The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-11-19
CHAPTER XVI.


Kitty. left alone once more. found
herself in better heart than she had
been bat now. At least, she had seen
Roleau--had found once more proof
Of his faithfulness and his efficiency.
Surely he would help her to escape yet
again. And ~ for Sachic-better he.
OF whom she knew something. than q
stranger OF whom she knew nothing
at all. OF late despair had been knock
Ing at her heart in such fashion that
the summons of opportunity found no
hearing, but now she began to plan
once mere.
She sought to study the exits Of the
apartment In which she found herself
There we're two doors, SO 1t seemed.
both fastened. She pushed strongly
at one; 1t opened before her. She
stood cnce more face to face with
Count Sachio. the mocking conspira-
tor who had OF late had so much 20
do with her own misfortunesl
"Mademoiselle! said he. Il am %
pleased
For myself" rejoined Kitty indig-
nantly, Il was never so much dis
pleased as am now. So the gentle
men OF this country In this way show
their Quality-in their treatment of
women? ! compliment you"
Your words are at least better than
your absence, mademoiselle-I like
neither"
And what of me? What shall l
say of man who treats me as a GRIM
inal? Nay, a criminal would be treat
ed better in my country-he would
have a trial. There would be process
of law, observance OF the law. Is the
habeas corpus writ thing unknown
in this country-have the people never
yet wrung that right from the hands
of tyrants? In my country there are
some recourses which any citizen may
have"
Your own country? Why did you
ever leave it, mademoiselle?
THE reasons concern me alone, sir"
Indeed, you mistake-they do not
concern you alone. We are many Of us
in this country also concerned with
them. We would that you never had
come from America There are many
reasons moving to that. And, indeed.
we even ask your return to your own
country"
80, then, 1t was your message to
me that l got? Most melodramatio
OF You, Count Sachio-but by what
right do you demand my return!"
There are some large rights,
mademoiselle. which need small ex-
PLANTATION"
But which allow you to hinder me
in the performance OF my own duties
to ask me to be unfaithful to my en-
ployers? Why, you even ask me to
deceive the public-to present coun-
terfeit-to pretend that have done
what have not DONE"
80? And you cannot take such
good advice?"
mo, l will not. To deceive, to pre-
tend, to counterfeit-those are attrib-
utes Of your kingdom, not Of my own
country, America. In my country we
have better standards-men and wom-
en- alike-for which / heartily am
glad"
You haye a singing tongue, ma
demoiselle," said Count Sachio, red un-
der his swarthy skin. perhaps 1t will
grow milder IL left unused. / shall
leave you here-until you are willing
to say you are done with Gretzhoffen
and ready to return to your own coun-
try. This land, mademoiselle, can
keep Its own secrets-it could even
close over the secret of the disappear
ance OF young woman-and leave
her fate a mystery. l trust that you
will reconcider what you have said"
A moment and he had left her once
more. Before he passed through the
door she glanced beyond. The room
was occupied, apparently. by his
friends-escape on that side was Inn
possible.
The other door still remained fas-
tened. Kitty turned to 1t with bur-
glarious intent-using an art learned
when she was a schoolgirl. With no
better instrument than q hairpin, she
had seen wonders done at opening
locks.
Her brisk interchange of compli-
ments with Count Sachio had set her
pulses stirring once more. She want
ed to get out-she wanted to escape,
and she proposed to escape. Once
more free, she admitted to herself, she
would be willing enough to take the
advice which but now she had
scorned-willing enough to take ship
back home, to see the familiar sky
line of her own city, to find her own
place back in the smoky and grimy
city, her own place In the hum and
grind of the old newspaper. How
good 1t would seem to her now to see
the faces Of the local room. They
might chaff her all they liked. Yes,
she would go back home.
And now, with schoolgirl fnesse in
the employment of the small instru-
ment at her disposal. she succeeded
in her burglary. She felt the lock turn
at last-felt 1t give-saw that she
could open the door She did open
it-and closed 1t again.
Back Of her sha heard opc. $500