Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-04-26

now. it was a section OF the band or
escaped criminals whose leaders he had
killed, and from whom he had taken
the guns on the way to Verona. He
knew in a moment that they were seek
ing his life But very calmly he picked
up his own cap which he had let fall
by mis- side.
II must bid you adieu, madamoi-
selle." he said; lit is time that | went
away" For as lie said to himself, it was
no use bringing this young girl into a
matter which concerned himself alone.
Il will go and find your father" said
the Count
But the maiden never moved. watch
ing eagerly from the open window. She
put out one hand behind her as ii to beg
his silence Then very calmly she
walked to the window, set her elbows
on the sill, looked listlessly and care
lsssly IN and down the green glade, and
finally broke into a gay folksong, the
no-es of which rang across the silent
spaces of the wood. She stretched her
arms slightly and yawned, as if she
were weary of the sleepiness of the
! heavy day and listess with the stirless
air of noon.
Then quite slowly she drew herself
back into the room pulling the green
spared wooden shutters after her and
boiling them within.
Run quickly she said to the Count;
"close the back door, bolt it, and also
the little wicket window in the angle.
l will attend TO the front door,
Whereup0n she vanished. and the
Count, smiling little at taking his or
ders from little Gertrude Richter has
tened to do her bidding. He passed
through the kitchen, where Old Eliza
beth stood speechless at the unwonted
apparitiOn @; the noble Count ST. Polten
marching through her kitchen and
banging and double locking her back
door. Then going quickly to the angle
behind the staircase he almost thrust
his hand INFO the face of ark-broWed
man who was staring in through the
wicket. But at the sight of the Counts
revolver, then a comparatively rare
weapon, and much feared in Austria
and the Quadrilateral, he turned and
fed.
Now they are warned of our prep
arations," said the Count, we shall
have the storm presently"
He went back through the kitchen
into the little salon ana there he found
Gertrude. She had dozen guns out Of
her fathers presses ranged on the table
and several boxes of cartridges stood
open beside them. The ancient Eliza
beth, with a somewhat bewildered look
but with ready capable obedience, was
loading the older muzzle leaders which
had been used for years at the channels
shooGng-guns whose every trick and
kick were known TO the Count, who had
cuddied them TO his shoulder on many
a perilous ridge and remote deer-pass
among the mountains.
Count" said little Truda as soon as
he entered, IF you will take the wicket
in the angle you will have under obser-
walton both The sides which are nearest
the wood. | will go to he gable win
dow above, whence shall be able 10 see
any who may come across the grass"
But why trouble youself at alp" the
Count st. Polten began, little proud
~. Il can account for any dozen dogs
CT the prisons"
"Ahi but, said little Truda wisely
"they are too many for you. I have
counted ten already. and such rascals
as thsy would not fight fair but would
shoot You in the back"
And she almost pushed him to his po-
sitiOn in the angle at which he had
seen the face Of the spy.
Then there was a strange. still pause
before anything happened The sun
shine slept white hot in the open spaces.
not twig moved in the wood. In the
grass the cicades shrilled like the
sharpening Of scythes in a far-off mead
ow. The Count had all the high-born
Austrian's contempt for the rasca.
swecpings Of the goals. jut nevertheless
he recognized his peril. Doubtless the
band OF desperate men would do lis best
q revenge the death Of their leaders
and the loss Of their weapons.
(To be Continued)