The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-11-05

| nhOiO bOioW liz PdidCc, III Which, q
he knew, there rested the secret O
Gretzhoffen. But since he was un
guided, how could he know when a
length he was close to the door which
barred him from that secret?
| He did find closed door, in par
OF the subterranean chambers not ye
flooded by the waters of the moat
He could not find entrance-the dool
was locked-he had no time to seek
for any key. Looking about him hast
lily, he saw only upon the floor a SCRAP
| of paper, an old, stained, charred, dis
membered piece of parchment, left
there by whose hand he could not
guess. Curiously regarding it, he
picked it up to examine it more closely
1t bore some ancient inscription which
he could but i'll decipher-an inscrip-
ton in Latin. Count Sachio cudgeled
his wits to bring to his aid such store
of knowledge of dead languages as
once was his in his college days. Hur-
ried as he was, and disjointed as the
inscription was, he could make but
little of it.
"By the rood" exclaimed he, there
is something strange enough-a parch-
ment from God knows where, by God
knows whom. 1t says something
about a king or an heir to a kingdom
it says something about an abduc
ton. Why, here we come upon pref
ty story. I'll warrant half my chance
of reward in this war this paper has
something to do with the secret of
Gretzhoffen. At least 1 will take it
with me-"
He thrust it into his pocket and hur.
ried on into the open to join his fee
ing comrades. Even as those left be-
hind in the palace began to take coun-
sci Of restoring some order after the
ruin which had been wrought, Count
Sachio, in possession of one more IN
finished secret, was outside the walls.
AS he passed from the front of the
palace, he came directly in the line
of vision of Kitty, who was watching
the retreat Of the Grahoffen forces.
Something in Sachio's haste, his air
of uncertainty withal, attracted her at
tention.
I'm sure" said she to herself,
there is some mischief in his mind.
AS rule it has been safe to follow
yonder rascal will do SO now" And
that she did.
Sachio fastened out through the pal
ace grounds, bound for some path
which without question was familiar
to him, and which now he fancied
would offer him quick egress from a
situation SO lacking in attractions.
In Sachio's mind was but one
thought. He was cogitating even as
he fed upon the contents of the pa
per In his pocket. Half he drew it !
out as he FASTENED. "a king" said
who was he? What
was his age-what king? IT'S indeed |
a cunning plot to vex my soul yet |
further"
In Kitty's mind, as she followed him
with her eyes, and presently followed |
him in person, there was no inkling
Of this problem which was troubling
good Count Sachio. What concerned
her was some indefinite feeling that
she must keep him in sight. Once
more her instinct proved of service.
Count Sachio passed among the
,hrubbery of the place, eager to find
'uch shelter as he might-concealmen
which would offer him safety and an
opportunity to examine yet more thor
,ughly this curious bit of paper which
lie had safe in his pocket. He thrust
his way and that. A button of his
,oat entangled in the branch of a
shrub. He detached it hastily and
passed on. AS he did SO, he did not
lotice that his cherished bit Of paper
eft his pocket and fell upon the
round. Trust eyes as keen as Kitty's
o note this incident of his flight. An
Instant later she had bounced upon it
md was herself hurrying for conceal.
cent. Once more her wits were at
words point with those of the dough
lest of her foes.
Kitty herself, glancing hastily at that
aper, could make no more of it than
ad Sachio. What can it mean?"
bought she. But whatever it meant,
one thing she was sure-Count
achio would return for it.
She had not long to wait to find this i
1spicion confirmed. Soon she heard
i'm hurrying back-saw him bending
YER the place where he last had been E
Ire of the possession of the paper
aw him look about here and there '
astily, hurriedly, eagerly. Now in +
sed she was confirmed in her own r
Ispicions.
AHA, Count Sachio," said she to her {
If, "once more I have something
nich you covet"
She had occasion to find once more
at the possession Of something Count d
lchio coveted carried with it a GER a.
in danger to the possessor. tt
Looking this way and that for some e.
ace of safety, Kitty saw a thickly p1
anching tree which to her notion pl
ght offer shelter. Without hest u
ion she climbed up hand over hand, ia
, paper with her, and sought such vi
1cealment as she could in the ST
inches. From this place of vantage w
, could look down and cover the m