The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-12-03


tllelr den for stolen ~soods-yos, yes. !
know. hut dare you go with me7"
Il must dare H." said Kitty firmly.
Perhaps my friends will follow me-
: do not know-but oven n not, you
and I must get back what he has sto.
len from me-"
And what was II, e~xcellency7"
EMO mere than n broken bit OF coin.
captain, OF value TO none as II is now,
N great value to me provided ! can
attain II and the other half"
"YOu need say not more. The er-
rand is enough to interest me-be-
now / shall have that fellow
Blake where ! have longed to find him
lie shall not ride with us again. But
come" he added.
They found their way through the
darkening streets IN the purlieus Of
G~retzhunen town. Under the leader.
ship OF the chieftaln they threaded
street after street. alley after alley.
until at length their party descended
into a steep gully In a less important
portion 81 the city. A faint light
showed through the chinks Of a wall
which seemed to be the facing Of a
bank, but which really concealed some
sort Of den within.
"Yunder. e~xcelle1cy." whispered
landed, Us the place where they hole
up-liNc rats in a sewer-and they
have GO more prInciples-they are
worthy Of no more Come, my men,
close In
He pushed against the door round
whicl shone the CLEANS OF light. and
hastcu,d into n sort Of p%assageway.
Thei 'utry attracted no attention for
the time.
Oriy two Of the gang remained, the
other. having departed on one errand
or Other Of their own. When Kitty
and rr companion looked through the
little window, which gave in upon the
recefs under the blum, they saw sit.
Ting close TO the table two men
BLAKE. the renegade, and another of
tcctel Blakcs hatd lying upon the
tablo-and neal 10 the obi1Ct which
she slught-the missing coin!
"Quigk," whispered Landozl, n fs
he spoke he broke into the room.
without hesitation he flung himself
upon blake, and Kitty. wishing to be
OF service. and finding no better
means, caught up an empty bottle
which stood near and dealt so inter
esting a blow upon the head OF the
remaining rufian as to put him GU; ol
the combat for the time. An instant
later ahe had caught from the table
The coveted coin.
Let him go, Landozi - quick
Come! I have got H." she exclaimed
And an instant later she was in tho
passaEeway once more.
She had almost made her way out
into the open. when In the semIdark
ness she felt a strong hand clutch a
her wrist-hcRrd a low laugh at he
ear.
"Roleaul" she cried aloud.
NO, not Roleau." said a voice 81.
knew well ~enough-the voice of tn
] Count Frederick.
$50. you have t.! Very we'll. elm
TO II. then-but don't drop il. To pre-
vent that l will ever hold your han,
: IN mine"
"You brute!" exclaimed Kitty, sot
y bling now in the intensity of her ENC
tious-"after all | have done TO &c
: it-and 1t is mine!"
why argue II. my dear younl
lady?" exclaimed Count Frederick. d"
have told you must have it. ! regre
| as much as you that l must disturb
: you"
l Release me-let me go!"
I Painting, she looked up at him in tn
? half light. What she saw was a fac
I grim and full OF purpOse-a face whicl
( It seemed to her she would Away
| hatc-but in which at least there wa
| no trace OF any fear.
Come" he said, and flung an arr
about her waist as he stepped towar
the open. Let Roleau fend for him
G self am satisfied with what | hay
Z now"
} An instant later he halted. FroT
9 what sounds he heard at the rear, h
{ knew escape was cut on there. An
now c~rowding IN at the entrance c
the main gallery in which they stool
there came yet others Of the thieves
band. barring exit there as well.
i Count Frederick, shielding Kilt!
stood at bay.