Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-02-11
CHAPTER LvI.

VIXEN at length he emerged. Sur
rounded by his soldiers ard his o.l
GERS, he passed out in retreat from
TIE scene which but now mad been ;
triumph for his arcs.
His o. GERS attc.lcd hi-l-all save
one. Count Sachio, indo-ita5,e ever
IN defeat, fingered for just {
time behind the others IN tht
escape frcta the submerged pas
sagcs. Er-rying here AID there
he sought as oest ne might, unguidsd
for that ancient torture chamber some
where below the palace, in which, a:
he knew, there rested the secret Of
GretzhoIfen. But since he was un
guided, how could he know when al
length he was close to the door which
barred hiG from that secret?
He die find closed door, in a part
Of the suhterranean chambers not yet
flooded by the waters of the moat
He could net find entrance-the door
was lockel-he had no time to seek
for any key. Locking about him hast
lily, he saw only upon the floor a SCRAP
Of paper, an cid, stained, charred, dis
meIhercd piece OF parchment, left
there by whose hand he could not
guess. Curious,y 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 culgolcd
his wits to bring to his aiG such store
Of knowledge Of dead languages as
cnce was his ic his college days. Hur.
ried as he was, and disjointed as the
Inscription was, he could make but
little of it.
"Ey the rocd" exclaimed he, here
Ia something strange enough--a parch.
ment from God knows where, by God
knows whom. 1t says something
about king or an heir to a kingdom
it sa-s something about an abduc.
tion. Why, here VIC come upon a pref.
ty stcry. Ill warrant half iuy chance
of reward in this war this paper has
something to do with the secret of
GretzhoGel. At least | will take it
with ne.
He thrust it into his pocket and hur.
ried on into the open to Join his fee.
ing comrades. Even as these let be.
hind in tie palace began to take coun.
sci Of restoring some order after the
ruin which had been wrought, Count
Sachio, in possession of one more I'M
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 vas watching
tho retreat of the Graho1en forces.
Something il Sachios haste, his air
of uncertainty withal, attracted her at
te-tica.
I'm sure" said she to herself,
there is see mischief in his mind.
AS a rule it has been safe to follow
ycnaer rascal-I will do 50 now" And
that SHE did
Sachio fastened out through the pal.
ace grounds, bound for some path
which without question was familiar
to hi-s, and which now he farciod
would offer him quick egross from
situation SO lacking in attractions.
In Sachlo's mind was but che
thought. He Yves cogitatirg even as
he tie! upon tie coatonts Of the "a.
per III his pccl.et. Half he drew it
cut as he fastened "A king" sale
he-"a1 Quoted; Who was he? What
was lis ago-what king? tbs indeed
a cunning plot to vex my soul yet
further"
In kitty's mind, as she followed him
with her eyes, arl presently followed
him in person, there was 10 irk!ing
Of this prc5lerl which was troubling
good Count Sachio. What concerned
her was sonle Indefinite feeling that
she must keep him in sight. Once
more her instinct proved Of service.
Count sachio passed among the
shrubbery of tie place, eager to find
such shelter as he night-concca,nent
which would offer him safety ard an
opportunity to examine yet more thor.
oughly this curious bit CT paper which
he had safe in his pocket. He thrust
this way and that. A button Of his
coat eltangled in the branch Of
shrub. He detached it hastily and
passed on. AS he did SO, he did not
notice that his cherished bit CT paper
left his pocket and fell upon the
ground. Trust eyes as keen as Kitty's
to note this incident If his flight. An
instant later she had pouncea upon it
and was herself hurrying fer coxceal.
ment. OLce m:re her wits were at
swords poiLt with these OF the dough
test of her foes.
Kitty herself, glarcirg hastily at that
paper, could make 10 more Of it than
had Sachio. What can it nean?"
thought she. But whatever 1t 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
ever the place where lie last had been
sure Of the possession Of the paper
saw him look about here ard taore
hastily, hurriedly, eagerly. New in
deed she was confirmed in her own
AHA, Count sachi5," said she to Ter.
self, once more / have something
which you covct."
She had occasion to find once .mcre