The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-04

seen from the few windows which
We're visible.
| Half maddened by suspense. he re
turned to Monte Carlo, and. conceal
ed behind he trunk of palm
watched the entrance of the Cast
no. Presently he noticed that the
man who had asked him, on the
previous evening, who the Count
was, was standing at short dis
tante from the building. and,
screened like himsel fa,ppeared to
be also watching. Could this gentle
man also be watching the Count?
A little later the ahndsome car
riage dashed up; the Count alight-
ed His face had not yet assumed
the hideous expression which 1t
wore at the table, and he looked
complacent and at his ease. but Ron
aid saw him glance from side TO
side furtively, and saw also the
other man who was watching step
stn further out of sight. Ronald
went into the gaming room, and,
standing behind the Count watch
ed him for time with "A kind of
fascination; he saw Brandon and
/ Clemson. but avoided them, for he
/ felt as II he could speak, listen,
to no one.
The night wore on, With fever in
his veins, Ronald Went outside, and
he was pacing up and down beneath
the trees, when he heard a step
behind him. He swung round, and
came face to face with Smithers.
We'll, what is it," Ronald de-
manded. almost savagely; but he
checked himself, for he saw by
the gravity of Smithers face, the
tightly-drawn lips, that something
WAS the matter. The yacht" he
asked sharply.
Smthers shook his head.
The yachts all right, sir" he
said in low voice, and glancing
about him cautiously. i've some
thing to tell you, sir It's the
strangest, most extraordinary Bet
ter step back here, sir" Ronald fol-
lowed him into the shrubbery, and
Smithers quickly, in low voice,
said, i've just come from That VII
la. sir" Ronald started and glared
at him. Yes. sir; I'll tell you as
quickly as / can. The young wom-
an met me as she'd agreed and
----. oh, walt minute. sir! Give
me time" for Ronald had opened
his lips and made a gesture or inn
patience. I'VE 'ad long talk, sir.
She seems to have got somethin' on
'er mind. 1t was about that young
lady, er mistress. The young CONAN
said that she couldn't stand it no
longer, not if the Count was to
give 'er twice the money she was
gettin' seems she's got fond o the
young lady an pities 'er. She says
the Count is gettin' more outr9-
geous every day. she fancies that
'es goin' off Is nut. He treats the
Young lady lis daughter. somethin'
shameful, always swearin' at er
and abusin er, which e didn't do
at first. An the young lady, though
she's as brave as brave, the young
woman says, is pinin' and frettin'
in secret"
"Oh, go on,-go on*" Ronald ad
jured him.
Yes, sir" responded Smithers,
deprecatingly. I'm goin' as fast
as can. The young woman says
that she told 'er mistress Of 'er
meetin' with me, and, wEeT she
card | was an Englishman. the poor
young lady fell a-tremblin', with
the tears in 'er eyes and implored
the young CONAN to give me
letter to give 10 the captain of
the yacht, askin i'm. If e sd IA
cart in is bosom, TO take 1t to
the island of Tricania--'
Ronald's face went white; he
stretched out his hand crying
hoarsely:
"The letter,-the letter.
He snatched It from Smithers
hand, and carried it to the light
Somewhat prepared as he had been, .
he started and shook as he saw the
address, 'To Robert Carew, Trica-
MIA" His hand shook so violently
that he could scarcely open the
envelope and, when he had done F.
so, he could scarcely read the few
few lines, every word of which |
struck on his heart They ran