The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-10-31
PAGE FIVE

cave said she
Hurry said Count Frederick
Run and hide yourself there at once
AS she obeyed he set about certain
plans of his own. He flung himself
down upon the sand at the edge of the
cliff. and left trail, as though he
had been flung over and down. Here
and there he pulled loose certain
shrubs to strengthen that impression
in the mind of any pursuer who might
come. Then, retreating toward the
mouth of the cave where Kitty had
secreted herself, he obscured his owu
trail in the sand as best he could by
brushing away the footprints with a
broken bough trusting to the strong
wind to complete his own bungling
work at covering his trail.
"MademOiselle," said he, when at
length he joined her. we now have
done all that we can do. We have no
food no water, no weapons he
showed his empty revolver. All we
can do is to wait and hope
Covering in their hiding place, they
lay for what might have been an
hour before they heard the voices of
any pursners Then they saw emerge
along their old passageway the fig
ures of several of the natives, who
stood jabbering, weapons in hand,
looking this way and that. seemingly
too much excited to have much care.
np Of tn ha tron
mark at the edge of the bluff, and,
shouting in excitement, returned.
With no more ado, and apparently
without suspecting the actual trail OF
the two fugitives, they all now made
off to the right, shouting loudly, and
disappeared from view-no doubt
along some steep path known only
70 themselves.
They have gone" said Count Fred
arick, "and / fancy will not return.
They think us dashed to death on tho
rocks below"
We might as well be-" said Kitty
Gray, alphabetically. What hope is
there for us now?"
Courage, mademoiselle!" was his
response. That we have lived
through such perils means that there
is purpose for it-one purpose"
mo, said Kitty Gray 1T has been
90 much. We are lost. There Is no
food. no water Even II there we're
what chance is there for an escape|
Even should there never be an es-
cape. mademoiselle, life here with you
would be better than life anywhere
else in the world without you"
But, utterly worn out, she only
shook her head and turned away.
Completely exhausted, at length she
ell asleep. He spread about her his
own coat and kept watch.
Night came at length, and with 1t
It's chilling airs. They must have
fire, yet a fire might announce their
presence = there Count Frederick
gathered some bits of dried wood here
and there, and at length ventured to
build a fire where 1t would offer
warmth within the cave, and where
It would be practically invisible from
any direction except from the sea.
Indeed, he felt that they must take
this chance, since only from the sea
could they have any hope of escape.
Their beacon light would shine wide
ly and perhaps some passing mariner
might see 1t.
The night wore away, passed as u
was in hunger and in chill. with moth
ing to soften the hard floor of the
rocky cavern. There was no break
fast for them, there was not even
drop of water to assuage their grow
ing thirst
Once more Count Frederick searched
out every corner of their narrow refuge
ground. To attempt escape directly
down the face of the cliff would have
been sheer madness. He followed the
trail which the natives had made
when they passed to the right along
the rock wall. Apparently they had
trunk to another. 1t would be equal
to madness for a woman to attempt
descent here-still more hopeless
for a woman weakened with hunger
and fatigue. He told Kitty the truth,
as he now found IT,
Leave me-" said she, weakly.
Save yourself"
Leave you, mademoiselle?" said
he. Never! Not until death do US
part shall we be separated"
He read something of his answer in
the look in the eyes turned upon him
now.
1T is we'll" said she at length. sim
ply-"we shall live or die-together.
Together. mademoiselle? Tell
me-"
But her hand, raised in sheer weari-
ness, arrested him, calling upon all his
chivalry.
I'VE will be able to endure our hun
ger for a day at least" said he. Our
light shines far. Let us devote at
least another day to hope. If none
comes. why, then we can die"
Yes said she, simply, that comes
at last to all. But let us try to