The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-02-11
FIFTEENTH lNSTALLMENT


SENFNF ~ ~
The wide wings Of the air craft rose
gracefully and steadily from the peril
GUS dip which II had made almost to
the surface Of the sea. Under the
steady hand Of the pilot It swung up
and around and headed back toward
the shore.
Below them now lay the towers Of
Gretzhoffcn. The roar Of the motor
made conversation impossible, but the
three occupants of the car looked at
one another happily. Roleau. wet
and weary, but smiling, had curled
himself down as best he could, and &C.
cepted this last phase Of his adventure
with his usual philosophy.
To tho relief Of all three, at length
they saw the green shores of Gretz.
honon waterfront rising up to meet
them. The aeroplane, skillfully han.
died, spiraled gracefully down. Safe at
length, they stepped from the car.
Frederick aud Kitty faced each other.
Are VIC then at the end Of our
pcrils?" asked Kitty. Dare we be.
lieve il? | am weary with II ALL
scarce know whether | am not in some
harGssing dream. Are we then safe
again p
Let us hope it, mademoiselle."
said Count Frederick.
But stay said he. How can we
know what may have t%ranspircd at the
palace ia our absence? Only one thing
is TO be depended upon. and that is
that Sachio will not relent. lie will
have some plot on foot-he will not
admit his defeat.
Let us 81 then said Count Fred.
erick, "uni zee After what W. have
endured why trouble overmuch re-
garding what fate may have in addi.
ton? 1t all seems to me to have been
in the hand Of fate itself. Even | am
Of the mind that our little fears do not
in the least alter the plans of the gods
regarding us"
THAT is the fatalism OF a brave
man. SELL I''''y. s,Ui"~.
What, Then you call me at lest
brave, m-adcm0iselle? Would that |
might hni some other merit in your
eyos-and would | might blot out ny
own sense Of unworthiness in the con.
duct l have shown towards you.
M~ademoiselle-"
This is nc time for such matters,
monsieur. Let us hasten" She
spoke c~omposedly, ard even then was
turning toward the palace.
Roleau, apart at a respectful dis.
lance, for the time made no attempt to
intrude. Count Frederick and Kitty
hurried off toward the plaza in front
of the palace, whose grounds so re,
! Gently had been the sceno of the des.
perate encounter between tho two ar
mics. A certain peace had reignod
there but now, yet IL had been but
the peace of exhaustion. The army 81
Grahoffen had withdrawn, that was
true, but led by dauntless minds it,
retreat had been checked, With then
defeat was but a relative term, a tenn
porary condition. Even now they had
summoned up their courage, and those
but recently %vanquished had set on
foot a counter-attack against the CAPT
tai Of their recently victorious foe.
As they advanced they found tn,
plaza once more filled with armed men
the forces Of Grahonen again upon tn,
aggressive. BY stealth now, rapidly
and without the sound Of martial nu
sic, they had stolen into the unguardec
portion Of the city. The courage o
despair perhaps animated them ia thit
undertaking. Yet now confidence anI
not despair seemed to rule amcnl
them as they gathered IN front OF H.,
palace which still 30 grimly held IL
= ancient secrets.
Come quick" exclaimed Freder
ick as this scene broke upon thel
gaze. we are alone-our forces ar,
q scattered-they are upon us again Il
! thousands. We must take refuge II
q The palace-only in It's hidden recesse
can We find any help now"
Carefully as Eight be. and as quick
y they gained access once more l.
he bolcaguered palace OF GrCtzhofen
In the anteroom they met none les
! han Michael, the puppet king himself
Tie was the image Of terror now. an,
willing TO babble to any Of his woes.
What shall we do? Where shat
ge go?" he exclaimed almost IN de-
spair. They are at US again-the,
nave no mercy on us-they do no
stay defeated. my dear count. Yen
Ter Sechio does not relent-ha will
rave our hcarts' blood Il is terrible
Where shall we fly from hiu?'
| Much OF these broken utterances ma,
ruth in them. The Grahonan troop
we're indeed m Possession Of the cen
! raj dofonsos OF the town. BY virtu
, II the magic Of persistence and spec,
u action CcuEt sachio himself one.
aore had won to the mead OF III
lonps. From some place nnknnwl