The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-08
eleventh INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxx.
The Virtue of Necessity.

The Virtue of Necessity.
"He is killed." cried Kitty Gray, al
she stood, still uncertain as to the re
suit of Count Frederick's desperate
leap toward the moving train. Il can
not look!"
But presently she did look-both she
and Roleau passing not forward on the
train but to the rear of the car which
they occupied. Amazed, they saw
Count Frederick struggling to his feet
Now, Roleau," she cried, 1--WE must
be quick! If the count has taken this
desperate chance it was for some des
perate purpose back of it. He knows
about the coin-we must get it before
he does, and that means at once"
"How shall that be done, excel.
lency?" said Roleau, puzzled for just a
moment.
Il have it," said Kitty, as they hur-
ried deeper into the car that they
might not be seen by Count Frederick.
wait. l will send message to him
we will ask him to walk into our
parlor.''
She seated herself for a moment
and hastily wrote few lines on page
of her note book, smiling as she did
SO.
"Tiens!" she laughed. II am now
a leader in Grahoffen diplomacy. Does
not my writing seem formal?"
I'VE send it forward by the guard?"
Eyes, Roleau, get him quick-give
him this money-we will wait here in
the drawing room near to the front
door of our car. The guard must not
tell him who we are"
But even as they waited, intent on
the success of this somewhat trans
parent ruse, Kitty heard the step of
the guard behind her, and turned. Yes,
Bartel of Grahoffen was with him, a
puzzled expression on his face, the
note still in his hand.
"It was this lady sent me, monsieur"
explained the guard, and, witnessing
the stiff surprise of all concerned, was
willing enough to step aside and leave
explanation to others.
Indeed" said Bartel-and himself
would have been equally glad to es-
cape, for there was no one in the world
whom he less expected or less desired
to see than this young American who
now faced him smiling.
"You here?-How can it be possible,
mademoiselle?' said he. did you fall
from the SKYE"
AS he spoke any shrewd pickpocket |
would have known in which pocket he |
had concealed the coin; for uncon-
scious1y his hand dropped over it.
"Others also!" smiled Kitty Gray,
and pointed through the rear window
of the car to the fiat on which Count
Frederick stood. He even now was
turning to pass forward into the
train.
An exclamation passed from Barriers
lips. Heaven protect u.s." said he,
1.-THE thing is bewitched!"
He turned and disappeared once
more in the forward part of the train.
For a moment Kitty thought OF follow
ing him, but concluded that he would
make no attempt to conceal the coin.
Since he was SO nearly at his destina-'
ton he would continue to keep 1t on
his person. Therefore she turned to
the rear OF the car.
Monsieur le Comte Frederick" she
exclaimed now, greeting the tall flgure
which approached her. "YOu come I'M
announced"
Count Frederick gazed at her for a {
in somewhat open admiration.
{of< co{d he of "WnV | r
should we make any three-cornered
fight Of this at moment such as this,
when SO much is at stake? Why should
We not unite against yonder man, G
common enemy, who has what we both r
lesire? Beyond belief we are lucky '
hat we are both here alive. Yonder 6
nan has the coin-I know that as t
veil as you do. In half an hour he
will be free. Once in Grahoffen with t
he coin, he may wave farewell to 10
md all our hopes. Come, mademot- p
ellie, shall we be enemies or allies?
lou are wise enough to see what l r.
mean" n
Eyes! And l suppose you to be g.
portsman enough to play fair with Il
IS at least. You have not always G.
one So" Il
THAT" said Count Frederick slow IL
'. the red blood mantling his dark =
kin, sis the bitterest cut have known 81
q all my life. have asked your for
iyeness before now-have told you 1t 10
yas my man alone who offered you pl
l. On the contrary, m
ave admired your own courage and e
all the way through.
seems to me you we'll have evened a,
nv oifense ever gave to you" g
AT least" said she, "one good turn CO
eserves another, and We have little