Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-09-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
Means to an End.

Kitty. left alone once more, found
herself in better heart than she had
been but now. At least, she had seen
Roleau-had found once more proof
of his faithfulness and his efficiency.
Surely he would help her to escape yet
again. And as for Sachio-better he.
of whom she knew something, than a
stranger of whom she knew nothing
at all. OF late despair had been knock
ing at her heart In such fashion that
the summons OF opportunity found no
hearing. but now she began to plan
| once more.
She sought to study the exits of the
apartment in which she found herself
There were two doors, so it seemed,
both fastened. She pushed strongly
at one; it opened before her. She
stood once more face to face with
Count Sachio. the hooking conspira-
tor who had of late had so much to
do with her own misfortunes.
"Mademoiselle!" said he, Il am so
pleased"
For myself" rejoined Kitty indig.
nantly, Il was never so much dis.
| pleased as / am now. So the gentle
men of this country In this way show
| their quality-in their treatment OF
women? l compliment you"
"Your words are at least better than
your absence, mademoiselle-I like
neither"
And what of me? What shall |
say of man who treats me as a Grim
inal? Nay, a criminal would be treat
| ed better in my country-he would
have trial. There would be process
of law, observance of the law. Is the
| habeas corpus writ thing unknown
| in this country-have the people never
yet wrung that right from the hands
of tyrants? In my country there are
some recourses which any citizen may
have"
Your own country? Why did you
| ever leave it, mademoiselle?
THE reasons concern me alone, sir. .
Indeed, you mistake-they do not
concern you alone. We are many OF US
in this country also concerned with
them. We would that you never had
come from America. There are many
reasons moving to that. And, indeed,
we even ask your return to your own
country"
$50, then, it was your message to
me that l got? Most melodramatic
of you, Count Sachio-but by what
right do you demand my return?"
There are some large rights,
mademoiselle. which need small ex.
PLANTATION"
"But which allow you to hinder me
In the performance of my own duties
to ask me to be unfaithful to my en-
ployers? Why, you even ask me to
deceive the public--to present coun-
terfeit-to pretend that l have done
what l have not done"
80? And you cannot take such
good advice?"
tend. to counterfeit-those are attrib-
utes of your kingdom. not of my own
country, America. In my country we
have better standards-men and WON
en- alike-for which / heartily am
glad"
"You haye q singing tongue. ma
demoiselle," said Count Sachio, red un-
der his swarthy skin. Perhaps 1t will
grow milder If left unused. / shall
leave you here-until you are willing
to say you are done with Gretzhoffen
and ready to return to your own coun-
try. This land, mademoiselle, can
keep its own secrets-it could even
close over the secret OF the disappear
ance Of young woman--and leave
her fate mystery. ! trust that you
will reconcider what you have said"
A moment and he had left her once
more. Before he passed through the
door she glanced beyond. The room
was occupied. apparently, by his
friends-escape on that side was i'm
possible.
The other door still remained fas-
tened. Kitty turned to it with bur-
glarious intent-us1ng an art learned
when she was schoolgirl. With no
better instrument than hairpin, she
had seen wonders done at opening
locks.
Her brisk interchange OF compli
ments with Count Sachio had set her
pulses stirring once more. She want
ed to get out-she wanted to escape,
and she proposed to escape. Once
more free, she admitted to herself, she
would be willing enough to take the
advice which but now she had
scorned-willing enough to take ship
back home, to see the familiar sky
line of her own city. to find her own
place back in the smoky and grimy
city. her own place in the hum and
grind Of the old newspaper How
good it would seem to her now to see
the faces of the local room. They
might chaff her all they liked. Yes,
she would go back home.
And now. with schoolgirl finesse in
the employment of the small instru-
ment at her disposal, she succeeded
in her burglary. She felt the lock turn
at last-felt 1t give-saw that she
could open the door. She did open
it-and closed 1t again.
Back of her she heard once more
the creak of the other door as 1t
opened. She turned-to encounter
once more the figure of Count Sachio.
He smiled at her as once more he
entered unannounced
ITO RE CONTrNTTED1