Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-11-10
Continued.

the station, you sayY'
The driver nodded, and the cart
moved slowly away.
The passers-by stared at the strange
couple standing at the entrance TO the
town, and seeing this and feeling
Alices weight grow heavier on his
arm, he turned to a policeman.
us there a hotel handy" he asked,
grasping the diamonds tightly. My
wife Is ILL.,"
zone Just here, sir" the man an
swered kindly Shall give you q
hand? It's only STEP"
The hotel proved to be up quiet
court, and Count Jura slipped shil-
ling into the mans hand put Alice
into chair while he ordered room.
I'VE are going to Bornchester," he
said. shall only require 1t for an hour
or SO for my wife to rest. She Is not
strong"
The landlady and two sympathetic
maids helped Alice upstairs, and heI
followed closely In case she should
speak to them.
She made no effort to do this--in-
deed, she had lost all knowledge OIL
wha. was passing.
The landlady was loud in her pity.
"You cant move her. sir" she de-
clared. she Is just done-she Is very
H."
Pooh! nonsense! She Is often like
that. In faet"--he hesitated an In
slant, then said boldly. sin fact, she
rs not quite right in her head, SO, of
course. she looks strange"
"Lor sir! you do astonish me-!
exclaimed the woman. 80 sweet and
pretty, tool"
"Yes-yes. Bring me something
to eat, and Bradshaw. We must
get to Bornchester by tonight"
I'm send you one at once. but the
next train, sir, know doesn't start
TIL nigh evening"
Count Jura Suppressed the oath heI
was uttering TIL she was gone.
THAT'S devilish unlucky, but til
strikes mo she's just about right I'M
one thlng-my Lady Alice Is going tot
be III. Have frightened her tool
much? 1t will be fix II she cant bel
moved. Anyway, we are safe here
until tomorrow morning, and then, i'll
or well she must go"
Valerie paced her room like Gagged
tigress. She could have torn her
tongue oat for the foolish words sheI
had uttered before Godfrey Arml-
stead, and now all was lost. Her re-
yenge had faIled-shame, disgrace,
lay before her.
Paul, her brother, was bolow-a
thief, conyict--an' eternal humili-
alton.
She came suddenly to standstill
Two of the gang had been taken.
Who was the other? Had Jura been
caught? II SO, what had become of
Alice? She must know all,
She rang and her maid appeared,
Bring me Coffee" she commanded,
sinking in languid attitude to a
chair rs the woman came In; my
nerves are quite upset"
"lll bring It at once. miss" an
swered the maid. IL should think youI
was upset. miss. Tho castle seems
.turned topsy-turvy. and It's horrid
think of them awful robbers being
kept here!"
Kept here, Janet! What do youI
mean?" Valerie started In relgncdI
surprise
"Why, they are in the treasure.
rooms, miss. with two policemen
guarding them"
Bring me the coffee at once
Valerie stood upright as the girl
withdrew.
I'm the treasure rooms!" she re-
peated. Il must got down. Paul
must escape. cannot bear the deg
radiation. Miserable wretch. he has
dragged me deep enough into the
mire And lura, | must see If he Is
there"
She nused thoughtfully till the
maid returned with the coffee.
Where Is everybody. Janet?" she
asked indiflerently.
my lady Is In her room with n
strange gentleman. and the earl, with
two others and policeman. has just
heard say"
"You may go, Janet. Don't come to
me before dinner My head aches. |
shall try to rest.
She put down the coffee when alone,
and with swift, trembling hands
changed her long gown for black
walking dress.
She wound some black lace round
her head and neck, then. unfastening
the door. stole out.
The corridor was silent. She turned
toward the wing In which poor Alice
had lived in solitary grandeur. She
conjectured that In all probability the
door through which Alice had been
carried that night would be unlocked
She could creep down the staircase
and In some way get near Paul.
She was right. The door was un.
locked-the whole Of the wing was
deserted. Since Alice had gone nc
one had been near her apartments
She stole down the steps The