-
morseless brute Marlanx must bo to.
maltreat his beautiful wife!
To my mind she Is more bcnutlful
than his own wife." observed Anna
Cromer. "She will bo a flue morsel for
the count who has even cast longing
eyes on so homely a mortal as I."
"All woman are alike to him" said
Spantz scntentlously.
"We must put her In tho room with
tho American for the present You nro-
suro he will take her away before Sat-
urday? A woman's cries nre most dis-
tressing." It was Spantz who spoke.
"I'll stop her crj'lng" volunteered
Anna Cromer harshly
"She's regaining her senses!" ex-
claimed one of the- men- "Stand back -every
one. Gve her nlr"
Presently be door to King's room
was thrown open. Ho had got to his
feet and was standing In tho center
of tho room his oyes blinking In tho
glare of light
"Hollo!" cried Peter Brutus. "You
up. eh? We've got a far lady for
you. my friend Get back there you
dog! Keep In your corner"
"You ure a line bunch of human
beings!" blurted TruMmi.
A man with a lighted candle entered
first holding the light above bin head
He was followed bj two other vvlm
supported the drooping toiieiipg flu-
ure of a woman
"Let her sit there ilgahift f i waft
Prago. .IuIIuh feich In more candle
She mum u't be lefi In the mirk. II
pays phe Is pm to be fi Iglitcucd i
death Women r nfmld of the dark
and strange dngx Let there be lltr'ii
Rcnffed Peti flninis. splttlinr luwiirj
Ktag
"I'll gel yon for that xome ni
grated the AHH-rh-HH. white ivlUi e
Si
f
Si
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Abilene Semi-Weekly Farm Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 30, No. 24, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 1, 1910, newspaper, March 1, 1910; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth314570/m1/2/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.