The Spectator., 1916-02-08


 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 tho door which barred him from that secret?
 He did find closed door, in a part of 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. fly, he saw only upon the floor 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 1t up to examine 1t more closely It bore some ancient inscription which he could but ill decipher-an inscrip tion 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, "here is something strange enough--a parch- ment from God knows where, by God knows whom. It says something about a king or an heir to a kingdom it says something about an abduc- tion. Why, here we come upon pret- fxy cfo Ho1f oIo of reward in this war this paper has something to do with the secret of Gretzhoffen. At least I will take 1t with me-"
 He thrust it into his pocket and hur. ried on into the open to join his flee ing comrades. Even as those left be. hind in the palace began to take coun. sel 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 of vision of Kitty, who was watching the retreat of the Grahoffen forces. Something ill 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 a rule it has been safe to follow wonder rascal will do so now" And that she did.
 Sachio hastened out through the pal ara pr0upds bound for aor,a potb 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 fled upon the contents of the pa, per in his pocket. Half he drew it out as 9 hastened. "A king" said abducted; who was he? What was his age-what king? Tis 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 yn ,irn oughly this curious bit of paper which he 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 on. 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's to note this incident of his flight. An instant later she had bounced upon it and was herself hurrying for conceal ment. Once more her wits were at swords point with those of the dough. tiest of her foes.
 Kitty herself, glancing hastily at that paper, could make no more of it than 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.
 'At Count Sachio," said she to her self, once more have something which you covet."
 She had occasion to find once more that the possession of something Count Sachio coveted carried with it a cer- tain danger to the possessor.
 Looking this way and that for some place of safety, Kitty saw a thickly- branching tree which to her notion might offer a shelter. Without hesi.