The Washington times., 1911-07-22
CHAPTER XVI (Continued,)

why, having discovered my
" mistake. 1 remain?" I ven,
tured.
Il know only that have few defend
efs in Brescia, and. that you are a gen
ueman," she answered.
At that I parried no longer, but beear
n the beginning and told her every
oning; how we had come upon Elmur
Iudolf in Paris, under what circum.
stances he had given us his secret, and
how Morgan had resolved to deliver the
papers to her in Brescia
For several moments she did not re.
ply. / saw her eyes darken and her lips
begin to tremble, but she controlled
herself
1T is useless. monsieur" said she in
low voice. useless but thank you. -
AND WhyF l demanded. The pa
pers are here" And l laid the packet
on the table beside the bed.
l fancied a quick change passed over
her face, but the treacherous light NAV
have deceived me-
GOD help me, monsieur but it is too
Iate. Do you think the baron will per-
MT me TO employ this weapon against
hlmr Tomorrow I must marry his son,
or be branded before my countrymen
as spy in the pay of Austria. am
annocent, but he is cunning, and will
e.
thank you, but to eudeavor to assist
me further will mean your own de-
struction," she answered.
BUT you can prove the charge
Sroundless-that you have plotted to
oetray your country? There Is ShuI-
hof. captain Haupmann. a hundred
others who"
She raised her arm and the fickering
light gleamed on the firm, white flesh.
WIN weary gesture she passed he-
hand across her eyes.
1t Is plain you do not understand
my countrymen, or you would Compre
hend. monsieur" said she. I'VE may
plot against the government, and 1t is
forgtven-if we work for the welfare Of
Brescia: But to betray the country
TO Austria: the mob would tear such
q one to pieces on the public square.
And-the baron has laid his plans care
fully; the letters forged, spies bribed
To- swear away my honor. That, or the
marriage tomorrow-the choice is given
me"
For the moment could not find voice
to reply; the trickery of the Wolf Of
force. He had laid his plans so cum
ningly that, even with the papers in
her possession, the girl was powerless
70 use them In Paris, London. Berlin
words Haupmann had used. To betray
the state to Austria-the wild spirit of
their mountains predominated the blood
Of the citizens of BreSCia.
! heard a noise behind me and turned
my head sharply. Framed by the win
dow appeared the face Of MCGregor;
] knew Morgan had sent him to dis
cover why l remained away so long.
! had, indeed. carried out successfully
my errand, but now there was more be-
sides, for l had learned two things for
certainty. The governor had set the
approaching day as to the marriage,
and he possessed the power to destroy
the countess utterly in Brescia. In
either case. he. would stand victor, for
the papers would be raCtically useless
whether the girl married young Won
Seldorf or was publicly prescribed
traitor in the paw of the hated Aus
TRANS. II we hoped to accomplish any
thing we must move quickly
McGregor was peeringly eagerly into
the room, uncertain as to the precise
condition of affairs and evidently some
what puzzled. That / was holding con-
by the bed draperies he understood. but
what was the nature of our COnversa-
ton, and If stood in any danger he
had not discovered. l did not leave him |
long in doubt for l realize that immC- |
diate action was imperative. Crossing
10 the window l bade him inform his
master that II was the countess s rom
had entered, that only few hours re-
manned to us II we hoped to accom-
plish anything, and that we must be
we'll on the way to the frontier before
daylight revealed our movements. What
Morgar's decision would be, under such
fathom.
The scotchman disappeared; turned
and picked up the lantern.
paHted ssTf pstnqe saiq and RaTS
may be too late, as you say. II we
can succeed I know not, but a chance
is open to thwart the governor of Bres- |
cia. The frontier is not many miles |
away, several hours Of darkness still |
remain to US; will you trust your for |
tunes in our hands?"
For the moment. I feared she would |
refuse, for none understood better the |
difficulties which lay In the way. To |
descend a twenty y-five-foot wall, 20 |
creep out through line Of watchful |
sentipels, to traverse on foot-for we |
could not hope to escape on horseback |
over twenty miles of meadow, bill and |
forests before we could cross the from |
tier into Austria.
For little time she did not answer:
] could not see her face plainly, but I |
heard the sharp indrawings of her |
breath. Then suddenly she raised her |
head and there came a flash Of some |
thing in her eyes.
Il will go with you. monsieur. Even |
death is preferable to what awaits me |
here said she quietly.
closed the slide Of the lantern:
'1 will wait by the window; tell me |
when you are ready" l replied.
heard her moving in the darkness |
behind me; almost before l realized |
how many minutes passed, felt her
feel my helplessness. I could climb |
down the vines, but the girl? That |
was another matter.
For several moments I hesitated and |
then came to the conclusion the wisest |
course possible was to surrender the !
generalship into other hands. I had !
already accomplished considerable, and |
was willing to put the matter up to
Morgan and Haupmann. l turned to the |
countess.
"Our first move is to leave this room
safely; to break ones neck at the be |
ginning would scarcely" l began, and |
then stopped abruptly.
A sudden interruption had broken in |
upon the peacefulness of the night. The
sound Of a blow and the fall Of heavy
object in the hall outside the door be-
bind us. Then the clash of a saber. |
hoarse cry and a bedlam Of tumult.
The voice of Morgan came up to me
through ,the darkness. "If YOU have
the countess there, stay where you are.
CHAPTER XVII.
With No1ad Cahare