The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-11-05
Fifteenth INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LX..

CHAPTER LVr
The wide wings of the air craft rose
gracefully and steadily from the peril
Gus dip which it had made almost to
the surface of the sea. Under the
steady hand. of the pilot it swung up
and around and headed back toward
the shore.
Below them now lay the towers OF
Gretzhoffen. The roar of the motor
made conversation impossible, but the
three occupants of the car looked at
one another happily. Roleau, wet
and weary, but smiling, had curled
himself down as best he could, and &C
cepted this last phase of his adventure
with his usual philosophy.
To the relief of all three, at length
they saw the green shores of Gretz-
hoffen waterfront rising up to meet
them. The aeroplane, skillfully han
died, spiraled gracefully down. Safe at
length, they stepped from the car
Frederick and Kitty faced each other
"Aze we then at the end of our
perils?" asked Kitty. Dare we be-
lieve It? / am weary with 1t ALL
scarce know whether am not in some
harassing dream. Are we then safe
again?"
Let us hope it, mademoiselle."
said Count Frederick.
But stay" said he. 'rHow can we
know what may have transpired at the
palace in our absence? Only one thing
is to be depended upon, and that is
that Sachio will not relent. He will
have some plot on foot-he will not
admit his defeat"
"Let us go then" said Count Fred
erick, "and see. After what we have
endured why trouble overmuch re-
garding what fate may have in addi-
ton? 1t all seems to me to have been
in the hand of fate itself. Even l am
of the mind that our little fears do not
in the least alter the plans of the gods
regarding u.s.
"That is the fatalism of a brave
man." said Kitty, smiling.
What! Then you call me at least
brave, mademoiselle? Would that /
might find some other merit in your
eyes-and would I might blot out my
own sense of unworthiness in the con.
duct I have shown towards you. |
Mademoiselle-"
"This is no time for such matters, |
monsieur. Let us hasten" She |
spoke composedly, and even then was
turning toward the palace.
Roleau, apart at a respectful dis.
lance, for the time made no attempt to
intrude. Count Frederick and Kitty
hurried off toward the plaza in front
OF the palace, whose grounds SO re-
Gently had been the scene of the des-
lperate encounter between the two ar
mics. A certain peace had reigned
there but now, yet it had been but
the peace of exhaustion. The army of
lGrahoffen had withdrawn, that was
true, but led by dauntless minds its
retreat had been checked. With them
defeat was but a relative term, "a tenn
pOrAry condition. Even now they had
summoned up their courage, and those
but recently vanquished had set on
foot q oounter-attack against the capi-
tai IT their recently victorious foe. /,
40 they advanced they found the
plaza once more filled with armed men,
the forces of Grahoffen again upon the
By stealth now, rapidly ,
and without the sound of martial mu- |
sic, they had STOLEN into the unguarded {
portion OF the city. The courage of t
despair perhaps animated them in this I
Yet now confidence and |
not despair seemed to rule among /
hem as they gathered in front OF the t
palace which still SO grfmly held fits e
lncient secrets.
Come quick!" exclaimed Freder- t
cl. as this scene broke upon their c
yaze. I'VE are alone-our forces are c
are upon us again In y
thousands. We must take refuge Ia A
he palace-oniy in its hidden recesses r
an we find any help now" IL
Carefully as might be, and as quick :
=, they gained access once more to q
be beleaguered palace of Gretzhoffen. C
q the anteroom they met none less "a
han Michael, the puppet king himself.
Ie was the image Of terror now, end n
villing to babble to any Of his woes. a
what shall we do? Where shall Ia
10 go?" he exclaimed almost in de- nj
pair. "They are at us again-they gt
ave no mercy on us-they do not pl
tay defeated, my dear count. Yon- Je
Or Sachio does not relent-he will m
ave our hearts blood. 1t is terrible. OF
There shall we fly from him?"
Much OF these broken utterances had la
nth in them. The 0rahoffen troops an
ere indeed in possession Of the CEN Sc
q defenses OF the town. By virtue lit
the magic of persistence and speed XII
) action Count Sachio himself once ma
ore had won to the head of his tn
cops. From some place unknown te'