The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-09-17
CHAPTER XXI.
Again In Gretzhoffen.

| V86'b ~ ~ SA~-'tSttSbs
| Pursuit? Kitty laughed at the
thought as she felt under her the
strong pulse of the great machine
She had taken the drivers seat, and
as the car was of left-hand drive, for
| the time she had no opportunity to
look into the tonneau, had she liked.
Listening to the swift purr Of the
smooth motor, she did not at first
| hear the sound of chuckling laugh
back of her in the cara chuckle
which at length broke out into a
| hearty gust of laughter.
She turned her eyes swiftly at risk
of capsizing the car-and found her.
self gazing directly into the face of
the man whom of all others she would
most have preferred to see.
Even now he came crawling across
the top of the seat to join her in the
front of the car.
'Roleaui" she exclaimed, 'Is it in
deed you? Are you always to be the
deus ex machina in all my difficulties
literally you are that nowi"
II do not know what you mean by
that, excellency," said Roleau, as he
took the steering wheel from her, "but
/ have been in this machine for some
time. | was satisfied that did you es-
cape from the palace you would need
means of getting away. All need
ed to do was to wait patiently. So you
have come. AS soon as / could make
my own escape 1 secured this cara
good one-and / followed. 1t was very
simple, as you see."
eat least near squeak this time,
Roleau," said Kitty. They never
meant for me to escape
"They do not mean it now, excel |
lency," said Roleau, nodding behind |
him, where he knew pursuit even now
was beginning. 81 will drive now as
have never driven before. TITS a
sweet engine, and it rides well. They
will drive fast who follow us"
All of which was so literally true
hat before long the desert miles once
more had sped beneath them and Kit
y found herself again in the city
she was more than ever disposed to
,all her home. They found entrance
o the Ritz hotel at the rear door, in
new of their own travelstained con-
lition.
"Excellency," said the grieved and
aimed clerk, when at length she made
Ter way to the desk, 81 was on the
oint of removing your belongings and
making other arrangements for your
partments."
"By what right?" demanded Kitty
They are paid for in advance-why
hould they not be ready for me when
Gomez"
"But we did not hear when you
-ould return"
There are many things one does
OF hear-perhaps you may hear very
tile of my own business and my
ans. pay for service here. Please
ire for me, therefore, and my man
e both are tired"
"You have been inquired for in your 9
,sence, excellency. The Count Fred :.
lex of Gretzhoffen-" -
Indeed, and what could he want?" u
"He has been here twice, excellency. u
It yesterday he. came the last time.
2 said he came on message of the y
which gave me warrant for what !"
asked" a
''And what was that?" d
Access to your apartments. He ~
i'd it was the command of the king" &c
And you dared give him such &C
$50" al
we dared not do less, excellency. - -
was most courteous in one way -
1ed many questions regarding your ~ ~
f; but as to search of your apart -
nts he made none, or next to none.
seemed to care for nothing that he
", save one little picture, a portrait io'
Kitty remained but briefly in her
n rooms. She took a swift glance
,ut. Everything seemed in place, 10
en- as she had left it-no search ap-
emily had been made of any of the ~
iIets or drawers. There had been 10
little picture-one OF herself-left az
the dressing table. 1t was gonei ine
. missed nothing else. -