Image provided by: Washington County Cooperative Library Service; Hillsboro, OR
About Washington County news. (Forest Grove, Washington County, Or.) 1903-1911 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1904)
4 GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON C opyright, 1901, by H e rb e rt S. Stone CHAPTER 1.—G renfall L orry, a w ealthy Am erican Iflobe trotter, stum bles Into acquaintance with a charm - ing foreign girl on the train from Denver to W ashington, The pair is left behind when the flier stops for repairs in W est V irginia. II.—L orry wires ahead to hold the train . He and the unknown girl ride tw enty m iles at a tearing pace in a m ountain coach. There is no love-m aking, but a near approach to it as the rolling stage tumbles the passengers about. II I .—Lorry dines with the foreign party, consisting of Miss G uggenslocker, Uncle Caspar and Aunt Yvonne. T hey are natives of G raustark, a country Lorry had never heard of before. IV .—Lorry shows the foreigners the sights of W ashington. They leave for New York to sail on the Kaiser W ilhelm . Miss G uggenslocker naively calls Lorry her “ ideal A m erican” and invites him to come and see her at Edel- weiss. V. W ildly infatuated. Lorry hurries to New York. The name G uggenslocker is not on the steamer list. He sees the steam er off. Miss G. waves him a kiss from the deck. V I.—Lorry Joins his old friend, H arry Anguish, an Am erican artist, in Paris. Graustark and its capital, Edelweiss, are located by a guide book. The Am ericans get no trace of the G uggenslockers there. VII. Lorry sees his charm er driving in a carriage with a beautiful companion or her own se a . He gets a glance of recognition, but the carriage rolls on, leaving the m ystery unsolved. L ater he receives a note at his hotel signen Sophia G uggenslocker, inviting him to visit her next day. V III. In the evening Lorry and Anguish ramble about the grounds of the castle w here dwells the court of the Princess of G raustark. T hey overhear a plot to abducts the princess and resolve to capture the plotters red handed. w inuow in tu e o asem eu t in rice, c a rry Y'ou will see I th is lig h t th ro u g h th e w indow and will know th a t ull is well inside the , castle. O strom , you will then leud th e tw o V iennese to a place directly | b eneath th e th ird window* in th e priu- , cess’ sleep in g a p a rtm e n t. T h e re are [ several clum ps of sh ru b b e ry th ere , and j u n d e r th ese they will hide, protected ! from th e gaze of any w a tc h m a n who is not w ith us. Y’ou a n d (Jeddos will J be a d m itte d to th e scullery by the cook, w ho will conduct 3*011 to th e had leading to her h ig h n ess’ bedroom . The j m an w ho g u a rd s h er door is called D unnox. H e will not be a t his post, b u t w ill accom pany you w hen you | leave th e castle. Y’ou will u n d erstan d how c a re fu lly you m u st e n te r h e r room and how deeply she m u st be chloro form ed. In th e ad jo in in g room her lady in w aitin g , th e C ountess D ogm ar. "Vou huve five of these V iennese?" sleeps. If h er door is a ja r, you a re to "Y es; tw o to sta n d b en eath th e window’ to receive th e booty ns we creep in a n d chloroform her. leaving low er it to th e ground, one to sta n d her u n d istu rb e d . T hen th e p rin cess is to be w rap p ed In th e cloth you tak e w ith you and low ered from th e w in dow* to th e m en below . T hey a re to ! rem ain In hiding u n til /you h av e left th e c a stle an d h av e reached th e ir side. I t will not be difficult. If c au tio n is ob served, for you to get o u tsid e of t i l 1 w all a n d to th e c a rria g e In th e ravine. I h a v e given you th is plan of action before, 1 know , h u t I d e sire to im p ress it firm ly upon y o u r m inds. T here m u st not he th e slig h te st d ev iatio n . T h e precision of clockw ork is neces s a ry ." T h e m an nam ed M ichael hissed the foregoing Into th e e a rs of his co m p an ions, th e p alsied A m ericans hearing every w ord d istin c tly . T hey scarcely b re a th e d , so tre m en d o u s w as th e re s tr a in t im posed upon th e ir nerves. A crim e so huge, so d a rin g a s th e ab d u c tion of a princess, th e a c tu a l invasion of a c a stle to com m it th e th e ft of ji h u m an being ju s t ns an o rd in ary b u rg la r would ste a l in an d m ak e w ay w ith the co n ten ts of a silv e r c h est, w as beyond th e ir p o w er of com prehension. "W e u n d e rsta n d fully how* it is to be lone, an d w e shall get h er to G aulook "H e ehnvld he here a t 12 .” on tim e ," said (Jeddos confidently. g u a rd a t th e w est g a te a n d tw o to a t "N o t a h a ir o f h e r h ead m u st he ten d th e c a rria g e a n d horses in th e h a rm e d ," cautioned th e a rc h c o n sp ira ra v in e beyond th e c a stle ." tor. " I n fo u r d a y s I sh all m eet you a t “ W hen did th ese m en a rriv e ? " (Jnnlook. Y’ou will keep h er in cicse "T h is m orning. 1 kept them in m 3 * confinem ent u n til you h e a r from me. s is te r’s hom e u ntil a n h our ago. T hey H av e you th e g u a rd ’s u n ifo rm s to u t a re now in th e rav in e a w a itin g Os- fo u a re to w e a r to n ig h t? " tro m and m yself. Are you sure. Mi " • ‘Tut 3 a re w ith tl.e c a rria g e lu the chael, th a t th e g u a rd s and the cook rav in e. O strom a n d I will don them huve been m ade to u n d e rsta n d every before going to the c a stle. In ease we d e ta il? T h e fa in te s t slip will m ean a re seen th ey will th ro w o b serv ers off th e tra c k long enough for u s to secure ru in ." "T h ey a re to be tru s te d fully. T h e ir u good s ta r t in o u r tlig h t." "R em em b er, th e re is to be no failu re . pay is to be high enough to m ake it an o b ject to be infallible. T he g u a rd . T his m ay likean d e a th to you, c ertain ly D u sh an , will leave the g a te un w ateh - a long prison term . If yon a re a p p re ed, an d you will chloroform him , w ith hended. I know It is u d a rin g deed, b u t his consent, of course. You will e n te r, it Is Ju st of th e kind t h a t succeeds. a s I huve explatued before, an d craw l W ho w ould d rea m th a t m o rtal m au alo n g In th e d a rk shadow of th e w all eonhl find th e co u rag e to ste a l a p rin u n til you reach th e n rb o r th a t leads cess of th e realm from h er bed and to th e kitchen and scullery. H ere a n s p irit lmr aw ny from u n d e r th e very o th e r g u ard , Itabtio, know n to O strom noses o f her v a u n te d g u a rd sm e n ? It la u s a com rade In her royal hig h n ess’ llie hold, tb e Im possible p lan th a t servic<> not m ore th a n a y e a r ago. w ill w ins." “ W e c a n n o t fall If y o u r m en on th e be en co u n tered . H e will he bound a n d gagged w ith o u t th e least noise or Inside do th e ir w ork w ell,” said Ged- stru g g le. J u s t as th e clock strik e s ’J dos, re p e a tin g w h a t O strom had said. th e cook will w alk p a st the scullery "A ll depends on th e ir fa ith fu ln e s s ." ' j ing a lig h ted candle. ! "Y ou fool! T he th re e g u a rd s a re d is * in e y w ill not be found w a n tin g . posed of in ad v an ce, tw o of th e Yien- Y’o u r c u tth ro a ts m ust be se n t on to ! nese a re le ft w ith tb e horses, tw o a re C ains w ith th e em pty c a rria g e a fte r chucked off u n d e r th e p rin cess’ w in you h a v e reached G anlook In sa fe ty . dow . a n d one s ta n d s a t th e g a te . We Y’ou will need th em no m ore. O strom can slug th e m an a t th e gate, th e fel will pay th em , a n d th ey a re to leave low s u n d e r th e w indow a re harm less, th e co u n try a s quickly a s possible. A t and th a t leaves but o u r tw o friends C ains th ey w ill be a b le to Join a pack and th e cook. W e have every a d v a n tra in th a t w ill c a rry tn em to th e G re a t ta g e in th e w orld. C an ’t you see?" N o rth ern railro a d . F rom th e re they "Y’ou a re right! Com e on! I’ll risk will h av e no tro u b le in rea c h in g V ien it w ith you! W e will sa v e th e P rin cess na. Y’ou will e x p lain to them , G eddos. of G ra u sta rk ! ” All w e need th em for. a s 3 *ou know , is "D o n ’t you see it will be ju s t as easy to prove by th e ir m ere p resen ce in case fo r u s to e n te r th e ca stle as for these of c a p tu re t h a t th e a tte m p t w a s no ro b b ers? T h e w a 3 * will be cle a r an d m ore th a n a case of b u rg la ry conceived w ill be kep t cle a r. Jove. m an. we need by a band of V iennese ro b b ers. T h e re not be m ore th a n th irty seconds behind will be no d a n g e r of c a p tu re if you th e m . Is y o u r pistol all rig h t? " once get h er o u tsid e th e w alls. You By th is tim e th e tw o m en w ere speed can be h a lf w ay to G anlook before she ing along th e g rassy s tre tc h to w ard th e Is m issed from th e c a stle. N or can sh e bo found a t G anlook if you follow road th a t ran beside tb e w all. T hey ti c in stru c tio n s 1 g a v e la s t n ig h t. I t looked to th e ir pistols a n d placed them is now n e a rly 1 o'clock, a n d in h a lf a n c a re fu lly in o u tsid e coat pockets. "W e m u st th ro w aw ay th ese heavy h o u r th e n ig h t will be a s d a rk a s c a n e s.” w h ispered th e p a in te r to his E re b u s. Go, men: you h a v e no m ore frie n d , w ho w as a pace or so ahead. tim e to lose, for th is m u st be accom “ K eep it! W e’ll need oue o f them to plished slow ly, c a re fu lly , d e lib e ra tely . T h e re m u st be no, b a s te u n til >*ou a re crack th a t fellow ’s head a t th e g a te . ready for th e race to G anlook. Go. but, G ad. it’s d a rk alo n g here!” "H o w th e devil a re we to know w here for G od's sak e, do not b a rm her! And to go?” do not fail!” " W e ’ll stop w hen w e com e to th e “ F a ilu re m ean s m ore to us th a n to g u te w h ere w e clim bed up th e wall to you. .Michael.” h a lf w h isp e re d th e d a y . T h a t is th e only e n tra n c e I saw h o a rse O strom . " F a ilu re m eans e v e ry th in g to me! I a lo n g th e w e st w all, an d it is n e a r the c a stle. J u s t a s soon a s th e g a n g en m u st h av e her!” A lready th e tw o h ire lin g s w ere m ov te rs th a t g a te w e’ll c ra w l up a u d get ing off to w a rd tin* road th a t ra n w est rid of th e fellow* w ho sta n d s w a tc h .” I t w a s so d a rk th a t th ey could barely o f th e c a stle g rounds. M ichael w a tc h ed them for a m om ent a n d th e n s ta r t see th e ro ad w ay , a n d th ey found it nec ed sw iftly in th e directio n of th e city. e ssa ry to cease ta lk in g a s th ey slu n k T h e w a tc h e rs had not been ab le to a lo n g beside th e w all. O ccasionally d istin g u ish th e faces of th e c o n sp ira tlie 3 * p a u sed to listen , fe a rin g th a t th ey to rs. lnit th ey could n ev er fo rg e t th e m ig h t d ra w too close upon th e m en calm , «old voice o f M ichael, w ith its w ho h ad gone before. A t la s t th ey c am e to a big g a te a n d h alted . (p la in t. Jerky E nglish. “ Is th is the g a te ? ” w h ispered A n "W h a t sh a ll we do?” w hisp ered A n guish. guish w hen th e m en w ere out of h e a r “ Sh! Y’es; I ’m q u ite sure. W e a re ing- un d o u b ted ly n e a r th e castle, ju d g in g "G od know s!" a n s w e re d L o rry . “T h is is th e m ost d a m n a b le th in g 1 e v e r b 3 * th e d ista n c e w*e InV e com e. L et us h e a rd of. A re we d re a m in g ? Did w e cross th e road and lie direct^* opposite. really see a n d h e a r th o se m en?" H e Be carefu l!” L ike p a n th e rs th ey stole across th e had risen to his feet, his com panion road a n d dow n a sh o rt g rassy e m b a n k s ittin g w eakly before him . " T h e re ’s no q u estion ab o u t It! I t ’s a m en t. A t A n g u ish ’s sugg estio n L orry case of ab d u c tio n , a n d w e h av e it in w rap p ed his h a n d k e rc h ie f tig h tly a b o u t o u r pow er to spoil tb e w hole jo b . By th e heav y end of h is cane, p re p a rin g In gad. b u t th is is luck. G ren!" A nguish t h a t w ay to deaden th e sound of th e w as q u iv e rin g w ith e x c ite m e n t a s he blow th a t w as to fall upon th e V ienna rose to his feet. "S h all we notify old j m a n ’s head. T hen th ey th re w aside 1 hingloss o r a la rm th e s te w a rd ? T h e re ’s th e ir h a ts, b u tto n e d th e ir co ats tig h tly no tim e to be lost if w $ w a n t to tra p a n d sa n k dow n to w a it, w ith bound th ese fellow s. T he c h ie f devil Is bound ing h e a rts a n d tin g lin g nerves, th e a r to escape, fo r w e c a n ’t g et him an d th e riv a l o f th e a b d u c to rs, m utely p ra y in g o th e rs too. and they w on’t peach on t h a t th ey w e re a t th e rig h t g a te . him . Com e, we m u st be lively! W h at (Continued) a re you s ta n d in g th e re for? T h e tra p m u st be set!" "W ait! W hy not do th e w hole Job Up-to-date Work o u rse lv e s? " " H o w —w h a t do you m ean ?” If you want first class painting, "W h y sh o u ld w e a la rm an ybody? W e know th e p lans a s well a s th ese paper hanging and house-finishing, sc o u n d re ls th em selv es. W hy not fol- ' leave your order or inquire at Nixon’s low them rig h t into th e c a stle, c a p tu re them red h an d ed , a n d th en do th e a la rm real estate office. All work guaran ing? I’m in fo r s a v in g th e P rin c e ss of teed. G ra u s ta rk w ith o u r ow u h a n d s a n d BUFFUM & BUFFUM rig h t u n d e r th e noses of h e r v a u n te d g u a rd sm e n , as M ichael s a y s.” L orry w as th rille d by th e s p irit of a d v e n tu re . H is hand gripped his frie n d ’s arm an d his fact* w as close to his e a r. " I t is th e g ra n d e st o p p o rtu n ity tw o h u m an beings e v e r had to d istin g u ish th e m selves!” "G re a t h eaven, m an! W e c a n ’t do such a thing!" gnsped A nguish. " I t ’s th e e a sie st th in g in th e w orld. B esides, If w e fa il, w e have n o th in g to lose. If w e succeed, see w h a t w e’ve douc! D on’t h e sita te , old man! Com e on! Com e on! W e'll ta k e ’em o u r selves. a s su re a s fa te . H a v e you no n e rv e ? W h at kind o f an A m erican are 3 *ou? T h is chance w on’t com e in ten lifetim es! Are w e not eq u al to th o se tw o sco u n d rels?" “Two! T h e re a re a t lea st ten of them !”