The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-05-12


waiting woman. But hurried away
down the hall, intent on certain plans
of his own.
He must find her, must see her 1t
once. He had no real idea as to which
course Kitty had taken after leaving
the room, but alone after a time, he
walked more slowly, he could not say
why. Something came to his senses.
as first not recognized-a faint
scent-a perfume which it seemed
to him he had known befOre-the per-
fume of violets, faint, indefinite, fra
grant.
He found himself at length in mar
row hallway from which there were no
side passages. It led him deeper back
into the palace, its trend continually
downward. Thus finally he found him
self in the self-same subterranean tun-
mel which Kitty earlier had discovered.
"She was searching for the torture
chamber!" said he to himself, with
sudden conviction. THAT is why she
came here!"
He came at length to the great door
which closed the passageway. Yes, In
the dust before him were footprints,
and in the dust on the door itself were
finger prints! The silence and secre-
CIV of ages had been broken within the
hour.
He pushed open the door-pushed it
until it met some obstruction-some-
thing which lay vaguely white upon
the floor He turned downward the
flare of his light-started back from
what he saw.
She lay at his feet, unconscious,
helpless for all lac could tell
He bent over her. doubt. terror in his
eyes, and reached out his hand.
She stirred under his touch. Her
eyes opened, looked into his. What
she saw bending over heir was the face
of her enemy.
"Who is it?" she cried. Loose me
leave me! Where am I?''
She caught her hands to her face
now as there came to her once more
the terror OF what she had seen. She
dared not look about her. Take me
away!" she moaned. take me
away"
! He made no answer tor a time.
"Why have you followed me here?''
she demanded at last, half hysteri
cally.
He spoke now, slowly, almost sol
EMMY.
"Why?" said he. st do not know
why. I think 1t must have been be
cause you were in trouble. Perhaps
you called me-perhape that is why
came"
What do you mean? Would yot
taunt me now, at such a time?
have been frightened almost to tn
point Of death-it was terrible
Come" said Count Frederick, ant
placed about her an arm on who's
strength, in spite of herself, she wa
glad to lean.
|: He was guiding her toward the doo1
She turned and saw again that whic
but now had smitten her with terror
Her nerves, weakened by the lon
strain upon them, gave way ono
more.
The flare Of the candle lighted u
the cavernous interior at whose el
trance they stood. Count Frederic
saw what she had seen.
|, On the walls stood out hooks, stet
arms which supported eyeless, gri1
ming skulls-old-how old no or
/; could tell Beyond arose rods an
gratings, barbed, pointed, curved. A
iron chair was in corner, and in
sat grinning skeleton.
It was the torture chamber, tt
room of terrors, born of other veal
more savage than these, and brougl
Down unchanged through all the ce
turtles!
Come said Count Frederick, h
own voice agitated. "1t is no tin
to think of any treasure now, but yc
.-yourself!''
| He caught her away swiftly into Il
other passage, and flung the door sh7
behind them. In silence he led h.
+ along the subterranean passage al
up the stairs.
J. He left her once more alone in h
) own room, to compose herself as be
g she might. while he went on to rejo
q the king.
so, then, you found her, faithf
d messenger" demanded Michael
Eyes, your majesty, at length. 81
{. was but strolling about to pass tt
y time during your absence. While
9 know little of such matters, it seen
It to ne that the trials of the day ha'
been extreme for her.
u King Michael ended by asking Il
g. attendance of the young woman he
IL self; but it was just at this junctu
d that there arrived at the palace no.
10 less than the project of police, wi
e. made suppliance through several cou
IT official for admittance to audien
70 with royalty.
HE says ventured the last cha
n berlain, that he comes regarding t.
Ia murder at the Ritz hotel, in viii
your majesty was graciously pleas
to be interested
Ut Eyes, yes-my dear Count Ere
erfck, it was absurd that you Shot
Sc be mixed in that-or the young Am