The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-10

Here there lay the debris Of the at.
tack and the retrsat-atms, equip.
ment. The keen eye Of Frederick
noted them all. It noted also the
glitter Of bit of metal which seemed
not portion Of discarded accouter.
ments. He stopped and picked It up.
1t was Q silver cigarette case, evil
IDENTIFY Of value and evidently abau-
doned by some Of the 0raholYen forces
who 90 recently had left the place.
Count Frederick examined It curious
". opened 1t.
Within the lid there was written .
little inscription which gave him =
start. ITO Count Sachio, our we'll
beloved. for deeds of valor. From his
king"
80" exclaimed Frederick, so then
80 then! He was here but now. And
look" Not far away he saw the
prints Of sharp-heeled boots in the
broken soil. He caught up . little
bit Of flmy lace-a kerchief whose
perfume was familiar to him. He saw
against the bark Of nearby tree .
fragment Of like lace, torn perhaps
in some struggle.
Yes, she was here"
Agitated, he fastened once more
now to the palace door. He demand
ed of all whom he met where last they
had seen the young American, but
they could give no intelligent replies.
Let me tell you, them" said Count
Frederick in a fash of anger, since
you cannot learn for me. She has
gone to Grahoffen-as prisoner. Go
there then, follow Sachio, as l have
already ordered. The young Ameri-
can without question has been taken
prisoner. We must rescue her. We
must do that for every reason in the
world-for her own safety and our
own
And for my own peace Of mind"
he added soto voce. as, haggard, he
turned away to find such relief as he
could in the countless duties which
now were to devolve upon him amid
the wreck of a government and the
ruin of city.
Although the forces of the king of
Grahoffen had been worsted in STRAIT
egg and had given their parole in or.
der to save their lives in the flooded
chambers of the dungeon levels, the
kingdom itself, its ruler and its lead.
ing men seemed to feel little of the
terror common with those actually de-
feated. Upon the contrary, old Cor
tislaw and his mobiles were victims not
SO much of terror as chagrin. Neither
were they disposed too scrupulously
to observe their own plighted word,
which had purchased life and liberty.
Passing from the limits of the be.
leaguered capitol, they did not scorn
to take such loot as lay at hand, or
to carry with them such prisoners as
pleased them. Among these latter it
CHANGED that they had one more pris
oner whose freedom might much have
altered the course of events in this
complex little drama.
Had Roleau, the doughty servant of
Kitty Gray. been on hand at the time
of the capitulation of the Grahoffen
forces, no doubt he would have kept
so close to his mistress as to guard
against any such sudden surprise as
had now left her at the mercy of her
enemies. But Roleau, prisoner to
Grahoffen, had no knowledge of any
of the late stirring events, nor any
knowledge of the whereabouts of his
mistress.
The windows of the cell in which
Roleau had been confined faced upon
the corridor sometimes used by the
retainers of the palace, less frequent
ly by those persons of greater impor.
lance. Roleau heard footsteps now,
voices, the confusion of large party
arriving. He stepped close to the
bars of his cell, pressed his face out,
so that he might see. Upon his fea-
lures any who had observed must
have seen Joy, exultation. For, though
himself prisoner, Roleau had seen
now, down below there, the form of
that mistress whom he served!
But Roleau was wise. He did not
cry out. He did not shout in sudden
greeting, as she passed among his cap
tors. Only he stood close and hoped
that she would look up.
She did look up, and saw him stand
ing there, and guessed his reason for
silence-saw his, sudden finger on lip
demanding silence from herself as
we'll. A fash of intelligence passed
once more between the two.
We'll, well, my pretty one," taunted
Sachio. Welcome once more to our
portals; and may you bide with us
longer this time than last"
We shall see," was her retort.
Sachio did not answer, but grimly
led her on into the presence of King
Cortislaw himself. Cortislaw was still
furious in his chagrin at the defeat of
his plans.
$50, again, mademoiselle!" said he,
and his gray beard curled in his evil
smile. 1--WE have you once more. Be-
lieve us, it is the last time. You shall
nOt eacaDe again Whv In she here