The Washington times., 1911-07-06
CHAPTER v (Continued).

in the square outside" h
answered.
They separated, Won Hol
leun going back to the table, an,
ms companion past US and througl
the court to the entrance. 1 look
60 at Morgan. He was toying care
Iessly with the stem of his empt,
VINE glass, but there was a salts
ned expression upon his face. Afte
a tew moments he spoke in a low tom
ana his words confirmed the suspicion
which had arisen in my mind.
. we are fortunate, Robinson. I
might nave proved dangerous to inquir
TOO openly the address of the Counties
Won Holleun; but now the matter i
simpIlhed. 1t Is also fortunate we hav,
GOT line on this young fellow, VIII,
wears his uniform so jauntiIy, neglect
his sister. and Is afraid of teh anger o
the governor. AT the outset we ma,
eliminate him from our calculations, fo
we cannot depend on him for assis
lance; Still, for today, he has becom,
valuable; we have but to follow thii
afternoon and he will lead us to hi,
sister. Doubtless good horses may b,
optalned from the hotel stables, and w,
will have a little outing
saw no great danger In canterinl
over a Brescian highway in the wake O
q pair OF officers, ana, being an en-
thusiastic horseman, the suggestion ap
pealed to me. l volunteered to pro
VIDE our mounts, and promised that
they should be good ones.
AT quarter past three, before the doc,
II Is well to be ready for the appear.
ance OF the quarry" Morgan replied.
AS we finished our lunch glanced al
my watch. 1t was not much after i
Two hours remained before we must be
In the saddle. We were lighting our
CIGARS preparatory to leaving the court
when Won Holleun and his companion
arose and left their table. One was a
civilian. the other a dragon, and
doubtless a member of his own squad
ron. They did not glance in our d.
the former remark:
THE major and the countess used to
be great chums, and as he does not
like Seldorf, you can scarcely blame
him, Won Holleun, for growing like a
bear when the matter Is broached. He S
rough. but true as steel to those he
takes a fancy to-
II Won Holleun replied we did not
catch II, but when they were gone Nor
gan nodded.
Il have fancy" said he. that un-
der certain conditions that big fellow
in yellow might prove useful 1t is
evident he has no great love for the
governor, and less for the son; and not
only is he the friend of our countess,
but. apparently. cherishes a kindly feel
AIS 4OT runaway CndnC6llOI,
The combination Is a good one, and, if
needs be, we must profit by it."
l mentally indorsed the suggestion;
IT appeared to me that in case OF
trouble the giant cavalryman would be
an , excellent prop TO lean upon.
strangers in a strange land, and I re-
called what had taken place in the
room IN Paris. 1t was not Paris now.
but Brescia.
I found no trouble in engaging a pair
Of good mounts for our ride, and short
ly after they were led up to the en-
trance Of the hotel. AS an afternoon
gallop appeared to be a custom in the
city. and could count a score of
horsemen riding across the square, our
preparations aroused no interest l,
however. took the precaution to inquire
about the roads leading tinto the coun-
try. signifying a desire to visit the
neighborhood of some of the outlying
villas. Having listened with apparent
interest to the directions furnished me,
I lighted cigar and awaited Morgan's
appearance.
It was 3:25 when the figure of the ma
3or, superbly mounted, appeared riding
across the square. I began to grow un-
easy, for Morgan had not appeared and
at any moment young Won Holleun
might join the other. 1t would be nee
essary to follow them quickly, for half
a dozen streets branched from the
square, and to lose sight of our guides
in such a place, even for a few mo-
ments. must prove disastrous to our
contemplated errand.
When ! had almost decided that II
Morgan did not join me l would take
up the trail alone, he appeared at my
elbow.
II have been watching from a window
on the second floor, and Won Holleun is
coming" said he shortly.
We had no time 10 lose for the raw
alryman, espying his younger compan-
ion still some rods away, gathered up
his reins and trotted across the square
to meet him. The pair had scarcely
greeted each other before we also were
In the saddle. AS they entered one of
the converging streets, we followed, a
safe distance in the rear.
Fifteen minutes brought US to the out
skirts Of the city proper. Our guides
turned into a broad avenue and put
surrounded by score of riders, going
IN either direction, so we crept up a
little closer, following the broad yellow
back wherever It might lead us.
For mile or more the avenue
stretched broad and straight, lined on
either side by rows of houses. Soon we
reached the more open country, the
houses became fewer, and we passed
broad fields and groves of trees. Sud-
denly the two Brescians turned into a
IL
was much like several other roads we
had passed, and 1 glanced anxiously
about to discover some sign by which
we might recognize the turn II we de-
sired to take the ride alone. Again for
tune favored US. Perhaps twenty feet
back from the main highway, standing
on q slight elevation in a field, a white
cross had been erected; even at night
one might discern it's extended arms.
For half an hour we followed our
AL - IN Nn11 IN he
rear, yet not so far that we might lose
them at another sudden turn. The
houses were now few and far between,
and except for the four of us no other
horsemen were visible. / looked at my
watch; 1t was 4:30. and we had been on
the road for an hour.
Another fifteen minutes and 1 was
wondering when the chase would end,
when the riders in front of us again
turned, this time to the left. When we
reached the place it was to discover
lane, little more than a well-worn bride
hill I'D which our guides were walking
their horses: as we reached its foot
they were already passing over the
supmuit. We followed, Quickentng our
pace, for the gleam of yellow had al
ready disappeared over the ridge. AS
we reached the top Morgan uttered an
exclamation and pulled up his mount
The lane stretched down the farther
side of the hill, but II was empty. The
men we were following were no longer
to be seen.
For several moments we sat motion
less in our saddles staring stupidly be-
fore us. II the others had turned on
either to the right or left we must
have seen them, for 1t would have been
impossible to have reached any OF the
half dozen houses which lay neiow us
Dof turned out of the road, the road