Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-06-08

their don for stolen g~oods-yes. yes, !
know. But dare you 90 with met"
II must dare It," said Kitty firmly.
Perhaps my friends will follow mo
l do not know-but even II not, you
and l must get back what he has sto-
len from mo-"
"And what was It, excellencyf"
mo more than q broken bit Of coin.
captain. of value to none as 1t is now.
Of great value to me provided l can
attain 1t and the other half"
"You need say not more. The er.
rand ID enough to interest mebe-
cause now I shall have that fellow
Blake where I have longed to find him.
He shall not ride with US again. But
come" he added.
They found their way through the
darkening streets in the purlieus Of
Gretzh0ffen town. Under the leader.
ship Of the chieftain they threaded
street after street. alley after alley,
until at length their party descended
into . steep gully In a less important
portion Of the city. A faint light
showed through the chinks Of q wall
which seemed to be the facing Of .
bank, but which really concealed some
sort Of den within. .
"Yonder, excellency." whispered
Landozi. lis the place where they hole
up--like rats in a sewer-and they
have no more principles-they are
worthy Of no more. Come, my men.
close In"
He pushed against the door round
which shone the CLEANS of light, and
fastened into a sort Of p~assageway.
Their entry attracted no attention for
the time.
Only two Of the gang remained. the
others having departed on n errand
or other Of their own. When Kitty
and her companion looked through the
little window, which gave in upon the
frecess under the bluff. they saw sit
ting close to the table two men
Blake, the renegade, and another Of
his band. The keen eye Of Kitty de-
tected Blake's hand lying upon the
table-and near 1t the object which
she sought-the missing coin!
"Quick," whispered Landozi, and az
he spoke he broke into the room
Without hesitation he flung himself
upon Blake, and Kitty. wishing to be
Of service, and finding no better
means, caught up an empty bottle
which stood near and dealt 80 inter
esting a blow upon the head Of the
remaining ruflan as to put him out Of
the combat for the time An instant
later she had caught from the table
the coveted coin.
Let him 60, Landozi quick!
Come! I have got I'll" she exclaimed
And an instant later she was in the
p%assageway once more.
She had almost made her way Out
into the open, when in the semidark
ness she felt a strong hand clutch al
her ~wrist-heard a low laugh at hel
ear.
"Roleau!" she cried aloud.
mo, not Roleau." said a voice she
knew well enough-the voice Of the
Count Frederick.
$50, you have 1t! Very well, clinl
to 1t, then-but don't drop 1t. To pre-
vent that I will even hold your hant
In mine."
"You brute!" exclaimed Kitty. sob
bing now in the intensity of her emo
tions-"after all ! have done to &c
it-and it is mine!"
"Why argue 1t. my dear younl
lady?" exclaimed Count Frederick. I"
have told you l must have 1t. I regre
as much as you that / must disturb
you"
Release me-let me go!"
Painting. she looked up at him in thu
half light. What she saw was a fact
grim and full of purpose-a face which
it seemed to her she would Away
hate-but in which at least there wa
no trace Of any fear.
Come" he said, and flung an arm
about her waist as he stepped towar'
the open. Let Ro)eau fend for him
SELF am satisfied with what / hav'
now"
An instant later no halted. From
what sounds he heard at the rear, h
knew escape was cut off there. An
now crowding in at the entrance O
the main gallery in which they stood
there came yet others Of the thieves
band, barring exit there as we'll.
Count Frederick, shielding Kitty
stood at bay.