The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-09-17

ago, an extra DOttle OF BelOc, ana my
majesty sent man, Count Sachio,
yonder to bring it. My majesty de-
sires-"
"Sachio here!"
Yes, here. You have said that
twice. He was here, twice or once
! know not how many times. But now
you are here. mademoiselle, and that
is enough. My majesty desires"
He advanced toward her. The leer
upon his puffed face gave her swift
disgust as we'll as terror. With no
purpose whatever, as he stumbled for
ward she fled from the room, fed she
knew not where.
Without much plan, Kitty turned
toward the interior of the palace, and
down the long hall which before that
time she had explored. Something told
her that Frederick, II he were here in
the palace now, had passed that way
The torture chamber-that dread
spot! Must she go there to look for
him? She sped on rapidly along these
passageways which she had learned
before. Through the last deep sunken
tunnel which led to the door OF the
torture chamber itself she passed
alone, trembling with fear, and yet re-
solved
The door was locked. She turned to
see the key upon the wall. AS she
turned there came to her faint
sound. Someone was knocking at the
door. The blood stopped at her heart.
She felt her face go cold. Had the.
dead indeed come to life? Was 1t in,
deed true that some hand from beyond
the grave alone could point out the
hiding place of this treasure? What,
could 1t mean2
But the knocking at the door grew.
bolder. She heard a yoice-a faint
voice through the steel facing of the,
inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted.
the key, gave one great push to open,
the door, which yielded the more
quickly to power exerted within. She
saw the faint CLEAN of n light added
to those of her own candle; saw the
face of the man she had sought!
IOu. blC ltd- IL Nou.
She heard him answer calmly, slow
ly, without agitation, as though all the
time he had been convinced she would
come.
1T is ended" said Count Frederick
at last, slowly. Never again will |
doubt! prayed for you, prayed that
you should understand before ] died.
But it was meant for you to come for
me, that ] might know-know as much
as they who are here. who have been
my fellows and my friends. Mademoi-
selle-I had said good-by to every
thing excepting one. There was that
left which no man should die without
knowing experience which only
makes life worth living. | have dread
ed all things, but now | hope. / must
i shall hope!"
He stopped toward her now and for
the moment each was careless of the
strange surroundings in which they
stood For a half moment the heart
of Kitty Gray was on the point of sur
render.
Monsieur lie comte, for that we
have no time now" said she gently. 1T
was but chance which brought me
here"
Chance? Yes, If fate, if the hand
of heaven mean chance, / shall call II
chance, not otherwise. ! say that 1t
was the plan of fate long ago that you
should come to me, now and here
1--WE have come close to the secret"
said Kitty Gray slowly. But we have
come closer to perils."
True, more than you know"
What do you mean?"
"Sachfo was here-it was he and his
man who thrust me in here, where
had planned to place him. They know
it all-all that we do now, made
moiselle. Sachio himself has gone to
carry his news TO his king. We are
undone, mademoiselle! There will be
war"
IF war, then why do we wait here?"
she demanded of him. War is what
we have sought to avoid for this king
dom by our own knowledge of the
coin. II it be too late-why, then,
we must fight. All, how | wish |
were man, that l might fight as
we'll"
You have fought well for all of us,
mademoiselle," said Frederick. I'VE
have repulsed our enemies. Would
you repulse-your friend?"
She made no answer, but was away
before him in the dark passageway.
CHAPTER L.