The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-24

Roleau came fastening from hi
watching place outside the door.
He saw the little room occupied b.
O man-who now suddenly had en-
tered-and who menaced Kitty, 81
that. TO save her lie as she supposed
size was on the point Of surrende-taI
to him both pieces Of the coin. TIT
sight Of his mistress II danger va!
enough for Roleau. With his custom
AIRY battle cry he plunged imned!atel!
into the conflict, careless OF the threat
eniag weapon. In the melee the two
Ealt coins both we're dropped upon th'
noor.
Even now the ruling impulse OF Kit
ty did not quite fo-saEe her. Sh'
stopped and rega!oed one OF the hal
COTS, but the struggling men, shiftint
here and there in the room, kept hei
from securing the other. II the BLING
instinct for escape she fed now Il
the open hall. taking that direction
which led back from the front OF thu
building.
Roleau heard her pass, and ccu!t
not join her in fight-but he heart
her give a cry Of alarm whose causl
he could only guess. His energies wert
fully occupied by the combat with thi:
stranger-whom now he saw to be one
Of Count Sachio's men. He had noted
him at the hunting lodge. He himsel!
had not time to reason as to the pres.
ence Of this new factor in the general
imbrogEo, but at last, able to bring
his own weapons into play, he stayed
the issue for q time. They both had
time to recognize one another as they
stood, the one as much bafaed as the
other, and neither quite comprehend
ing what the other was doing here.
Very naturally the sounds Of all this
confusion could not be concealed. The
scream OF a woman had rung widely
through the halls, and used az they
were to extraordinary circumstances
h~ereabouts. the servants could not fail
to investigate the cause Of this. They
fastened in the direction Of the up
roar, but their advance was stayed by
the command Of the master Of the
palace himself.
The men in the room. as they
paused Tor breathing space. heard q
STEADY football advancing to the doo-,
heard the calm voice OF Count Fred.
er!ck himself. !.
Gentlemen"
The intruders, whatever the er=and
Of each. took theI. eyes from one an
other and turned now, recognizing yet
another man who scarce had core in
friendship.
you honor me greatly, gentlemen"
said Count Frederick with his usual
GOODNESS in any extraordinary situa,
ton. But might ask why YOU care
thus to ~disarrange my apartment?
Had I known your OWL curiosity re
garding It, l might have asked some
Of my servants to assist you n a
search more orderly"
81 was sent back by my master" be-
gan the stranger-who was none other
than Bartel, the late successor to Ru-
dolph in Count Sachio's good graces.
"He had left certain Of his belong
ings-some silver cases Of the toilet.
Monsieur le Conte-he did not trouble
to ask you about them, and now he
sent me-"
Indeed! That is most plausible!
But why seek for them in my rooms.
when his quarters were in quite an
other part OF the palace, my dear sir?"
AS to that" replied the other with
calm enrontery, Il cannot say. I only
came here because the servants told
me that this was the room. OF course,
il there has been any mistake"
Cease, I say" exclaimed Count
Frederick. frowntng now. his face
flushing.
He turned from Roleau to the other
intruder in his apartments. Roleau
stood dumb. The other shook his
head.
Monsieur le Comte," said he. "the
young woman was here when I en-,
tered-when this man also entered.
She passed yonder-when she had the
opportuntty-and took with her one
half the coin. There lies the other on
your floor. She disappeared-we heard
a cry"
Count Frederick stopped and picked
up the object pointed out to him. It
was his own halt Of the coin-or that
which he had called his own-strce he
had taken It from her.
So then, he reflected, she had found
the way to his most secret hiding
place-she was on the very point OF
success when this last contretemps
had interfered with her plans. A new
feeling Of admiration for her keen
ness and persistence once more came
to Count Frederick's heart. For a
moment he stood regarding half-ree
grettully the bit Of metal in his hand.
Il shall not offer this trtnket to
you, my friend" said he grimly to
the man Bartel, as he pocketed the
coin, for Of course you were not look
Ing for coins-only toilet articles-sn-
yer ones, did you say. sir? You shall
take back an excellent set Of my own
to Count Sach!o, with my compli-
ments. Tell him that It would seem
Ill to me that any guest OF mine should