The Washington times., 1915-07-25


ness Of the situation warning
him. Turning. he saw the up-
raised weapon. and in a flash a blow
from his own powerful arm had sent ,t
flying through the window. It fell
clinkinR on the floor at the feet of
Count sachio and his friends. Kitty,
rescued from danger which she hao
not realized, sprang back. An instant
later Roleau had grappled with the in
truder.
Hearing the sound Of this encounter.
Count Sachio and his companions spranx
at the intervening door. broke It in.
They found two strange men engaged in
an encounter whose cause they could
not guess. but both Of whom undoupteo-
lv were intruders in this place, and who.
therefore. might be regarded as enc
mics.
1.-The American" exclaimed saehio. a,
now he saw also the young girl, who
was endeavoring as best she might to
give. assistance to Rodeau in his strue
Ele with the stranger.
Roleau. ou
The strange man was not so easily to
be disposed OF. but gave even the power
full Roleau all he liked to do to handle
him. Meantime Sachio flung himself
upon Roleau. his comrades did as much
Tor the stranger.
70 In n,a the melee ass Which slipped from place
the little bag with the kings half cCin
I'm his excitement he had forgotten
that he still had 1t in his hand The
stranger, whose shifty eyes caught
eve sSSeryStn,ns' sew sew the bag as It lay upon
errand here Once he had that in his
grasp. he asked for nothing more
working gradually toward the place
where the little bag lay. now underfoot.
men. the stranger managed to trip and
throw that one Of Sachios friends who
pressed him most closely. They fell di-
!rectly, before the packet swiftly, the
.ong nand OK the stranger reached out
There remained for him no more rel
ish for the fight. An instant later his
crossed arm against the throat of his
the open window, and left the others 10
shift as they might.
Roleau. still held in the powerful
grasp OF Count Sachio himself. strug-
Eled furiously, all the time calling to
as had Kitty, herself, that there was yet
another--and stranger--who coveted
the s,n,ss,, misslng coin oi1,.a Of Grstxhoftsn
low him" And Roleau did his best to
mot SO fast. not so easily" painted
So1sd;s Saehio; WHOSE a", stern grip still held on
just yet. Who are you. to come prow,-
Ing about my place-thieves against
thieves? You shall tell me what ali this
Go. excellency. run - painted Roleau.
still to his mistress. Leave them to
me. I'll come when I cam"
Kitty turned. knowing that she must
act quickly or be taken prisoner herself.
~, Follow me. Roleau!" she crted. FOL
trail And as she caught up Il book
from the table Roleau guessed what she
had meant by this-a paper trail An
instant later she also was outside tho
window.
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 feeling came
to h}n her .Isniho1 mind that perhaps shs had seen
could that have been? RansAcking her
memory she concluded that he must
nave been some one OF the band OF
companions ~ the desert. stil', ne
others. Who could he be, therefore
and where now had he gone? HIS Pale
face, his rat-likn. furtiye eyes. his
slim. wiry f,sure-at least sh, vas safe
There seemed to be no recourse f>r
her In this stern progress of events.
There was no time now t. evoke 80
aid Of any save her own wi.s her on
been any law. was useless to her AMI
her plans-she, herself. even had in
vosed lawlessness to aid her.
Trusting to fortune to bring her aid,
which she supposed the man Mad taken.
She passed from the fonv o- the gallery.
which held no trace OF roctprinte. to the
softer ground where she migA4 see the
trail. and caught 1t now. He wa run
ming In great leaps toward thc edge Of
the forest. where the road came in.
Yonder lay the trail to Gretzkorea. He
seemed bound for that. Yes-she pres
emily heard sound of horsos hoofs.
The intruder was off. before. him lying
the open road across the desert.
Horses" thought Kitty to herself,
recalling the stables where some of
sachio's mounts were kept-indead, she
doubted not that some might be nsd-
an instant later her own flying hoof-
beats pursued those now lessening in
the distance. And as she fled Kitty left
As FOR Rolsau. his faithful heart was
wellnish broken when. having seen
his mistress follow his advice and make
her escape, he found himself In spite
of all unable to Join her In the pursuit
OF the. escaping tnlef VINO had their
coin. The grasp of Sachio upon him
did not relax. and now Others re-en-
forced their leader. In moment
Rofeau had been reduced to as passive
recently mad left another who had un-
dertaken the dangerous quest OF the
kings coin. Finding himself helpless.
at leneth ne relaxed his tense muscles
ceased to heave and thrust, composed
himself as the athlete does who knows
there Is continued struggle ahead OF
him. reserving his powers for the mo-
ment of the greater need,
"Ah. we'll msssieurs" he said grim