The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-10
SIXTEENTH lnsTALLMENT
CHAPTER Lvli.

A Tartar Taken.
"En6n, mademoiselle!" exclaimed
Gachio, with the smile which Kitty
Gray 90 we'll learned how to hate 90
we'll ~ dread. At last! You are
dimcult. but As the maxim makers
have 1t, perseverance at length wins
its own reward.
well, then" she began, facing him,
at bay. her hands clenched, her eyes
flashing. What 10 1t that you wish?'
"Ah, wen. many things, my DEAR"
said Sachio, coolly. But especially
desire all the knowledge you have Of
the affairs of this distracted kingdom
here. There il more than one secret
here-yes? It has broken coin and
. broken parchment as well-yes?
Together they may mean something,
each for the other-yes? And wei
all Of US who are sworn to advance
the interest of our kingdom-we need
them both-all. Is it not true?''
He felt in his pocket for his silver
cigarette case, and would have served
himself. AS he opened the case the
girl made sudden spring. His hand
dropped the little case and caught her
by the arm.
Tut, tut, now!" he said. do not
be foolish. l may as we'll say it-you
are going once more with US to our
own town. the city Of Grahoffen."
She coul1 only stamp her foot, too
much einraged to speak. But he went
on.
Il am thinking you will not SO soon
make your escape the next time. We
have seen that Gretzhoffen here has
deep dungeons-yes? Grahoffen has
others quite as deep.
Take her, men!" he said, land
quick. We must march,"
'Ah, WE'LL" said Kitty Gray, 1T
should not prove SO difficult. l am
unarmed and a woman-I am helpless
and innocent of any wrong against
you"
"Mademoiselle." said Sachio, 1T is
idle to waste words. Give over to me
the piece of parchment which know
you have"
Il will not" said she calmly.
Search her, men!" said Sachio.
Take away from her what she has
be careful not to tear it more
She was helpless and realized it.
Slowly she drew from her bosom the
folded piece of parchment which she
had concealed.
well, then" said she, ''since you
resort to such measures, here it is
] do not deny it. l found it. So did
you. At least it is as much mine as
yOurs-and more mine, because I did
not lose what once found. But as to
what it means, / know nothing. l
never saw it before"
VERY we'll, them" said Sachio I'VE
will see if we can read its additional
riddle at some later time. Now we
must co."
In the confusion of the hour, there
noted the fashion of her disappear
ance, for all had matters enough to
occupy them fully. Count Frederick
alone of all those with whom she late
ly had spoken missed her, and began
search for her. He got no word in
any portion of the palace which had
been frequented by her as guest or
prisoner.
Troubled deeply, Count Frederick
once more turned to his own home.
Here he made urgent inquiries among
his people in the vague hope that
once more the young woman whom
he sought had for reasons of her own
found her way back to place where
she had more than once ventured in
the past But not one of his servants
could furnish any knowledge whatso-
ever. They had not seen her, knew
nothing of her presence.
Count Frederick called to him one
of his most trusted men.
Listen" said he. "You know the
young American-the one of certain
prominence in the c0urt-the one who
has been here as my guest?"
"Yes, excellency," replied the man
impassively.
every well. She has disappeared.
It is my wish that you discover her
for me as soon as possible-at
once"
Having taken these measures, pos
sibly inefficient. yet the only ones Of
fering to his mind, Count Frederick
himself hurried once more to the royal
palace.
1t was, as so often is the case. q
sI0all thing which changed the course
Of greater resolutions. As he CROSSE
the palace grounds 80 lately the scene
of armed combat, he noted the tram
pied swafd, the torn bed of flowers.
the broken shrubs. the shorn trees
Ill the marks of rife and artillery fire.