The Elbert County tribune., 1916-01-21

Inc Advancing Hosts OF Sranor
ago, an extra bottle OF Beloc. and my
majesty sent a 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 1eer
upon his puffed face gave her swift
disgust as well as terror With no
purpose whatever. as he stumbled for
ward she fed from the room, fled she
knew not where.
Without much plan, Kitty turned
toward the interior of the palace, and
down the long hall which before that
time she had explored. Something told
her that Frederick, IL he were here in
the palace now, had passed that way.
The torture chamber-that dread
spot! Must she go there to look for
him? She sped on rapidly along these
passageways which she had learned
before. Through the last deep sunken
tunnel which led to the door of the
torture chamber itself she passed
alone, trembling with fear, and yet re-
solved.
The door was locked. She turned to
see the key upon the wall. AS She
turned there came to her a faint
sound. Someone was knocking at the
IN ctr OF bo- h
She felt her face go cold. Had the
dead indeed come to life? Was it in
deed true that some hand from beyond
the grave alone could point out the
hiding place of this treasure? What
could it mean?
But the knocking at the door grew
bolder She heard a voice-a faint
voice through the steel facing of the
inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted
the key, gave one great push to open
the door. which yielded the more
quickly to power exerted within. She
saw the faint CLEAN of a light added
to those of her own candle; saw the
face of the man she had sought!
Your" she cried. TT is your"
She heard him answer calmly, slow
ly. without agitation, as though all the
time he had been convinced she would
come.
ut is ended" said Count Frederick
at last, slowly. Never again will /
doubt! l prayed for you, prayed that
you should understand before l died.
But it was meant for you to come for
me, that might know-know as much
as 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
| knowing-that experience which only
makes life worth living. have dread.
ed all things, but now l hope. / must
i 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 we
have no time now," said she gently III
was but chance which brought me
here"
Chance? Yes, if fate, if the hant
of heaven mean chance, shall call il
chance, not otherwise. / say that Il
was the plan of fate long ago that yot
should come to me, now and here"
1--WE have come close to the secret
said Kitty Gray slowly. But we hav,
come closer to perils"
True, more than you know"
What do you mean?"
"Sachio was here-it was he and hi
man who thrust me in here, where
had planned to place him. They know
it all-all that we do now, made
moiselle. Sachio himself has gone t,
carry his news to his king. We ar,
undone. mademoisellel There will b.
war"
IF war. then why do we wait here?
she demanded of him. War is wha
we have sought to avoid for this king
dom by our own knowledge of tn
coin. If it be too late-why. ther
we must fight. Ah. how l wish
were a man. that / might fight a
WELL"
You have fought well for all of us
mademoiselle," said Frederick. wv
have repulsed our enemies. Woul
you repulse-your friend?"
. She made no answer. but was ava
] before him in the dark passageway.
CHAPTER L.
The BattIe.