Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-07-02


sharp exclamation. ~riere come two
riding. a man and a woman. swear.
| believe Il Ia the two, both come to
life againi
They advanced now more slowly
and pulled up az the foot OF little
ravinc. where a cross trail came In
from the right, leading no one knew
where. out into No Mans Land be-
tween tha two kingdoms Of Grctahof-
fen ard C-ahoffcn. Esre the degres-
sion concealed them and they awaited
the arrival OF the two travellers.
That came In due course. but with
II almost synchronously yet other
events. A sound Of shouting became
audible. TO the right. along curving
cross-road OF the desert. there came
into view, riding at top speed. whoop.
ing aloud as they spurrod forward. a
ragged band OF drunken ruillans--
none less than a party Of the banditu
which In those somewhat lawlcss days
infested this open and littlotravelod
region. a sort OF No Mans Land.
Come. your money--your valu-
ablesl" exclaimed the leader OF these
ruflians. "You know me? am Ian
dozi. chief OF the brotherhood My
men like work none too well. and We
must eat and drink Your money.
please--or we will take It whether or
not YOU please"
Contemptuously. Count Frederick
reached into his pockets and flung
upon the ground before them such
valuables as he had.
The bandit now turned TO repeat
this process with the other two stran.
gers. whom they could not classify
aa friends or foes OF those whom they
had now found In tho motor car.
What have we nore--a woman, and
a beautiful one!" exclaimed the ban
dit chief. "she wears no jewels-per-
haps she has not much money for us.
But still. there are other ways. What
say you, my fellows, shall we hold
her for a ransomp'
The man Roleau here raised his
hand and spoke with authority
"My friends" he said. what have
is little and Il Is yours. for you are
my brothers and know you must live
as well as |. anow you are friends
OF the kings troops shortly we viii
ride thither together. II you don't
mind. As for this lady. lay no hand
on her. tell you she Is highness
Of a foreign land, none less than Amer.
lea across the sea"
And why not ne for ransom then?"
demanded the bandit chief.
Because, | tell you she Is one OF
the ladies Of the kings household--sho
is protected by King Michael II him
self, no less. She is of his rank
in life, | tell you, my brothers.
Irresolute the bandit turned toward
HIS men, but murmur of assent rati-
fed what Roleau had said.
Good" said he suddenly. 81 know
you well, Roleau. The lady is safe
with us. We will do more-we will
accompany you to the walls OF the
city itself. so that you may be safe
from any OF our brotherhood
Under the walls OF Gretzhoffen II.
eNiA MY hANN n NAoop VI NhN hAhb y
horse, riding out for practice. Their
officer was not unknown to Count
Frederick--and for that matter, the
leader OF the bandits. Landozi himself,
seemed not unknown. Lettering along.
they rode now up to the clty's gates,
Yet another event transpired be-
fore the two parties separated near
the city's gate. An additional party
of horsemen, riding hard from the des-
ert, apPeared-none less than Count
Sachio, a friend or two and a small
group OF retainersl
"Sachio!" exclaimed Count Fred
erick. MY friend. you come but Just
in time"
Il may well believe IT," said Sach,o
dryly," gazing at the assemblage about