The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-18
FIFTH INsTALLMENT
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Intruder.

IN peril, told MIN OF some 1luCSu udH-
ger-the very tenseness Of the sItua-
ton warning him. Turning, he saw
the appraised weapon. and IN a fash
q blow from his own powerful arm
had sent It flying through the window.
Il fell clinking on the floor at the feet
Of Count Sach!o and his friends. Kit
ty, 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
Il IN. They found two strange men
engaged in an encounter whose cause
Z, they could not guess. but both OF
whom undoubtedly were intrucers 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 endeavoriag as best she
might to give assistance to Roleau
IN his struggle with the stranger.
Quick. excellency. rum" exclaimed
Roleau.
The strange man was not easily
TO be disposed Of, but gave even the
powerful Roleau all he liked to do to
handle him. Meantime sachto flung
himself upon Roleau, his comrades did
rs 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
halt coin-in his excitement he had
forgotten that he still had It in hts
hand. The stranger. whose shifty
eyes caught everything. saw the bag
as It lay upon the floor.
Working gradually towards the
place where the little bag lay. now
undsrtoot. now scufed aside by the
struggling men. the stranger managed
to trip and throw that one Q! Sechio's
friends who pressed him most closely.
They fell directly before the packet.
Swiftly, the long hand OF the stranger
reached out and caught It up.
There remained for him no more
relish for the fight. An instant later.
bis crossed arm against the throat Of
bis assaiIant, he broke away, flung
through the open window and left the
Others to shift as they might.
Roleau, still held IN the powerful
grasp Of Count sachio himself. strus-
gled furtously, al the time calling to
Kitty to make her own escape.
"Roleau!" called Kitty. Quick. he
he has THE has stolen it. We must
follow him!" And Roleau did his
best to shake himself free.
''Not so fast, not SO easily" painted
sschio, whose stern grip still held
Roleau's 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, excellency, rum" painted Ro-
Iean, 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
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 see 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?
RanSack4ng her memory she conclud'
ed that he must have been some one
Of the band Of bandItti who had sur
pfIsed 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 passed from the floor
otsthe gallery. which held no trace OF
footprints to the softer ground where
she might see the trail. a2d caught It
now. He was running in great leaps
towards the edge OF the forest, where
the road came In. Yonder lay the
trail to Gretzhotfen. He seemed bound
for that. Yes-she presently heard a
sound Of horses hoofs.
"Horses!" thought Kitty to herself,
recalling the stables where some Of
sachio's mounts were kept-indeed,
abe doubted not that some might be
saddled and waiting IN the yard. 1t
was true-an instant later her own
flying hoofheats pursued those now
lessenlng in the distance. And as
she fed Kitty left trail.
As for Ro!eau, his faithful heart
vas wcllntgh broken when. having
seea his mistress follow his advice
cad 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 re.entorced their leader.