The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-11-12

1 uOt6Q LllGm oil. IL uOI6u dlSO LIZ
glitter of bit of metal which seemed
| not portion of discarded accouter
ments. He stopped and picked it up
| 1t was a silver. cigarette case, evi
| IDENTIFY of value and evidently aban
doned by some of the Grahoffen forces
who so recently had left the place
| Count Frederick examined it curious
! ly,. opened it.
4 Within the lid there was written q
little inscription which gave him q
start. ITO Count Sachio, our well
beloved, for deeds of valor From his
| king"
49," exclaimed Frederick, $50 then
so then! He was here but now. And
| look" Not far away he saw the
prints of sharp-heeled boots in the
broken soil. He caught up a little
bit of filmy lace-a kerchief whose
perfume was familiar to him. He saw
against the bark of a nearby tree a
fragment of like lace, torn perhaps
in some struggle.
Yes, she was here"
Agitated, he fastened once more
now to the palace door. He demand
ed of all whom he met where last they
had seen the young American, but
they could give no intelligent replies.
Let me tell you, Them said Count
Frederick in a flash of anger, since
you cannot learn for me. She has
gone to Grahoffen-as a prisoner. Go
there then, follow Sachio, as 1 have
already ordered. The young Ameri-
can without question has been taken
prisoner. We must rescue her. We
must do that for every reason in the
world-for her own safety and our
own
And for my own peace of mind"
he added soto voce, as, haggard, he
turned away to find such relief as he
could in the countless duties which
now were to devo1ve upon him amid
the wreck of a government and the
ruin of a city.
Although the forces of the king of
Grahoffen had been worsted in STRAIT
egg and had given their parole in or
der to save their lives in the flooded
chambers of the dungeon levels, the
kingdom itself, its ruler and it's lead
ing men seemed to feel little of the
terror common with those actually de-
feated. Upon the contrary, old Cor
tislaw and his mobiles were victims not
so much of terror as chagrin. Neither
were they disposed too scrupulously
to observe their own p1ighted word,
which had purchased life and liberty.
Passing from the limits of the be-
leaguered capitol, they did not scorn
to take such loot as lay at hand, or
to carry with them such prisoners as
pleased them. Among these latter it |
CHANGED that they had one more pris.
oner whose freedom might much have
altered the course of events in this
little drama.
Had Roleau, the doughty servant of
Kitty Gray, been on hand at the time
If the capitulation of the Grahoffen
orces, no doubt he would have kept
10 close to his mistress as to guard
against any such sudden surprise as
lad now left her at the mercy of her
But Roleau, prisoner to
srahoffen, had no knowledge of any
f the late stirring events, nor any
of the whereabouts of his
Mistress.
The windows of the cell in which
.oleau had been confined faced upon
he corridor sometimes used by the
etainers of the palace, less frequent
: by those persons of greater impor-
lnce. Roleau heard footsteps now,
oices, the confusion of large party | ,
irving. He stepped close to the
ars of his cell, pressed his face out, ,
, that he might see. Upon his fea- ,
Tres any who had observed must ,
ave seen Joy, exultation. For, though !
mself prisoner, Roleau had seen :
wv, down below there, the form of g
at mistress whom he served!
But Roleau was wise. He did not
y out. He did not shout in sudden
Getting, as she passed among his cap
rs. : Only he stood close and hoped :.
at she would look up. :
She did look up, and saw him stand },
g there, and guessed his reason for :,
ence-saw his sudden finger on lip
manding silence from herself as >,
Ill. A flash of intelligence passed
ce more between the two.
Well, we'll, my pretty one" tainted
chic. welcome once more to our
rtals; and may you bide with US
lger this time than last" @,
We shall see," was her retort fo
5achio did not answer, but grimly W
her on into the presence of King hi
rtislaw himself. Cortislaw was still az
ious in his chagrin at the defeat of al
plans. OF
So, again, mademoiselle!" said he, OF
his gray beard curled in his evil tn
lie. 1--WE have you once more. Be- IA
re us, it is the last time. You shall ce
escape again. Why is she here,
,hio?" he demanded-"How did you po
g herr" stl
| found her as an angel disdaining tn,
earth, your majesty" laughed Sa- thu
}, "spurning the ground lin short, me
J, as she supposed, high in the thu