The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-01-20

The Advancing Hosts of Grahoff,
ago, an extra bottle Of Beloc, and my
majesty sent man Count Sachio,
yonder to bring it. My majesty de-
sires--'
"Sachio here!"
Yes. here You have said that
twice. He was here twice or once
know not how many times. But now
YOU are here, mademoiselle, and that
is enough. My majesty desires"
| He advanced toward her. The leer
upon his puffed face gave her swift
disgust as we'll as terror. With no
purpose whatever, as he stumbled for
ward she fed from the room, fed she
knew not where.
Without much plan, Kitty turned
.oward the interior OF the palace, and
iown the long hall which before that
lime she had explored. Something told
Ter that Frederick, if lie were here in
he palace now, had passed that way.
The torture chamber-that dread
spot! Must she go there to look for
lin? She sped on rapidly along these
oassageways which she had learned
before. Through the last deep sunken
tunnel which led to the door of the
.orture chamber itself she passed
,lone, trembling with fear, and yet re-
solved.
The door was locked. She turned to
Zee the key upon the wall. AS she
turned there came to, her a faint
sound. Someone was knocking at the
loor. The blood stopped at her heart
She felt her face go cold Had the
| lead indeed come to life? Was it in
Iced true that some hand from beyond
he grave alone could point out the
hiding place of this treasure? What
could it mean?
But the knocking at the door grew
oolder. She heard voice-a faint
voice through the steel facing OF the
inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted
he key, gave one great push to open
the door, which yielded the more
quickly to power exerted within. She
saw the faint CLEAN of light added
to those of her own candle; saw the
face of the man she had sought!
"You?" she cried. 1T is you?"
She heard him answer calmly, slow
y, without agitation as though all the
! time he had been convinced she would
come.
1T is ended" said Count Frederick
at last, slowly. Never again will
loubt! l prayed for you, prayed that
you should understand before | died
But it was meant for you to come for
me. that might know-know as much
is they who are here, who have been
my fellows and my friends. Mademoi
selle-I had said good-by to- every
thing excepting one. There was that
left which no man should die without
.Snowing-that experience which only
makes life worth living. | have dread,
ed all things. but now hope l must
Il shall hope!"
He stopped toward her now, and for
the moment each was careless OF the
strange surroundings in which they
stood. For half moment the heart
Of Kitty Gray was on the point of sur
render
Monsieur lie comte, for that VIC
have no time now" said she gently 1T
was but chance which brought me
here"
Chance? Yes, if fate, if the hand
Of heaven mean chance, shall call i!
chance, not otherwise. ! say that it
was the plan of fate long ago that you
should come to ME, now and here"
1--WE have come close to the secret"
said Kitty Gray slowly. But we have
come closer to perils."
True, more than you know"
What do you mean?"
"Sachio was here-it was he and his
man who thrust me in here, where
had planned to place him. They know
it ail-all that we do now. made
moiselle. Sachio himself has gone to
carry his news to his king. We are
undone, mademoiselle! There will be
war"
If war. then why do we wait here?"
she demanded of him. war is what
!. we have sought to avoid for this king.
dom by our own knowledge of the
coin. II it be too late-why. then.
we must hight. All, how ! wish
were q man. that I might fight as
| WELL"
You have fought we'll for all OF US,
mademoiselle," said Frederick. we
have repulsed our enemies. Would
you repalse-your friend?"
She made no answer. but was AWAY
before him in the dark passageway.
CHAPTER l..