The Washington times., 1915-08-22

The voice Of Count Fred
erick was agitated For
once he had met a situation sufficient
10 snake him from hisfcalm.
Kitty Gray made no answer. as she
shrank back, the coin tightly clasped
IN her hand. She cast on him q look
so full Of womanly anger as might
nave scorched him-an anger now de-
void of fear. Gagged. trapped, left with
out resource, helpless in the hands of
her enemy. still she seemed deadlier
than that enemy now. She was like
any weak creature which, finding itself
cut off from liberty grow barren Of
fear and full only Of desperate resent
ment
viii you not?" The mans voice had
IN 1t now something almost of pleading.
Count Frederick felt something OF
shame at his own part in this.
No" she answered at length, her
own voice low and even,. painting out
the words. No. / will not Come and
take 1t from me II you dare. You have
done that once. why not again?"
ture, his face red In chagrin over the
justice Of her taunt.
You remember that?" said he.
what remains? Must l be yet more
tuoe ,ho WI win you? It Is not that l like
the part, Mademoisselle: be sure Of
mat. 1t was not myself but my man
time" ''4o'
He is still your man. You yourself
ana ana are ,r wing TO persecute a woman
than he 'e'
Suppose I am not. then. Does it
hN took aoa as though you would gain much
- 10 20
me. / swear it Is more than / Thought
It ever would be. 1t Is life and death
for me, and more than that, Made
me and an ambition such as that: /
would repay you hundredfold in any
way you needed. If you would but lis
ten to reason. But perhaps a woman
does not know the word for reason"
word, and that is hate for You! When
my chance comes / shall still remem-
Der that. In turn. l will put you be-
hind, hind the bars If ever the opportunity
Count Frederick smiled grimly.
There is :, comfort in that word. made
!eaden-eyed Indifference, at least. But
as for me. I do not hate you. neither
am l indifferent toward you. I only
at least, mademoiselle. try only to
,hink of the coin and what 1t means
20 me-"
would have gone to you long age II
YOU ever owned it you would own 1t
now.'
A sudden change came over the face
of the nobleman as he caught the con-
iction in these words. They touched
FOR him some consciousness long left
nawakcned
What do you mean?" he asked. in
=. low voice. What is 1t that you
mean when you say that?"
Just what l have said This coin
moves. evades, does 1t not? 1t Is here
and there; it was yours and his and
is mine again. Always 1t comes around
again to me. Is 1t not so? IT comes
20 me again. Why Because 1t knows
t is safe with me-, and nowhere else!
array. Think you 1t would find any of
hose things with you?" ,,
What do YOU mean HIS voice sui
vas low, intent, eager.
When Frederick. Count of Gretzhoffnn
deserves this coin: when he earns It:
when he gains title by virtue Of right
thoughts. and deeds. then perhaps II
This coin" she held it now out before
her in her hand. 'it will come eventu.
ally to that place where 1t belongs. II
is seeking for that. place now Tn, The
dom and justice sSld liberty. And
now you ask me why l cling to It: why
il clingS to me. ! suppose IL Is because
something impcls me, compels me 10 dc
What have done"
Count Fdererick stood gazing at her
for a time meditatively. You say that
o me?" said he. as though in soliloquy
as you stand there helpless?'
But | am not at all hopeless. MY
people do not despair: we never stop
Your people? I know little OF them
Hadcmoiselle. A great people? I must
,"arn more of them"
You are learning something now
20 you think l fear you? No, even no"
do not. This coin gives me courage
feel it burn in nv hand. 1t talks to
me. even now. Hope? Why. yes, | an
obliged to hope. / have escaped from as
difficult adventure as this. My owr
GRAND Is gone and past. forgotten long
ago. AS you say, that would not be
large enough to induce me to take such
risks: that would not inspire me Il
such delay and trouble, such danger
But | am here, monsieur; ! cannot say
how or why. to SEQ
ITO see what. mademoiselle? What
il it that you seek?"
ITO see Justice done. l do not know
why ! should say that. but I do say
il. Monsieur prefers to stand between
me and that ambition of my own; ht
prefers to keep me behind bars. He
lacks courage TO meet even a woman
face to face. So. then, at least yol
shall know what ] think of your man
illness, For the rest. / wait"
And TO wait she appeared ready