The Washington times., 1911-07-07
THE TIMES DAILY SERIAL.ST
THE GRAY WOLF
BY K
Copyright The Frank A Munsey
BY F. X. SCRLBNER
copyright, 1s11, The Frank A Munsey company.

moment I forgot my manners and
looked down at her without replying:
To befriend this girl man had died
horrible death in Paris, and pair
! of American gentlemen had sneaked
into Brescia, bent upon avoiding the
attention of the lawful authorities.
Naturally, l had drawn a mental
picture of what manner of person
she might be, but fancy and fact sell
dom coincide; and it was so in this
instance. l had been given to under
stand that the Countess Valerie Won
Holleun was nineteen or twenty years
old. AS she stood before me at the
edge of the driveway she appeared to
be even younger, and yet past girl
hood. Her face was not exactly
beautiful, but possessed a strange
fascination which / cannot describe.
While her eyes seemed to invite
friendship, there was about her an
lindescribable something which spoke
/ OF the aristocrat and gave one the
impression that she was well able to
manage her own affairs. She bore-a
resemblance to her brother-tbe same
blond hair. the blue eyes, the con.
tour of face. Only one could tell at
4 glance that while he was weak, she
was strong. And l remembered that
it was to her, and not to him, as
might naturally have been expected,
| the documents were to be delivered
/ by the messenger who had met deatn
| in Paris while en- route for Briscia.
|
called me back to myself. 1t Is prob
able she thought l did not under
stand German, for this time she ad-
dressed me in French.
any trouble; If Major Shulhof has
met with an accident?"
Then l found my tongue and ex
planned briefly. not forgetting to state
! how IT happened Morgan and I had
accompanied him to the villa.
She looked toward the house, which
Morgan and the major were approach
ing and upon the veranda of which
stood young Won Holleun twirling a
cigarette between his fingers.
1T is incomprehensible that Major
Shulhof should have been thrown;
there is not SO fine. a horseman in
and the steed was trained" said she,
more to herself than to me.
But It was on the bank and Slip
perry. The best rider may meet with
such an accident, l suggested.
She shook her head, then seeming
to recollect herself, made a little ges-
ture toward the house.
PARDON, monsieur, but 1 may be
needed. 1t is fortunate. is II not that
your companion knows something of
the capital?"
She was off down the drive, and al
most before had put the horses in
motion reached the group at the foot
NAiS ohSpS. n couple Oh servants
had Joined Morgan and Won HoIleun,
and between them the injured caval-
ryman was being assiste1 from the |
saddle.
1 observed that the countess scarce
ly greeted her brother, but went |
straight to Shulhof. The grizzled !
veteran Strengthened himself as she !
laid her hand upon the sling which |
supported the broken arm. What he |
said l could not hear, but 1t must |
have been a gruff pleasantly, for she |
smiled. For the first time since leav- |
ing Paris, ceased to regret that |
had not persuaded Morgan to permit |
take care of themselves
The young dragoon elected to re-
main with me upon the veranda when |
they took the major indoors, that |
Morgan might examine more care
fully the broken bone. He began the
conversation by making light of the
INJURY, but regretted that we had |
been put to any trouble in the mat
ter. / assured him that 1t had only
been pleasure to come to the villa,
and he accepted the assurance as the
exchange of courtesies between one
gentleman and another. Impelled by
a desire to draw him out, l ventured
the remark that the majors escape
was really narrow one To break
ones neck under such conditions was
more than likely.
He fecked the ash from his ciga-
rette.
"Oh. the majors neck is not easily
broken. It is the horse that got the
worst OF 1t. | have directed the serv-
ants to go back to the creek and
maui the animal away" he answered |
carelessly.
A Continuation of This Story VIII