The Red Cloud chief., 1902-02-07

All! you do not know what won
ders love has wrought ere now" she
said. slowly. and just at that moment
Paul had q faint glimpse Of the natural
woman beneath the coquette.
Such remarkable women have
lived at all times since the days OF
Cleopatra and Anthony. and their pass.
age through the world Is always
strewn with the shipwrecks Of mortal
hopes.
The countess smiled mockingly.
All! | know where your love has
strayed. ] have watched you and the
white-faced doll you fancy. Listen.
have implicated the sweet and unso.
phisticated Hildegarde with the polit.
ical plots that keep the pot boiling and
s%eething. Long ere you left the gar.
den a paper | sent to her was in the
hands OF the secret officials of Bis.
marck."
Pau started as II shot.
lie began to understand the villainy
OF which a Jealous and INSCRIPTIONS
m might be guilty.
What did that paper contain? ! de.
'N''' ''eN yc' "ASNSt hlts Ht VI U
showing signs OF excitement ut last.
Apparently a cipher which could be
easily read. and which Hildegarde was
instructed to pass on to the next agent,
who would carry 1t swiftly over the
border to Paris"
And the cipher-what was 1t
about?" savagely.
"Oh! a simple recapitulation of the
number of men available whom Ger.
many could place on the border, and
some hints as to the best line OF march
a French army could take on the road
to Berlin"
Paul hated her at that moment worse
than he had hated any one in all his
life.
She read his thoughts. "You mean
to betray me to the authorities?"
1T would only be fair. In that way
l might save your intended victim
All! you do not dream what a hor.
nets nest you would bring down about
your ears II you attempted that. And
do you think they would believe you.
whose name was signed to the note I
gave H~ildegarde? At this very mo.
ment agents are watching this house,
believing have come here to have q
secret conference with you about DO
litical matters"
81 am LOST" he groaned.
Wait There Is a chance Of escape
you mean you have terms to pro
pose."
Fly with me. I can outwit even
Bismarck's b~loodhounds. We can reach
Russia, where we will be safe. Only
promise that you will be faithful tc
me while life lasts. 1t is all l ask
all l care for. With that l can vel
say good-by to the world"
Eagerly she waited for his answer.
1t came speedily enough.
Paul folded his arms, he drew him
self up to his full height, and looked
her sternly in the eyes.
Before | would reward such bas,
treachery l would thrust my hand int
the fire and let II burn to the stump.
His words completed her demoraliz
alton. and she threw aside the mask.
"You cast the offer of my love ava,
like n tattered glove. Well, | shall
hNS AoA 'N'hSC shoiSltuI Idul. 1Ot
will curse the stupidity Of this hour
shall find to wiring your proud
cold heart. No man ever treated IN,
as you have done. and it has aroused
all the devil in my nature. / shall
have a terrible revenge, do you heal
me, a revenge best suited to such al
insult. And now l will relieve 70,
Of my hateful presence. but you car
depend upon 1t. you are already
marked man among the Kings sol
diers. and a guard will remain Il
watch your future actions. Mine 20,
were, and no other shall possess wha
fortune has denied to me-" and, will
flashing eyes. In which he saw murde,
rampant. the adventures glided from
the O and vas escorted by him I,
the lower door OF the house.
CHAPTER NJ