The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-19
CONTINUED from Yesterday

alGGQSEy LauuOLl, tie sd"'S SO ""-
CALAMITY freed her and escorted EeE
10 the c!ty's gates but q short tine
before. She was woman enough 10
know the impression she had made on
the bandit chieE-a3d shrewd enough
also to hit upon him as IN ally IN her
own plans. Therefore, IS Kitty rode
now-not SO fast as net 70 Leave a5u2'
dant bits OF paper on the trail so that
Roleau might be able to track hertz
was no towards any citadel OF the Ia"
mot to Gretzhoffen town !tse!f-blt
towards tie capital Of lack OF law;
the rendezvous Of the ragged ban
ditti Of the desert.
They sat, these rude and careless
folk, Ill clad, ragged, yet not IL COZ
tent, under the ~shelter!ng rocks which.
made their lair or den on the crosS'
road in the neutral lands. Cooking,
eating. drinking. they spent the time
as persons OF no more mentality than
theirs would spend it-jokiag. con
Yersing, talking OF what they had done.
Eaporing Of what they were about TO
do. Most prominently in their minds
seemed to linger the memory OF theiT
little expedition in which they had
taken prisoner the Count Frederick
and the beautiful young American.
And the chief let that prize go!"
erumbled ore. out OF the whole en-
terprise we got nothing. absolutely
nothing. What the count gave US
would not have made two lire apiece.
divided fairly among u band. The
main pr!ze-the young wonan-we
got nothing for her whatever. AID
yet, what a chance for ranson!"
"Such a chance does o come Oft
en-. But | wonder where the chief
himself is tonight. Ard are the pick
cts out down the road? IN these times
we cannot be too careful. for they say
that between the two kingdoms war
may come, and II SO It would be but
our luck for one OF the armies to
ask Us to recruit with them"
go. you fellows. v OF you" in
structed one who seemed to be some
Sort OF lieutenant. Step out and
Scout down the road a bit"
It was not long after this that the
men left at the rendezvous heard in
the darkness a woman's scream.
With this came the laughing shout o:
their comrades.
"Ho, brothers," cried the ru4Gan who
held Kitty in his arns-"By the Lord,
It's the same!-'tis the young Amer
: fcen highness whom We lost"
Loose ne! Let ne free" cried
Kitty vehemently-"I am TO you Tor
help. I trusted IN you. I an IN need
and I ask you gentlemen to be n
friends"
What, your friends" They laughed
loudly at this.
Eyes, your leader knows me-do you
not remember low he took US captive
the other day? He told ne then il I
needed aid to count OF him. Does ono
Of your brotherhood speak falsely"
They fell back from her now re.
specially, impressed IN part By what
she said, and in part by the fear that
they might offend their leader. This
latter fear was we'll placed. FOR even
now they heard the sounds Of rapid
hoofbeats.
Hist" exclaimed one. "Landoz!-it
Is very likely he"
And it was he. the man whom they
all respected through their fears. He
flung himself from his horse now and
strobe into the lighted circle.
What now, fellows" exclaimed he,
as he caught sight OF the young won-
an standing there. disheveled, pale.
do you not know this eZcellency?
What, would you insult herr"
Il came hithe- for help" exclaimed
Kitty. addressing him with such ap-
peal in her eyes as any man would
have found 1t difficult to resist. 4
am in need-1 am IL pursuit OF Z thief
and -
And yen ask a thief to catch a
theft" The bandit ch!efta:n smiled
srimly.
NO, not IN the Ieast-I do not call
you 30. you brothers Of the desert.
You yourself. Captain Landozi, told ne
to come to you II I needed help. Well.
/ need It now, tonight, this
very moment! am all alone.
! need conduct to GretZho@en
town. / am convinced that the man
who robbed me fed thither. What,
would you allow one to escape who
would rob 4 woman"
NO" exclaimed LandozI. That is
not U trade. It IS our profession
that we take only from the rich; ard
we do not side with those who rob the
weak. Exceliency. my wcrd IS ny
word. You come to US for aid. AID We
should be barren Of all honor did We
not give you aid. What can We CO.,"
ride with me-" exclaimed Kitty.
"Yourself-two or three men-sAow
me the way from here to GretzEofeo.
, Shield me against any other possible
riders who may not be Of your broth
ehrood. Is It agreed
at is Agreed" exclaimed Lardo2i,
and with small discussion they soon
vere IN the saddle ugain-Landozi.
two or three Of his stoutest men and
Kitty; and once more she fe.; the
rueh OF the wind against rer cheek,