The Spectator., 1916-01-18

It Was the Torture Chamber-the
 Room of TerroraI
 to the rendezvous of the apaches- yes, yes-by whom?-why? He is there now, perhaps ?-Ah, bah! what manner of officers are you? What Is your plan in all this-to have him killed by thieves in turn?"
 Count Frederick paused to hear no more, but flushed guiltily over his eavesdropping retraced his steps down the hall and sought more decorous means of meeting the young woman whom he wished to see. But even as he did so he reflected that from the detached exclamations he had heard surely she was planning yet other ad- ventures. If Roleau had been here if he had been followed away by the police toward the thieves headquar- ters-surely this undaunted girl would in turn do what she could to rescue him. If so, once more she herself would need assistance.
 Count Frederick stepped to one side in the hotel lobby and bided his time. It was as he thought. Before long Kitty hastened through the lobby and out toward the street Evidently she had paused to make no more than slight changes in her toilet Beyond question the purpose in her mind ws. to find Roleau.
 Count Frederick strolled toward the desk and nodded pleasantly to the questioning clerk. Yes" said he, "I was so fortunate-'
 He did not pause to say definitely in what way he had been fortunate, but, unhurried, strolled down the steps into the street, intent on nothing so much as upon discovering what Kitty Gray next would do.
 It was now a curious train that of those persons engaged in the search for the musterious coin. Roleau had indeed found an occupant in the room of his mistress when he hastened thither the moment he was released from csutody. That occupant, how. ever, was not his mistress, but an- other-none less than a member of tho apache band who had held her apart ments under espionage. Roleau, hid | ing himself, waited for the appearances of the intruder-followed him out from the hall into the street. This had been but the moment before Kitty's re- turn. The prefect had ordered R0- leau's discharge by telephone from the palace. almost as she was leaving, and both she and Roleau had hastened to the hotel.
 Now, as Kitty emerged, followed by Count Frederick, yet another one of Blake's underworld band stepped out from his hiding place and followed Count Frederick himself. And all of these, each was in pursuit of the cov- eted Gretzhoffen coin.
 As for Roleau, his man made rapid progress, and 1t was not long before he had trailed him to the rendezvous of the band which he himself previous ly had learned. Undaunted, he would have pursued the fugitive to the inner chamber of the rendezvous had not he heard a sound which caused | him to pause.
 It was at this time that Blake, lead CT of the band of thieves, chanced to return to the rendezvous. He had passed part way into the subterranean passage when he looked on ahead just in time to see one of his men emerge from the central room and make . spring at an intruder whom he him. self at once recognized as the man who at this very scene earlier l had given him go tl0sn2rat0 q hat tle-who later had given him into the hands of the law.
 Thinking only of rsvenge nov. for getting the coin. the renegade 5osdes whipped out his revolver onA nye1 point blank It noleaa
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