The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-31
SEVENTH INSTALLMENT
Divided.
CHAPTER XIV.

As Kitty approached the little room
OF the counts palace-whlch before
now had proved to be something OF
storm center in the affairs of the Gretz-
hoffen coin-there came to her the
conviction that there might be others
beside herself who would have some
lnkling as to the whereabouts OF the
missing portion of the coin, and VINO
might therefore arrive upon the scene
at much the same time as that OF her
own visit. She was not altogether
burprised at the sudden interruption
of her labors, just at the moment OF
her success.
AS she saw herself the object OF
poised weapon, she swerVed aside IN
stinctiyely-called out instinctively for
help.
"Roleau!" she exclaimed, for, wom-
Rnlike, she had learned the value OF
a strong mans arm, and her FIRST
thought was Of the faithful servant
who so strangely had attached him
self to her own varying fortunes. And
Roleau came fastening from his
watching place outside the door.
He saw the little room occupied by
% q man-who now suddenly had en-
tered-aaa who menaced Kitty, so
that, to save her life as she supposed,
she was on the point OF surrendering
70 him both pieces OF the coin. The
sight of his mistress In danger was
DaIn CUSTOM
AIRY battle cry he plunged Immediately
into the conflict, careless OF the threat
ening weapon. In the melee the two
half coins both were dropped upon the
floor.
Even now the ruling impulse OF Kit
ty did not quite forsake her. She
stopped and regalned one OF the half
coins, but the struggling men, shifting
here and there In the room, kept her
from securing the other. In the blind
Instinct for escape she fed now to
the open hall. taking that direction
which led back from the front OF the
building.
Roleau heard her pass, and could
not Join her in filght-but he heard
her give a cry Of alarm whose cause
he could only guess. His energies we're
fully occupied by the combat with this
stranger-whom now he saw to be one
of Count Sachio's men. He had noted
him at the hunting lodge, He himself
had not time to reason as to the pres
ence of this new factor In the general
imbrogllo but at last, able to bring
bis own weapons into play, he stayed
the Issue for time. They both had
time to recognize one another as they
stood, the one as much batiled as the
other and neither quite comprehend
ing what the other was doing here.
Very naturally the sounds of all this
confusion could not be concealed. The
scream OF woman had rung widely
through the halls, and used as they
were to extraordinary circumstances
hereabouts, the servants could not fall
to Investigate the cause Of this. They
FASTENED in the direction Of the up
roar, but their advance was stayed by
the command OF the master Of the
palace himself
The men in the room, as they
paused for breathing space, heard a
STEADY football advancing to the door,
heard the calm voice Of Count Fred
erick himself.
Gentlemen"
The intruders, whatever the errand
OF each, took their eyes from one an
other and turned now, recognizing yet
another man who scarce had come In
friendship.
"You honor me greatly, gentlemen,
said Count Frederick with his usual
GOODNESS in any extraordinary situa
ton. But might ask why you care
thus to disarrange my apartment
Had known your own curiosity re
garding 1t, might have asked some
of my servants to assist you in {
search more orderly"
IL was sent back by my master" be
gan the btranger-who was none othe
than Bartel, the late successor to Ru
dolph in Count Sachio's good graces
''He had left certain of his belong
Ings-some silver cases Of the toilet
Monsieur le Comte--he did not troubl
to ask you about them, and now n
sent me-"
Indeed That is most plausible
But why seek for them in my rooms
when his quarters were in quite ar
other part of the palace, my dear sir?
"As to that" replied the other wit
calm effroutery, 81 cannot say. onl
came here because the servants toll
me that this was the room OF COURSE
u there has been any mistake"
N~~N~O~N~.~-~~.N~~-~-O~
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