The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-31


the floor at her feet.
1t was a bit of stone wrapped tight
ly in little wad OF paper. Surely
it had been meant as some commuHf-
cation to her-from someone outside
the room. 1t must have come thu ough
the window.
She opened the paper and smoothed
it out. AS she read it she wondered
how many other persons there were in
this strange country who could claim
acquaintance with her own plans.
Better write an imaginary story for
your paper and return to America.
Give up the coins and you will gain
your freedom. Refuse and you will
fare badly"
These strange words suddenly
brought Kitty back to a train OF
thought which for the time had been
broken. She felt quickly at her bosom
and at her waist for the bit of coin
which she had brought away from
Count Frederiek's room. 1t was gone!
At some time during her Journey from
Count Frederick's palace to this place
long or short whether it had been,
she could not tell-the coin had been
taken from her.
Kitty sprang to the sill of the little
window and peered out for an in
slant; but her hold was too feeble.
She sank back, not seeing what would
have given her great joy to see.
Apparently some eye had caught
sight of her face, brief as had been its
appearance. In truth, Roleau, hound
like, had run his game to earth. 1t
was he who had caught sight of her
lust for an instant. Later she heard
once more the tinkling of some falling
! object upon the floor. She picked 1t
up-it was a substantial file, which
evidently had been flung through the
window by someone having the intent
to aid her. This thought gave her hope.
Almost as soon as she grasped 1t she
fell to work at the bars which had re-
strained her.
Meantime, at the scene from which
she had been so unceremoniously alb
stracted but now, Count Frederick re-
NAMED still bordering on the strange
events which had been brought home
so close 20 him. He was too much
preoccupied in his concern over the
young woman's disappearance to note
carefully anything else that went on
about him. When one of his house
hold placed a message in his hand, fol
the time he gazed at it, scarce com
pretending that it came from the roy
al palace.
Since he had left unattended the
servant OF Count Sachio. whom hi
had found in his own room, the latter
seized the present opportunity to es
cape from the place and to find hi'
own master, Count Sachio himself
who waited for him inpatient!
enough at the rendezvous which hat
been established.
"Well, well, then, Bartel," exclaimed
the count, why the delay? What'
wrong? You are not going to tell mt
the same story that Rudolph brough
you have not failed?'
The shamefaced look Of the othe
. gave him his own answer Coun
Sachio himself gave way to heart,
curses of all incompetence.
1.-THE count retained one-half tn
coin," went on the unfortunate mes
. senger. 81 don't know which it was
. The girl-the young American-go
the other piece. saw her pick it VI
But she did not get both! don
, know which one she did get, but
, know that each has one-half-th
, count and the girl. She must hav
, been carried away by some othe
: man. heard her scream, then all wa
. silent"
80 all escaped you? 1t is anothe
,. matter what ! myself may have don
: as to the girl and the coin-they e'
i. capped your"
YES, excellency, naturally | coul
4 not prevent the man from escaping
h and the count himself allowed tn
q other man to do So"
a What other MANI"
}. "Roleau, they called him-the girl
y servant-he follows her like a dog
o and fights like one"
+ so, there were two others preser
d beside yourself?" IL
q Eyes, 1t seemed as though everyon
= interested in the coin came all
once"
a Naturally, he competition ask
h quick work of all of u.s. And we wi
,r act quickly. Tell me, what happene
~ them"
ar 1.-The Count Freoerck allowed h
a to escape-strangely he seemed
have small resentment for her aft
ID all. Nor did he have too much fl
10 Roleau, whom he must have ranked
ia wholly faithless servant. He did n
IN punish him-but even sent him
n after the girl! Excellency, my wo
70 for it, he seemed to miss the girl
40 much as the coin-did Count FIRE
or erick"
81. Follow them then, Bartel. Follc
IL