The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-01


had not come out by the front hall
therefore she must have passed on
by yonder window, which had Offered
exit to the intruders. The next mo
| ment Roleau himself was through tn,
same window and hurrying down tn,
cess to the street. By the time the
captain of the guard and his hurryinl
men were close on his track at the
hotel desk, Roleau once more wal
free.
The scene of action of all this was
now but transferred from the real
to the front Of the hotel, where, moi
apprehending the presence Of others
| the parties of this drama met with
out plan. Count Frederick had halt
| ed, reluctant to leave the young girl
! in such a time of distress. Count
| Sachio, looking about him for some
sign of the man who he knew had
| the coin he coveted, also stood IT.
resolute at the curb. Kitty, pursuing
| the flying thief-and after her now
Roleau-paused as they saw others
| ahead. 1t seemed to Roleau when he
| first caught sight of the excellency
whom he served that she was wait
ing for someone, holding back for
some purpose Of her own.
The flying apache passed close to
Count Sachio. He halted at some
quick word, some sudden sign which
the nobleman gave to him. Roleau
saw them converse for just a moment
saw Sachio pass money to the fly
ing thief, and then motion him to
speed on his way. RoIeau saw Sachio
look at his hand, hurriedly clasp it
shut, and thrust it into hisspocket-
saw him in turn beckon to his own
man, Bartel, his late agent in certain
of these affairs.
This could indicate but one thing.
Sachio had obtained possession of the
coin, had transferred it to his mes
sengerI And now they saw that mes
senger hasten to the nearest motor
car standing at the curb.
Another car stood, as yet unoccu-
pied, and toward this now started
three persons-Count Frederick, Kitty
Gray, and Roleau, the idea of pursuit
being foremost in the mind of each of
these three. But Kitty Gray, re-
joiced at finding her servant once
more at her side-for now Roleau had
take any other ally into her own
plans. Even as the agent of Count
Sachio sprang into the car, they
rushed swiftly to that approached by
Count Frederick, and with more force
than politeness pushed that gentle
man aside, sprang in, and made such
argument to the driver of the car that
he was OF at speed within the next
Quick, Roleau!" called Kitty Gray. |
Make him drive-that man is Bartel, |
the partner of Count Sachio. He is
bound for the train-he has the coin,
I am sure, and he means to take it to |
the kingdom of Grahoffen. Once |
there, it is lost to us. Quick, he must
not beat us to the train"
So rapidly had these events oc-
cured that she scarcely had time for
thought.
'In two hours, or three at most
I that man catches the train-the
DIN will be in Cortislaw's hands, and
ut Of our reach forever. Drive, Ro-
him drivel"
Therefore, what Count Frederick,
vt alone in the street, was forced to
ee was the spectacle of those two
urrying vehicles leaving him to his
wn devices. He looked about him
urriedly for some means of locomo-
on of his own, and his gaze fell
pom a horse standing at the curb.
! default Of better means, he sprang
} the saddle, and himself was on in 4
lch pursuit as he could compass. q
Bartel, the Gretzho1fen agent, was 1
no mood to delay. He urged his
vn car hard, and hastened toward o
. station of the little railway which.
] Kitty and Roleau both knew, led t
Grahoffen around the northern ex- Y
entity of the neutral strip, close in &
lder the shoulders of the little o
Il
There stood In the station now, at v
ched to the Tuning engine, = mixed
ain. partly mode Of coaches, partly d
fats, apparently ready to depart. Il
.rtel approached the guard rapidly v
hat he said no one heard, but an b,
slant later the guard had received .,
I'm Bartel = telegram, had trans
red it to the station agent, and t.
nself was blowing the signal for III
} starting Of tho train-perhaps /
ne minutes before the regular