Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-08-22

with the best wishes.-Count von
Werdenstein."
Rositta glanced once more through
the letter, interpreting 1t.
He has received my message. They
want to restore the old order. They
are anxious to get the secret OF the
aerodromone, for which they offer me
the Princedom Schomburg Lithow. All
European monarcns are in the pact"
She answered the counts letter, then
left it and her reply open on her desk,
to be read by anyone who might wish.
She dressed and went to Astra's
boudoir. Together they entered the
dining-room in time to see Napoleon
and Ambrosio Hale enter from the
other door.
Napoleon's eyes rested with appre-
citation on the picture the two present
ed.
Mr.. Hale greeted them effusively,
then turned to the countess, whose
charms were, In many respects, even
more fascinating than the Presidents.
A ride on horseback was scheduled
for the afternoon; that old, invigorat-
Ing sport still held its charm, as all
were accomplished horsemen.
The days were still short, and they
had to hurry homeward, as they
wished to reach the capital before sun
set. Napoleon, who knew the country
best, led them through a short cut, a
meadow nesting between two deep
! fOrncfo ond fhfac ~ N c11Nrta,r .-an1
By the time they reached the first
suburb it had begun to grow dark.
They had to cross the town to reach
the Crystal Palace. AS they passed
under the first street lamp two men
who were standing on the corner, near
an automobile, peered closely at them.
One of the men grasped the other by
the arm and said: Come" They
jumped into the car and 1t shot for
ward, turning the nearest corner, and
raced toward the north, to the heart
of the city. At the new congressional
building they stopped and beckoned to
a man who seemed to await them.
II tell you, Mozrak, they will pass
this corner" said one of the men Inn
patiently.
"But I would prefer to stand farther
down, where there is a greater crowd"
said the man who had been waiting.
What do you want with the crowd?"
ITO help me escape" was the lacon-
ic answer of the man called Mozrak.
Just as you please" assented the
man in the a j. Select your own
place."
The automobile with the three men
went farther, where the streets and
elevated sidewalks we're crowded with
people. Mozrak looked around and
back, Is If he expected to see some
one he knew.
"Herel" The man at the wheel
obeyed. "Wait for me at the next cor
ner, with everything in readiness, and
whgn jump INTO the car you are to
let her out" Mozrak left the automo-
bile and threaded his way through the
crowd. The big car turned the corner
indicated and stopped. Mozrak walked
far enough to get its bearings, her
returned to the center Of the block.
His hand strayed toward his hip
pocket, rested there for a second and
then he stood watching the passing
throng.
In the meantime the four on horse
back neared the building in a slow
trot; as they reached the buster streets
their horses fell into a walk.
Napoleon rode on Astra's left and
they were closely followed by Rositta
and Hale. They passed the building
ard were nearing the place where MOI
rak leaned against a lamp post, smok-
ing contentedly. He saw the coming
quartet, and took a deep breath. When
they had reached the center of the
block, near where he stood, his right
hand went into his hip pocket. just
as the four on horseback reached him
he jumped toward Astra with leveled
arm, and the CLINT of an automatic pis-
toll was seen.
The pistol was pointed at Astra,
whose horse made a nervou jump
when the nan came forward. Before
the man could pull the trigger Napo-
Icons whip Kissed through the air,
hitting him squarely In the face. The
pistol exploded; the bullet grazed Ma
poleon's right shoulder, and before the
fellow could make another attempt to
shoot he was seized by two onlookers
and his pistol was knocked from his
grasp. He was dazed by a blow and
stood looking at them blankly.
Astra tainted, but many kind and
willing arms were there to prevent her
falling from her horse.
Rositta, who just a few minutes be-
fore was SO full Of Joy. looked at the
scene shudderingly.
Napoleon, like a god of revenge.
stood over the man. She could see
blood oozing from his right coat
sleeve, but that blood was not the
aus Of her pale, terror-stricken face.
1t was the face of the assassin that
had startled her. She knew that face.
The police restored order, but before
Napoleon let the shaking would.be as