Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-12-03
FIFTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XVIII.

He Keen seuSts VI IlOlSau, 'NhOoiNN
In peril told him OF some hidden dan
ger-the very tenseness OF the sltNa'
ton warning him Turning, he saw
the appraised weapon, and In a flash
q blow from his own powerful arm
had sent II flying through the window
It fell cllnhng on the floor at the feet
OF Count Sachio and his friends Kit
", rescued from the danger which
she had not realized. sprang back. An
instant later Roleau had grappled
with the intruder
Hearing the sound OF this encoun'
ter, Count Sachio and his companions
sprang at the intervening door, broke
It In. They found two strange men
engaged in an encounter whose cause
they could not guess, but both OF
whom undoubtedly we're intruders in
this place, and who, therefore, might
be regarded as enemies
THE American" exclaimed Sachio.
as now he saw also the young girl
who was endeavoring as best she
might to give assistance to Roleau
In his struggle with the stranger.
Quick, excellency. rum" exclaimed
Roleau.
The stranre man was not easily
to be disposed of, but gave even the
powerful Roleau all he liked to do to
handle him. Meantime Sachlo flung
himself upon Roleau, his comrades did
as much for the stranger.
In the melee, which slipped from
place to place upon the floor. Sachio
let fall the little bag with the kings
half co!n-in his excitement he had
forgotten that he still had II In his
hand The stranger, whose shitty
eyes caught everything. saw the bag
as It lay upon the floor.
Working gradually towards the
place where the little bag lay. now
underfoot, now scuted aside by the
struggling men. the stranger managed
to trip and throw that one Of Sachio's
friends who pressed him most closely.
They fell directly before the packet.
Swiftly. the long hand OF the stranger
reached out and caught 1t up.
There remained for him no more
relish for the fight. An instant later,
his crossed arm against the throat OF
his assai'ant, he broke away, flung
through the open window and LEFT the
others to shift as they might.
Roleau, ftill held in the powerful
grasp OF Count Sach!o himself, strug'
gled furiously. ell the time calling to
Kitty to make her own escape.
"Roleau!" called Kitty. quick, he
he has THE has stolen II. We must
follow him" And Roleau did his
best to shake himself free.
mot SO fast, not so easily" painted
sachio. whose stern grip still held
Roleaus collar. you will not get
of Just yet. Who are you. to come
proving about my place-thieves
against thieves? You shall tell me-
what all this means"
Go, excelency, run" painted Ro.
leau, still to his mistress. Leave
them to me. I'll come when I can"
Kitty turned, knowing that she
must act quickly or be taken prisoner
herself.
Follow me. Roleau!" she cried.
Follow me when YOU can. I'll leave
a trail" And as she caught up book
from the table Roleau guessed what
she had meant by this--a paper trail.
She looked this way and that, but
could gee no trace OF the stranger
who had thus treacherously intruded
upon their own plans, A strange feel
ing came to her mind that perhaps
she had seen him elsewhere before
now. Where could that have been?
Ransacking her memory she conclud.
ed that he must have been some one
OF the band OF banditti who had sur.
prised her and her companions in the
desert.
Trusting to fortune to bring her
aid, she ran forward In the general
direction which she supposed the man
had taken. She rassed from the floor
OF the gallery, which held no trace or
footprints TO the softer ground where
she mifht see the trail. and caught It
now. Re was running Ia great leaps
towards the edge OF the forest. where
the road came In. Yonder lay the
trail to Gretzhoffen. He seemed bound
for that, Yes-she presently heard q
sound of horses hoofs.
"Horses!" thought Kitty TO herself,
recalling the stables where some OF
Sachlos mounts we're kept-indeed,
she doubted not that some might be
saddled and waiting IN the yard. 1t
was true-an instant later her own
flying hoofbeats pursued those now
lessening IN the distance. And as
she fled Kitty left trail.
As for Roleau, his faithful heart
was wellnigh broken when, having
seen his mistress follow his advice
and make her escape, he found him
self In spite Of all unable to Join her
In the pursuit OF the escaping thief
who had their coin. The grasp OF
Sachio upon him did not relax, and
now others REINFORCED their leader.
"Ah, we'll, messieurs,' he said grin
ming. at length. you have the argu'
ment."
Search him!" exclaimed Sechio.
II have lost sSe coin. 1t was here. 1t
is gone--Ee has 1t about him some
where"
The companions Of the count COM
pliedtnbut could make nothing Of the
lsarchI Roleay stously asserting that