The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-03

'or that ancient torture chamber some
where below the palace, in which, as
he knew, there rested the secret of
Gretzhoffen. But since he was un.
guided, how could he know when at
length he was close to the door which
barred him from that secret?
He die find a closed door, in a part
# the subterranean chambers not yet
flooded by the waters of the moat.
He could not find entrance-the door
was locked--he had no time to seek
FOR any key. Looking about him hast.
ly, he saw only upon the floor scrap
Of paper. an old, stained, charred, dis.
membered piece of parchment, left
here 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-
riet as he was, and disjointed rs the
inscription was, he could make but
little of it.
"By the rood" exclaimed he, here
is something strange enough-a parcif-
mel,t from God knows where, by God
knows whom. 1t says something
about king or an heir to kingdom
it says something about an abduc.
ton. Why, here we come upon pref
ty story. Ill warrant half my chance
Of reward in this war this paper has
something to do with the secret of
Gretzhoffen. At least 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 un.
finished secret, was outside the walls.
AS he passed from the front OF the
palace, he came directly in, the line
NJ vision OF Kitty, who was. watching
the retreat OF the Grakoffen forces.
Something in Sachio's haste, his air
Of uncertainty Tithal, attracted her at
tention. *
I'm sure" said she to herself
there is some mischief in his mind.
AS rule 1t 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.
4 stnss' aachio's ., ssahads was bat rs one
thought. He was cogitating even as
ae fed upon the contents Of the pa.
,er in his pocket. Half he drew it
out as he FASTENED. "A king" said
abducted; 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
shrubbery of the place, eager to find
such shelter as he might-concealment
which would offer him safety and an
opportunity to examine yet more thor.
oughly this curious bit of paper which
ne had safe in his pocket. He thrust
this way and that. A button Of his
coat entangled in the branch of
shrub. He detached it hastily and
passed OH. AS he did SO, he did not
notice that his cherished bit of paper
left his pocket and fell upon the
ground. Trust eyes as keen as Kitty
to note this incident of his fight. An
instant later she had bounced upon 1t
and was herself hurrying for conceal.
nent. Once more her wits were at
swords point with those of the dough,
test Of her foes.
Kitty herself, glancing hastily at that
had Sachio. What can it mean?"
thought she. But whatever it meant,
of one thing she was sure-Count
Sachio would return for it.
She had not long to wait to find this
suspicion confirmed. Soon she heard
him hurrying back-saw him bending
over the place where he last had been
sure Of the possession Of the paper
saw him look about here and there
hastily, hurriedly. eagerly. Now in
deed she was confirmed in her own
suspicious.
| AHA, Count Sachio," said she to her
self, "once more l have something
which you covet."
She had occasion to find once more
that the possession Of something Count
Sachio coveted carried with 1t . GER
tain danger to the possessor.
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