Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-07-23
FIFTH lNsTALLMENT
CHAPTER xvii.
a New Intrvdsr.


ger-the very tenseness OF the situa-
tion warning him. Turning, he saw
the upraised weapon, and In a Fash
q blow from his own powerful arm
had sent Il flying through the window.
II fell elinking on the foor al the feet
o. Count Sachio and his friends. Kit
~. rescued from the danger which
abe had not realized. sprang back. An
9nstant later Roleau had grappled
with tho 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
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. run!" exclaimed
Roleau.
The strange man was not easily
Go be disposed of. but gave even the
powerful Roleau all he liked 10 do to
handle him. Meantime Sachio 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 coin-in his excitement he had
forgotten that he still had II In his
hand. The stranger. whose shifty
eyes caught everything. saw the bag
ms II lay upon the floor.
Working gradually towards the
place where the little bag lay. now
underfoot. now scuffed aside by the
struggling men, the stranger managed
60 trip and throw that one of Sachios
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.
his crossed arm against the throat OF
his assailant. 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, strug-
gled furiously. all the time calling to
Kitty to make her own escape.
"Roleaur" called Kitty. "Quick. he
he has it-he has stolen II. We must
follow him" And Roleau did his
best TO shake himself free.
"Not so fast. not so easily" painted
Sachio. whose stern grip still held
Roleau's collar. you will not get
OF Just yet. Who are you. to come
prowling about my place--thieves
against thieves? You shall tell me
what all this means"
go, excellency. rum" 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 leav'
q trail" And as she caught up q bool
from the table Roleau guessed wha
she had meant by this-a paper trail
She looked this way and that. bu
could see no trace OF the strange
who had thus treacherously intrude'
upon their own plans. A strange feel
ing came to her mind that perhap
she had seen him elsewhere befor
now. Where could that have been
Ransacking her memory she conclud
ed that he must have been some on
of the band OF banditti who had SUI
prised her and her companions In tn
desert.
Trusting to fortune TO bring he
aid. she ran forward In the genera
direction which she supposed the ma
had taken. She passed from the .fioo
of the gallery, which held no trace o
footprints to the softer ground wher
Ishe might see the trail. and caught
now. He was running in great leap
towards the edge OF the forest. wher
the road came in. Yonder lay tn
trail to Gretzhofien. He seemed boun
for that. Yes-she presently heard
sound OF horses hoofs.
"Horsesl" thought Kitty to hersel
recalling the stables where some c
ISachio's mounts we're kept-indee'
she doubted not that some might
ksaddled and waiting in the yard
was true-an instant later her ow
flying hoofbeats pursued those no
Iessening In the distance. And q
she fed Kitty left trail.
AS for Roleau. his faithful heal
was wellnigh broken when. havin
seen his mistress follow his advic
and make her eacane. be found hin