The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-10
CHAPTER XVI.
At Count saehlo,a Lodae.

| At Count Sachio'S Lodge.
Such speed did Roleau manage to
get out OF his own car that Kitty and
he arrived at the hunting lodge OF
Count Sachio we'll In advance of all
others bound thither that eventful
morning,
Kitty and Roleau moved about very
much as they pleased after their entry.
II pleased them best to hide them
selves In small room adjacent to the
main hall where they fancied the main
events of the day would perhaps find
enactment. A door and window made
connection between these two rooms,
and behind the curtains in the smaller
room they fancied they could be SUI.
ficiently concealed.
But there we're others who had an
interest in the events to occur In the
hunting lodge of Count Sachio that
morning. The tangled skein Of the
mysterious coin was expanding, draw
Ing In yet others. Hardly had Kitty
and Roleau secreted themselves be-
fore they heard footballs under the
window OF the gallery which ran along
that side Of the chalet. They won
dered who might be the author and
what his purpose.
1t was somewhat later before they
heard the mlngling of voices and the
sound Of footballs.
Rudolph" exclaimed Count Sachio.
why has he not come? What has
gone wrong"
But none could explain to him why
Rudolph had not arrived-nor at the
time did either Kitty of Roleau know
who or what Rudolph might be-al.
though, as a matter Of fact, 1t was he
whom they themselves had left tied
hand and foot in Count Frederick's
palace. Nor could any Of these pres.
ent know that before this time Count
Frederick himself, returning to his
palace, had found yonder intruder,
bound and left helpless, in his own
private apartment. The man had
made such excuses as he could by de.
claring that he had been robbed and
thrown in the room by rutfian, as
sisted by a beautiful woman. And
Count Frederick, finding on the floor
Of his own apartment a tiny handker.
chief, had needed scarce more than
one guess as to who that young wom-
an had been.
But as to all these side scenes
which had been enacted, Count Sachio
was altogether Ignorant. Wherefore
he now walked up and down, now OK
claiming his own doubts. His irrita.
ton was obvious enough to Kitty as
she peered through the yelled curtain
and strained her ears to learn what
he was saying.
Even as she stood intent on what
was going on in the main room, Ro-
leau close at her side, also absorbed
the author Of the stealthy footballs on
the gallery below the window crept
silently up and looked in upon them
as they watched-a spy upon those
who in turn spied upon others.
80, she is not alone!" he whis-
pered to himself. That man with her
will make a different proposition. Be-
tween them, they will take away from
Count Sachio what want for myself"
He slipped in now from the gallery,
through the open window. Stealthy
as a cat, he crept up inch by inch
upon the two watchers.
81 tell ~ou," cried out Count Sachlo.
crashing his fist down upon the
table, there is no such thing as ex-
planning a thing like this! This fail
ure can never be justified. | sent Ru-
dolph to set the coin-be knew where
1t was-bs was not suspected by any.
one-I to him precisely what to do.
Has he done it? No. And here we
wait. 1t IS something l snail not for
get"
These loud words caught Kitty's at.
tention. She pressed forward eagerly.
her figure still half shrouded. Her
own senses, strained as they were to
catch what was going on in the main
room, were less regardful of what was
going on mmedif tely about her.
The sill mt man who had spied upon
them crept inch by inch toward them.
Slowly, deliberately, he raised his
right hand above the unsuspecting
girl. In that hand he held poised .
murdero, rlooking blade.
BE CONTINUED