The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-09-24
NINTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxIlI.

The Trap.
"Mademoiselle, give it to me! LIE
Us end all this
The voice of Count Frederick wa
agitated. For once he had met sit
uation sufficient to shake him from hi
calm.
Kitty Gray made no answer, as sh
shrank back, the coin tightly claspet
in her hand She cast on him lool
SO full of womanly anger as nigh
have scorched him-an anger now de
void of fear. Gagged, trapped, left with
out resource, helpless in the hands o.
her enemy, still she seemed deadliel
than that enemy now.
Twill you not?" The mans voice
had in it now something almost Of
pleading. Count Frederick felt some
thing of shame at his own part in this
mol" she answered at length, her
own voice low and even, painting out
the words. mo, will not. Come and
take II from me if you dare. You have
lone that once, why not again?"
He turned away with sudden ges-
ture, his face red in chagrin over the
justice Of her taunt.
"You remember that?" said he.
what remains? Must I be yet more
rude with you? 1t is not that I like
the part, mademoiselle; be sure of
that. 1t was not myself but my man
who laid hands upon you that other
time"
HE is still your man. You yourself
still are willing to prosecute woman
and a stranger. You are no better
than he."
Suppose / am not, then. Does 1t
look as though you would gain much
by defying me? Come, now. The coin
is nothing to you; it is everything to
me. swear it is more than thought
it ever would be. 1t is life and death
for me, and more than that, made
moiselle. Would you stand between
me and an ambition such as that?
would repay you hundredfold in any
way you needed, If you would but lis
ten to reason. But perhaps woman
does not know the word for reason"
mo. I do not. remember only one
word, and that is hate for you! When
my chance comes / shall still remem-
Der that. In turn I will put you be-
hind the bars if ever the opportunity
comes to me- And you shall stay there
for allsof me. hate you'll"
Count Frederick smiled grizzly. |
~There is comfort in that word, made |
moiselle," said he. Rather. that than |
leaden-eyed Indifference, at least. But
rs for me, l do not hate you, neither
am 1 Indifferent toward you. only
at least, mademoiselle, l try only to |
think of the coin and what it means
% me-"
IF 1t belonged to you, monsiear, 1t
would have gone to you long ago. If
you ever owned it you would own it
low."
A sudden change came over the face
If the nobleman as he caught the con-
fiction in these words. They touched
or him some consciousness long left
what do you mean?" he asked in
low voice. "What is it that you
1ean when you say that?"
when Frederick, Count Of Gretz-
often, deserves this coin; when he
arms it; when he gains title by virtue [
f right thoughts and deeds, then per-
aps it will come to him; surely not
efore. This CON-" she held it now out {
efore her in her hand, sit will come
yentually to that place where 1t be- /
,ngs. It is seeking for that place now.
he people really own it. They ask t
eedom and justice and liberty. And 8
ow you ask me why / cling to 1t;
nv 1t clings to me. / suppose 1t Is
ecause something impels me, COM g
lis me to do what / have DONE q
Count Frederick turned to compose Il
mself to situation OF greater COM Il
TT. AS he did SO, and about to seat b
mseh upon the lower stair, some n
ing fell from the pocket of his coat; a.
netting which he had brought with o
M from his room, in the hope that 1t 81
d not been observed there by this
oman. 1t fell now face upward on es
9 stair between them, and he saw
at she had seen 1t. He accepted the al
ct. and at first did not attempt to 4
ck up the little picture, for 1t was
; little picture which he had brought
th him from his room.
You saw, mademoiselle?" said he.
had hoped that you would not" hi
Yes, see It now; saw 1t there pc
your ROOM" answered Kitty con- to
nptuously. "You ask why venture Ia
Q your apartments now and then. HI
ye | not the right! May not claim ad
own property? am not familiar lat
II the laws Of GYetxhoffen. Indeed, tri
seems to me there are NO laws in hi
J land. Not knowing how to re- I'M