Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-10-01

Gretzhofon. But since he was IN
guided. how could he know when Of
length he was clos0 10 the door which
barred him from that secretg
He did find a closed door. IN part
of the subterranean chambers not yet
flooded by the waters OF the moat
He could not end entrance-the door
was locked-ho had no time to sock
for any key. Looking about him hast.
lily, he saw only upon the floor a scrap
of paper. an old. stained. charred. dis.
membered piece OF parchment. left
there by whose hand he could not
guess. CurlOusly regarding Il. he
picked Il up TO examine II more closely.
IL bore some ancient inscription which
he could but IN docipher-an inscrip-
tion In Latin. Count Sachio cudgeied
his wits to bring to his aid such store
of knowledge OF dead languages as
once was his I'm his college days. Hur
ried az he was. and disjointedNas the
inscription was, he could make but
little OF IL.
by the rood" exclaimed he. here
is something strange ercugh- IA parch.
ment from God knows whers. by God
knows whom. IL says something
about king or an heir TO a kingdom
lit says something about an abduc.
tion. Why. here we come dpon pret.
~ story. I'll warrant half my chance
OF reward In this war this paper has
something TO do with the secret OF
Gretzhofen. At least win take It
with me-"
He thrust it into his pocket and hur-
ried on into the open to Join his floe-
ing comrades. Even as those left be-
hind in the palace began to take coun.
sci Of restoring some order after the
ruin which had been wrought. Count
Sachio. I'm possession OF one more un.
finished secret. was outside the walls
As he passed from the front OF tho
palace. he came directly in the line
OF vision OF Kitty. who was watching
the retreat OF the Grahofen forces
Something in Sachios haste. his air
OF uncertainty witRal. attracted her ct
tention.
I'm sure" said she to herself,
''there In some mischief I'm his mind.
Az a rule 1t has been safe to follow
yonder rascal will do so now" And
that she did.
Saohio fastened out through the pal
ace grounds. bound for some path
which without question was familiar
TO him, and which now he fancied
would offer him quick egress from a
situation so lacking in attractions.
In .Sachio's mind was but ono
thought lie was oogitating even as
he fed upon the contents of the pa.
per in his pocket. Half he drew 1t
out as he fastened. "A king" said
he-"abducted; who was he? What
was his age-what king? 'Tis indeed
a cunning plot to vex my soul yet
further"
In Kittys mind, as she followed him
with her eyes. and presently followed
him In person, there was no inkling
of this problem which was troubling
good Count Sachio. What concerned
he's was some indefinite feeling that
she must keep him in sight. Once
more her instinct proved of service.
Count Sachio passed among the
shrubbery of the nlace. eager to find
such shelter as he might-concealme
which would offer ESn safety and an
opportunity to examine yet more thor.
oughly this curious bit Of paper which
he had safe in his pocket lie thrust
this way and that. A button of his
,s5at entangled IN the branch of a
shrub. He detached it hastily and
passed on. AS he did so. he did not
notice that his cherished bit OF paper
left his pocket and fell upon the
ground. Trust eyes as keen as Kitty's
to note this incident of his flight An
instant later she had pounced upon it
and was herself hurrying for conceal.
ment. Once more her wits We're at
swords point with those of the dough.
tiest of her foes.
Kitty herself, glancing hastily at that
paper. could make no more OF 1t than
had Sachio. "What can It mean?'
thought she. But whatever 1t meant,
of one thing she was sure-Count
Sachio would return for II.
She had not long to wait to find this
suspicion confirmed. Soon she heard
him hurrying back-saw him bending
over the place where he last had been
sure OF the possession of the paper
saw him look about here and there
hastily, hurriedly. eagerly. Now In
desd she was confirmed in her own
suspicious.
AHA, Count Sachio," said she to her
self. "once more have something
which you covet"
She had occasion to find once more
that the possession of something Count
Sachio coveted carried with it GER
tain danger to the possessor.
Looking this way and that for some
place OF safety, Kitty saw thiclsly-
branching tree which TO her notion
might offer a shelter. Without hest
tation she climbed up band over hand,