The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-04-07

the room. 1t must have come through
the window
She opened the paper and smoothed
1t 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 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 F'rederick'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; bSt her held 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 it's
appearance. In truth Roleau, hound
like, had run his game to earth 1t
was he who had caught sight of her
just for an instant. Later she heard
once more the tinkling of some falling
object upon the floor. She picked it
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 it 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-
manned still bordering on the strange
events which had been brought home
so close to 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 message in his hand, for
the time he gazed at it, scarce COM
pretending that it came from the roy
al palace.
Since he had LETT unattended the
servant OF Count Sachio, whom he
had found in his own room, the latter
selzed the present opportunity to es-
cape from the place and to find his
own master. Count Sachio himself
enough at the rendezvous which had
been established
well, we'll, then, Bartel,'' exclaimed
the count, why the delay? What's
wrong? You afe not going to tell me
the same story that Rudolph brought
you have not failed?"
The shamefaced look of the other
gave him his own answer Count
oacn1o himself gave way to hearty
curses of all incompetence.
The count retained one-half the
com, went on the unfortunate mes
senger. Il don't know which it was.
Inc girl-the young American-got
the other piece. 1 saw her pick it up
But she did not get both! don't
Know which one she did get, but /
Know that each has one-half-the
count and the girl. She must have
been carried away by some other
man. | heard her scream, then all was
SILENT
SO all escaped you? 1t is another
matter what l myself may have done
as to the girl and the coin-tIley es.
capped your"
Yes, excellency, naturally could
not prevent the man from escaping,
and the count himself allowed the
other man to do So"
What other man?''
"Roleau, they called him-the girls
servant-he follows her like a dog
and fights like one"
so, there were two others present
beside yourself?"
Yes. it seemed as though everyone
interested in the coin came all at
once''
Naturally, the competition asks
quick work of ali of US. And we viii
act quickly. Tell me, what happenei
them" eone'
The Count Frederick allowed ba,
70 escape-strangely, he seemed r.
nave small resentment for her ofto-