The Washington times., 1915-07-04
SS)OV~ NSOOOSS

lady offers to pay Count sachio of Gra-
said he. Il am riding but now to my
own hunting lodge, few miles yondcr
at the edge of the forest; why not come
this matter? / am entertaining friends
there-a little house party-there are
other. ladies'. You will be made well
come. II you can ride"
oh, yes" said Kitty; II can can man man
cushioned saddles with round fronts,
in which all the party were mounted.
Count Sachio made q curt gesture to
an attendant. who at once dismounted
who also now offered his aid. Kitty
herself, however. threw across the
right-hand stirrup SO that IT hung
shortened as that of a side-saddle. and
with small assistance found her seat:
Horsewoman as she was, she assured
them that she had no fear, although her
mount proved somewhat mettlesome.
Good" exclaimed Count Sachio gay
ly. "It goes better than to walk. So
can you trot-may we gallop?'
They did break into a gallop; much
to the nobleman's delight, His eyes
continually fell upon the. fair compaI,-
morning. At such speed as they COM
passed 1t was not long before they ar
rived at the hunting lodge which he
had mentioned-a chateletlike structure
Of logs built just In tho cover of the
forest fringe, by the side OF a little
stream.
Here a gay. party greeted them. Of
Ing Count Sachio and his friends Kitty
noted the picturesque garb of the men,
the recent Paris fashions of the ladies.
1t seemed to her a company which
might mildly have been called 'un.
usual" 1t was early in. the day II
the gentlemen talked loudly. freely, the
laughter of the ladies themselves was
perhaps trine vehement. Kitty felt
strangely i'll at ease.
Count Sachio introduced his guests
with a few words in his own language
The others started politely. smiled dis
creetly. but made Kitty welcome. =.
Count T; sachio. S o. ITO the woodland paths
since the morning is SO fresh. Con-
slider, my friends, that you are In the
Pare aux cerfs of the good Louis OF be-
loved memory; AS for me. l must e taIk
has come to us so strangely
"Mademoiselle. you will have refresh
ments?" he asked, as, laughing gayly.
the others dispersed.
He had led her to a little table just
inside the door of the chalet. and as
he beckoned an attendant brought wine:
Nothing more for me than cup OF
tea" said Kitty gravely. Lest you
think me rude.perhsps 1T nay insrs be we,i seY
cottage where l left my man."
Not so fast, not so fast as all that,
ma cherie! You have not tested out
ask Come. what think you of 1t! Is
It not a pleasant place to tarry for a
time? Why be unreasonable? 1t is my
own plan to be reasonable only to a
certain extent. Our place is secret
and no secrets ever get out from It
Not his words so much as his manner
sent swift alarm into Kitty Gray's
heart. Swiftly she arose and made
back as he. warmed somewhat by his
ing. Her gesture angered him and he
stepped forward, but more swiftly. At
once Kitty gave voice to loud cry OF
terror-the appeal for help-a woman's
she did so, she heard the sound of
| hoofs on the trail beyond the edge of
the forest.
"Roleau." She cried aloud. "A mol"
Kitty guessed. rather than knew. that
Roleau's uneasiness on her account had
| led him to pursue her. Such, indeed.
was the case. She scarcely had been
| absent from the house more than few
made himself ready for the trail. Find
! ing no better mount than the peasant 8
! cart horse. none the less he was able
to take the girls trail and to see where
1t had blended with that Of the horse
men. Following this. somewhat blindly.
| in the hope that II might lead to some
news Of her, he now. even as he turned
| In at the chalet trail, heard her cry
| for help. moment later he was in the
opening and had flung himself down
woman and the stranger who now ap-
parently had given her alright.
! Count Sachio, tmperviously. Il am
| Sachio Of Grahoffen. man-one who need
| not declare himself to you. Your life
shall pay for this
retorted Roleau calmly. II have seen
men of many sorts before now. but
none that I feared. This lady is in my
care. She will ride with me and we
will ride better horses than that on
Even as he spoke he passed rapidly
among the spirited mounts of the little
party lately arrived. Two he selected
for himself and Kitty. With the others
he was busy with few swift strokes
of the short knife he wore. He grinned
80, Monsieur Sachio of Grahoffen, "
said he. you will ride with short girths
If you follow us" In truth he had cut
piece out of the girth of each of the
unused horses.
An instant later he and Kitty were
mounted and speeding away.
What manner of people are they in
this country. Roleau?" demanded the
girl presently, when they were
Strengthened out on the course of the
II wish I might say that they were
better, Mademoiselle," responded that
strange Individual. Let us not talk of
| it, ! wish only that you may be safe
out of these adventures before long.
| Meantime, trust me toy be of such ser
I wee as l may"
CHAPTER TX