The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-24
CHAPTER LxxvII.
The RECKONING,

Now" said Count Frederick to Kit
ty when at length they had reached
the upper portion of the palace, I'VE
to be done. The ministers must be
summoned. The writs must issue for
the attendance of the parliament. IT'S
long since one has been convened
| Michael the king-he alone has been
our government-and what govern
meHt!"
They were now passing toward the
central portion of the palace, having
| assembled from the vaults below. Alb
sorbed-intent-Co Frederick, at
least, was inattentive to aught else
save the presence of the woman at
his side. But now she plucked his
sleeve.
Listen" said she, and laid finger
On her lips.
At her signal, Count Frederick soft
ened his footsteps and walked with
her stealthily. The sound of the
voices engaged in whispered CONVEX
sation came now to his ears. Sud-
denly he stepped forward, convinced,
flung open door off the main hall,
and passed within unannounced. 1t
was nc time for formalities in Gretz-
hoffen palace now.
So said he, you are here again.
What, Sachio, you honor us yet by an
other visit? That is most kind of
you! You, GrahaTne, you, my former
orI- froi
tor, this liar, this treacherous snake!"
They stood, surprised as yet with
out plan for their defense.
''Ho, there!-the guard-the guard"
cried Count Frederick, stepping back
to the door.
But to his call there came no
footsteps of the guard Instead,
one man came-Roleau, who for the
past few moments had been in search
of the two men. He fastened past
Kitty as she stood, thrust himself into
the room, and with Count Frederick,
faced the trapped men who stood be-
fore them.
Count Sachio, with a snarl of rage
sprang forward at his foe, and Roleau,
with a quick motion flung himself be-
tween. He felt the iron hand of his
master on his shoulder
Leave him to me, Roleau! Take
care of the other man."
The two noblemcn faced one an
other calmly now. Not so with Ro-
leau. On the instant, he flung him.
self upon the man accostcd as Ora |
hame. The struggle was unequal and |
under Rolcaus powerful grasp the
intruder soon was helpless.
Well" said Count Frederick; "Sa-
chic, how shall it be? Shall / choke
you with ray hands?"
The man whom he accosted was
me not easily dismayed He greeted
hese words with a smile which
showed his white teeth. His own
lighting blood was up, and fear was
! thing he did not know.
Suddenly his eye, rapidly glancing
bout the room, caught sight of a
rophy of arms hung across the room.
rom it he caught down two swords.
Sowing, he handed both, hilt forward,
"
aonsieur," he said.
"On guard" said Count Fred (.
rick.
Lightly, gracefully, gently, the tips
the two blades met, shivered
life, each feeling CT the other, scarce
lore than a hairs breadth from it's t
purse.
The icy eye of Count Frederick t
Did, Eerciless, looked into the dark 7
nd smiling face of Sachio. 3
Il am going to kill you now" said Q
cunt Frederick. shall it be soon?7
Tho answer of Sachio was more
ian a smile. Fiercely he whipped D
ee his blade His knuckles up, his |.
ade shot forward in long ano dead g
lunge. Il
Suddenly the jaw of Count Fred a
lex shut the tighter Mono could p
I've said that he had seen what en- 81
led. In some fashion, the blado of fl
Q nobleman of Gretzhoffcn went out,
brating, catching in it's grip the 81
ade opposed to it. There was a fc
rench, a twist. The weapon OIL ol
,unt Sachio was torn from his hands,
stood unarmed. He stood one half in
oment before he felt, kissing hot
rough all his body, the point of his p;
tagonist. hi
Count Frederick turned, not wait is
: to sec his foe sink down, for ho
ew the work was done He adj lie
need half a race tc the man Gra- in
me, covering in the corner before Il
leau. Hira he snote across the til
eek with tho bloody blade, and said:
GU coward and traitor, you shall 90 M
tho law" m'