The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-04

moned at once.
What! mademoiselle," cried MI
chael, you are pale. You have not yet
fully recovered-you have been ill?"
Yes, your majesty" replied Kitty.
smiling somewhat wanly. He now no
ticed that the serving woman at her
side carried her wraps, and that she
herself appeared ready for the street.
What! you mean to leave u.s." ex-
claimed he, What does this mean"
Your majesty, said Kitty. gracious
ly allow me my absence for the time.
| must return to my hotel"
1t was with deep relief that finally
Kitty found herself once more freed
of the royal presence and the royal
palace. She sped, fast as might be.
back to her hotel.
Count Frederick excused himself but
a moment later To the king he an
nounced his intention of returning to
his own home. Instead, he made his
way also to the Ritz hotel.
The clerk at the hotel was more
deferential to the nobleman than he
had been to the noblemans servant a
tIitie earlier.
Her excellency. the young Ameri.
can? But now she came-she may be
in her room--we shall see. Shall she
join you in the parlors, Monsieur le
Comte?"
In the parlors on the floor above"
replied Count Frederick, rather vague.
ly, and passed up the broad stair But
he had certain plans of his own which
did not include public audience with
the young American Instead, he
passed boldly down the hall. Before
the door at which he would have an.
nounced himself he paused. He could
not we'll escape detection II he turned
back, for the voices OF others came
to him down the hall. And In the
room beyond the door he heard an.
other voice-apparently she was 49,
ing the telephone. Yes, 1t was she.
He waited for an instant, and found
himself without intention In posses
sion of what she said.
Kitty at the time, in fact, was tee-
phoning to the headquarters of po-
lice asking for knowledge of her serv.
ant Roleau Her voice went on now
rapid, staccato
Monsieur, he was freed, Roleau-
yes, yes-what then? On probation -
yes, | know, He was here-he was
followed to the hotel-he was followed
to the rendezvous of the apaches-
yes, yes-by hom?-why? He is
there now, perhaps ?-Ah. bah. what
manner of officers are you? What IL
your plan in all this-to have him
killed by thieves in turn"
Count Frederick paused to hear no
more. but flushing guiltily. wen, back
to the hotel lobby and bided his time
1t was as he thought Before long
Kitty fastened 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 was
to find Roleau.
Count Frederick strolled toward
the desk and nodded pleasantly to the
questioning clerk. Yes" said he, 4
was so fortunate"
He did not pause to say definitely
in what way he had been fortunate,
but, unhurried, stroled down the steps
into the street, intent on nothing so
much as upon discovering what Kitty
Gray next would do.
II was now curious train that OF
those persons engaged in the search
for the mysterious coin. Roleau had
indeed found an occupant In the room
of his mistress when he FASTENED
thither the moment he was released
from custody. That occupant, how
ever, was not his mistress. but an
other-nOne less than a member ot the
apache band who had held her apart
ments under espionage. Roleau, hid
ing himself, waited for the appearance
of the ntruder-followed him out from
the hall into the street. This had
been but the moment before Kitty's re-
turn. The project had ordered Ro-
leaus discharge by telephone from
the palace. almost as she was leaving,
and both she and Roeau had FASTENED
to the hotel.
Now. as ri ty emerged. followed Nv
Count Frederick. yet another one Of
Blake's underworld band stepped out
from his hiding place and followed
Count Frederick himself.
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 mad 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.
1t was at this time that Blake, lead
er OF the band of thieves. CHANGED to
return to the rendezvous. He had
passed part way into the subterraneap
passage when he looked on ahead jus;
in time to see one of his men emerge
from the centra room and make a