The Elbert County tribune., 1916-01-14

to the rendezvous of the apaches--
yes, yes-by whom why? He is
there now, perhaps ?-Ah, bah. what
manner of officers are you? What is
your plan in all this-to have him
killed by thieves in turn?"
Count Frederick paused to hear no
more, but flushed guiltily over his
eavesdropping retraced his steps down
the hall and sought more decorous
means of meeting the young woman
whom he wished to see. But even as
he did SO he reflected that from the
detached exclamations he had heard
surely she was planning yet other ad-
ventures. If Roleau had been here
il he had been followed away by the
police toward the thieves headquar-
ters-surely this undamted girl would
in turn do what she could to rescue
him. If so, once more she herself
would need assistance.
Count Frederick stepped to one side
in 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, Il
was so fortunate"
He did not pause to say definitely
In what way he had been fortunate,
but, unhurried, strolled down the steps
into the street, intent on nothing so
much as upon discovering what Kitty
Gray next would do.
1t was now a 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 csutody. That occupant, how
| ever, was not his mistress. but an
other-none less than a member OF 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 prefect had ordered Ro-
leau's discharge by telephone from
the palace. almost as she was leaving.
and both she and Roleau had fastened
to the hotel.
Now, as Kitty emerged, followed by
Count Frederick. yet another one of
Blake's underworld band stepped out
from his hiding place and followed
Count Frederick himself. And all of
these, each was in pursuit OF the cov-
eted Gretzhoffen coin.
As for Roleau, his man made rapid
progress, and it was not long before
he had trailed him to the rendezvous
of the band which he himself previous
ly had 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, chanced to
return to the rendezvous. He had
passed part way into the subterranean
passage when he looked on ahead Just
in time to see one of his men emerge
from the central room and make a
spring at an intruder whom he him
self at once recognized as the man
who at this very scene earlier
had given him SO desperate bat
tle-who later had given him into
the hands of the law.
Thinking only of revenge now, for
getting the coin, the renegade leader
whipped out his revolver and fred
point blank at Roleau.
To BE CONTINUED,