The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-04-14
Advancing by seet Missiles

The Advancing Hosts of Grahoi
ago, an extra bottle Of Beloc, and my
majesty sent man, Count SachiO
yonder to bring it. My majesty de-
sires-"
"Sachio here!"
Eyes, here. You have said that
twice. He was here, twice or once
l 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 pulled 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
toward the interior of the palace, and
down the long hall which before that
time she had explored. Something told
her that Frederick, if 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 ese
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
door. The blood stopped at her heart.
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 vcice-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!
"You?" she cried. ''It is your"
She heard him answer calmly, SLOW
ly, without agitation, as though all the
time he had been convinced she would
come.
'It is ended" said Count Frederick
at last, slowly. Never again will
doubt! I 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
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. 1 have dread
ed all things, but now hope. l 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 a 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. ct
was but chance which brought me
here"
Chance? Yes, if fate, if the hand
of heaven mean chance, shall call it
chance, not otherwise. I 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 all-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. If it be too late-why, then,
we must fight. All, how / wish l
were a man, that I might fight as
WELL"
you have fought well for all OF US,
mademoiselle," said Frederick. I'VE
have repulsed our enemies. Would
you repulse-your friend?"
She made no answer, but was away
before him in the dark passageway.
CHAPTER L.
The Battle
Ill he