Putnam patriot., 1913-03-14
CHAPTER XII.

Mrs Blazes opened her window si- Iently. and lowered to the ground . rons that was fearfully and wonder fuIly made. She had used everything and anything, from pillow slips to the cords of the portieres. She had enough rope to let her out of six story building, instead of from win dow a scant twelve feet from the ground. The end of the rope she tied to a table near the window. Then she looked down anxiously.
 .Tt is dangerous" she sighed.
 The Count wandered into view He was growing weary of waiting for the hat. At sight of the rope he bright ened up.
 Jump oud, The suggested.
 silly" she said; I've got to climb down. Steady the rope"
 He took hold of the lower end and straightened the rope against the building.
 "But how in the world am to climb down?'' she demanded.
 Led yourselluf oud slow, und den slide for life" he told her.
 Their argument grew more intense. She WAS afraid to trust herself to the frail means of reaching the earth, and he was insistent that she should come down at once In the midst of their talk the front door opened. Mrs. Blazes heard the sound and darted hack from the window, taking the rope in with her so swiftly that she left the Count standing with his hands in the air
 Amos Medders came slowly down the steps, looking intently at the Count, whom he could not recognize in the dark. The Count had not heard him coming and could not understand why Mrs Blazes had pulled the rope in so suddenly.
 Count von Fitz was dumbfounded when he was seized in a grip of iron and the cold tones of Medders came:
 What are thee doing, scoundrel?'
 General Blazes came up the walk at that instant. He had his hat in his hand and was still laboring under ex- eitement. When he saw Medders strug- gling with the Count he leaped into the fray and separated them.
 Whats happening?" he asked
 Well. I am surprised Medders said. 'I thought this foolish little man here was a burglar
 What foolish little mani" Blazes asked.
 This one they call Count-this tutor. l thought he was trying to break into the house."
 Wouldn't be surprised if he was. Blazes asserted, vehemently Isn't your daughter in there? Isn't Harrys sister in there? These Counts will do anything to capture girl with money.'
 Tt iss not SOL" Count von Fitz sput- tered rubbing his neck.
 Verify, thee has a suspicious look" Medders said to him.
 Its gam dood thing I happened along. Biazes observed.
 "A what, friend?" Medders inquired curiously.
 "A gam dood thing-doesn't count, you know when you cuss backwards.
 "Verily," Medders said, there be times when a man could cuss side wise"
 Well" Blazes said, turning again to Count von Fitz. Its lucky thing for you there was nothing in the re- port that you were with my wife to- day. I'm a jealous man. I'm desper- ate when I'm reused"
 Don't rouse!" the Count begged.
 Once" the General said, T caught a man flirting with her. What did l do?"
 Vat did you do?" the Count asked, weakly
 "They buried his hat" the General said Lust his hat! Just-his-hat!"
 "Chust his hat!" the Count echoed. Mentally he wondered if it had been a yellow hat with red poppies.
 Thou art man of wrath, General" Medders said. "Once I grew angry at man-in my youthful days"
 And what did you do to him, man of peace?" asked the General, laugh ing, while the Count listened nervous ly.
 Tn those days" Medders said, T was vain of my strength and given to yielding to my angry passions. l went unto this man, and l seized him thus"
 Before the Count could dodge, Med ders held him as though in a wise.
 And I said unto him: Thou con- demned wretch, dost thou not know 1t is unwise so to conduct myself in our midst? And I smote him thus, and l shook him thus"-illustrating upon the helpless Count-"and then l said unto him that If he offended me again l should smite him full sore"
 Please" begged the Count, please don'd remember anything else!"
 q beg thy pardon" Medders said. oontritely. 'T did forget myself"
 Come in out of the night air, gen tlemen." suggested Harry, who cams to the door just then. The trio, smil- ing over the unconscious way in which Medders had shaken the Count, start ed in, when a messenger boy arrived.
 He carried large hat box. The Count tried to intercept him. but Har- " was as anxious as the Count to get that hat
 She turned 1t out quick enough" i" Harry murmured to himself, paying the boy the seventy-fye dollars that was called for on delivery. When the boy had left, Harry chanced to look at the address and read:
 Count Herman von Fitz. Why. this hat isn't for mo, after all.