The Washington times., 1915-10-03
FIFTEENTH INsTALLMENT.
CHAPTER LVI.
.HE wide wings OF the aircraft

"HE wide wings OF the aircraft
rose gracefully and steadily
from the perilous dip It had
made almost to the surface OF
the sea. Under the steady hand OF the
pilot II swung up and around and head
ed back toward the shore.
Below them now lay the towers Of
Gretzhoffen. The roar OF the motor
made conversation impossible. but the
three occupants Of the car looked at
one another happily. Roieau. wet and
weary. but smiling. had curled himself
down a. best he could. and accepted
this last phase OF his adventure with
his usual philosophy.
To the relief Of all three, at length
they saw the green shores Of Gretzhoffer
waterfront rising up to meet them. The
aeroplane. skiiifully handled. spiraled
gracefully down. Safe at length. they
stepped from the car. Frederick and
Kitty faced each other.
Are we then at the end Of our
perils?" asked Kitty. Dare we believe
It.? am weary with It ALL scarce
know now whether I am not In some
harassing dream. Are we then safe
again.
Let us hope It. mademoiseIle." said
Count Frederick.
But stay" said he. How can we
know what may have transpired at the
palace In our absence? Only one thing
Is to be depended upon. and that Is tina,
sachio viii not relent. He will have
ssgestH% ss%s H%''s on fo0'-A' will not admit A''
erick. and soc. After what we have
endured why trouble .overmuch regard.
ing what fate may have In addition;
ha nd OF fate itself. Even I am Of thu
mind that our little fears do not In
the least alter the plans Of the gods re-
20 rdins U.s."
man said Kitty. smiling.
brave. Mademoiselle' Would that
might find some other merit in yo'u
eyos-and would ! might blot out m,
duct have shown toward you
This is no time for such matters
Monsieur. Let us hasten" She spck'
composedly. and even then was turn
Roleau. apart at n respectfm distance
| for the time made no attempt to III
trude. Count Frederick and Kitty hur
ried of toward the plaza In front of th'
| been the soenc Of the desperate en-
counter between the two armies. A Ger
| tain peace had reigned there but now
vet 1t had been but the peace Of Hy
haustion. The army Of Grahoffen ha
dnuntless minds its retreat had beel
checked. With them defeat was but
| relative term. a temporary condition
Even now they had summoned up thci
quished had set on foot a counter-nt
| tack acRinst the Gapitai Of their recent
4 ly victorious foe.
AS they advanced they found tn
plaza once more flled with armed mrr
aggressive. BY stanlth now. rapid
ana without the sound OF MARTA
music. they. had stolen Into the ur
guarded portion Of the city. The oour
age Of despair perhaps y an'mated a thes
dence and not despair seemed to rul
| among them as they Rathered In fror
Of the palace which still SO grimly hel
its ancient secrets.
ss this scene broke upon their gaze
1--WE are aione-our forces are sea,
tered-they nre upon MS again In thor
sands. We rnust tsks refuge In tn
paiase-,only IN It's hidcen fecesses ca
Carefully as might be. and as quick
ly, they gained access once more
the beleaguered palace or Gretzhoi
fen. In the anteroom they met non
less than Michael: the puppet kin
himself, He was the image of. terrc
now. and willing to babbie to any {
what shall we do? Where sha
we go?" he exclaimed almost in de.
pair "They are at us again-the
have no mercy on us-they do nj
stay defeated. my dear count. Yof
der Sachio does not relent-he wi
have our hearts blood. II Is terribl
Where shall we fly from him."
: Much OF these broken utteranc.
had truth In them. The Grahoffe
troopS were indeed in possession
tho central defenses OF the town. T
J virtue OF the magic of persisten,
and speed Of action Count Sach
hinIself once more had won TO Il
head Of his troops. From some pla,