Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-12

had followed Us and had arrived In this
came place. st Estephe or whatever else it
might be. almost as soon as We.
she agreed with me perfectly as to the
weight CT the reasons which / gave for
humorsng her m stake and personating the
baron. and so we came to q very amicab
understanding, and it was as If / had
known her for week, instead of for two
or three hours.
Though she was quite fatigued from her
exert.onS, and though there had come up
on her reaction from the excitement of
the previous hour, yet she walked along
swiftly and bravely and was most bright
end conpanionable- /, at last, made her
take my arm, and the rest Of the way she
leaned upon me very trustingly and almost
lovingly.
We now came to where the road became
more Ike the street of a town, and hap
renine upon turn to the left. we took it.
for the reason that the lights we had seen
lay in that direction 1t charmed me ex-
ceedingly to hear FrauIein Won Waldeck
talk. as her voice was melodious and her
expressions original and quaint. For this
reason as. much as any other. / reminded
Ter that the arrival Of the baron had in
terrupted her before she had finished tell
ing me what was that mysterious and inn
portant object about which, all along. she
had been SO anxious.
why" said She and she laughed NOR
rily, is 1t possible that / did not tell YOU
after all? Several times have been upon
the point of telling you. 1t has been upon
the tip of my tongue and something has
always interrupted me. I will tell you
right here and now. so that there will be
an end of It, 1t was the"
Again the magic word was fated to re-
main unspoken. and 1t was /, myself. this
time who prevented her from finishing the
sentence i saw something before me al
that precise moment which drove all other
things out of my head. I grasped her arm
her spe ech at the point where have insert
ed the dash.
cried.
"A long stone wall" she answered
Have you ever seen one like 1t? What
does Ii resemble?'
Yes. I have seen one like 1T. 1t resem.
bles exactly the old Burgerschlact wall
1t resembles II. because 1t is nothing
else. See. the iron picket fence in front Of
IL, the ivy all over ii. the embrasures and
furrets at the top and away Off there, al
most at the end Is the wooden bridge and
the little oak door. where entered without
intending to do so. What do you make ont
OF this mystery. Hilda Won Waldeck?"
do not know what to make out of II ."
she said. with thoughtful scowl of her
sTched eyebrows and a quicker of her rosy
hps. ''
Well. will tell you all about It," said
Tor 1t had come to me like flash of light
ming THAT Internal vaRabond of a coech
nan has driven US four or five mjles on,
Into the country. has taken us over monn,
;ains. down into valleys and through for
ests, and has brought US back to Oldendorf
again and landed us on spot not q Quarter
of a mile from the place where We started
1t was true. What a scheme the wicked
Ludwig Won Pisener had concocted With
his drivcri First II was to get rid NJ
Melanie, then to abduct the lady and to
.mnure her in his own chateau in Oiden-
dcrf. while she supposed that he had taken
her to ST. Estephe.
We looked at each other and at the same
moment burst out laughing.
What will YOU do nowT' I asked "Of
course, you know where to find the narrow
street OF lane into which We came from
your apartments. Shall l escort YOU
thither?''
"Oh. u is not necessary. I have with
r,e fortunately. the key to the door in the
old wall, and by that way can easily find
my way to my chamber"
AZ a:corcpanied my beautiful friend (for