The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-18

"HELLo HELLow CALLED THE &C CNTESS.
vines rival for some woman affec
lions, so her father had as GOD as
said, but she could not belle e that
now. Perhaps the man was Grim
inal or a dangerous lunatic. Th coun
ess shrank away from the pc locke
door and glanced anxiously about 1t
might have been wiser to have waited
until later and then insisted upon Tim
Minis coming with her.
But, no, she felt that she Wa 1ted no
witnesses to this interview. suppose
her fathers version should be correct2
The countess lifted a determir d chin
and stepped briskly up to the heavy
door. She doubled up one st and
tried to make a noise by han mering
the wood. This was failure Then
she looked around for small stone,
found 1t, wrapped her handkerchief
about one end and proceeded to evoke
a series of loud thumps. This proved
effective, for an instant later she heard
q creaking as of wire springs, and a
sleep laden voice murmured some IN
distinct reply.
Hello, hello! called the countess,
rapping again with the stone.
go away. l don't want my break
fast now. ~ Then came q pro-
longed yawn.
II haven't brought you bre9 kfast."
said the countess a little impatiently
81 just want to know why you are in
our icehouse."
This was sufficient to bring the un-
known to his feet
"What-why-well, like that! What
am l doing in your icehouse, Ch? DO
you suppose IL a-a-at-ch 10000!
A-a-a-atchoo-o-o-o! There, blast it! Do
you imagine l would lock nrself in
such a hole from choice? sly. who
the deuce are you out there ar ywayT'
Never mind who l am" reto.ted the
countess, but please tell me who you
are?"
"Oh, ho! So that's it, eh? Well. you
wait q minute, will you, until -
But another sneezing fit Interrupted
this sentence. When it was oTer the
countess heard him moving so netting
against the door and was soon con
SCiOuS ludt SOiuS OuS "d9 Ling III
her through the auger hole She
thought she could distinguish smoth.
cred exclamation Of surprise.
Well" she observed, can lou see
now?"
"Oh, yes: quite we'll, thank y u"
But you don't know any mo: = about
who am than before. do you:
Don't 1. thought" And ne un.
Known chuckled. You're the )untess
Vecchi"
"Humph"' said the countess. That's
mere guess"
us it? Then l dare you ) deny
that you aren't. Come, am right
my dear Adele?"
The countess started and to- ed bel
head angrily.
ut doesn't matter in the lea about
my name. Perhaps you will ell me
why you are in there"
"A stout, pink faced person who is
widely known, l believe, as Cherut
Devine locked me in"
"Ahw The countess did n near
to allow this exclamation to J audi
BILE, but 1t was.
so he hasn't told you abou it yet
eh?" commented the unseen | .souer
Stupid Of me, wasn't it, 10 al W hin
to trick me so easily? You wait
Your Mr.. Devine is going t. regret
that he was so clever"
But why did he do it,
You might have guessed anyway
There's a lady in the case"
IA lady" gasped the c"untess
Some one that-that Mr.. Dew e.
Exactly. found out only re emily"
The arched lips Of the Count, 5 Yec
| Chi were pressed tightly toget ar; hel
chin was held very firmly. : though
she could see nothing but Il augel
| holes in the thick door, she 3red a
them.
"And you,' she went on, after &
pause-''you are interested n he
also?"