The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-14

ried to the chancellor's private office.
my dear countess, requested your
presence urgently, as desire to make
you a gift that am sure you will be
glad to accept"
The countess looked questioningfy
at her dictator.
"You have asked me several times
what happened to the Chevalier di
Leon. your gallant knight and dancer,
and I have found him for you; more
than that, l will turn him over to
you for safe keeping"
The countess beautiful face became,
for fleeting moment, sad. then her
serenity returned.
81 am counting on your clever work.
The chevalier is man whose mission
and means are obscure and / must
know more about him. You are the
only one in the service who will be
able to obtain this information for me.
To show you how much trust you
and your ability, l give you carte
blanche-you may do as you please
If you should find 1t necessary, you
may even elope with him. Here is a
special order and passport, also an ex-
tended account upon all the state
banks"
81 see; but what is it that you want
to known
Everything, my dear countess; but
especially the situation across the At
lantic."
Il think know what my duties are.
and will start for Helgoland tomorrow.
When shall report progress?"
When your mission is at an end"
The Countess Rosiny picked up the
documents, looked them over and
placed them in her handbag.
The punctilious chancellor escorted
her to his Office door and bade her
goodby, wishing her good fortune.
When the door closed behind the de-
parting countess the chancellor rubbed
his hands with satisfaction. 81 am
glad she took the commission so calm
ly. Now, my dear chevalier, II you
can Withstand those violet eyes you
are not an ordinary mortal but q
saint
The countess beautiful face was
set and determined; she had not spok-
en-, but storm was raging in her heart.
Three days later the captain told
hjG Or1Snnnr th a
pected; that she was a lady Of the
court, charged with conspiracy against
the government.
The chevalier laughed. 81 should
not be surprised to find an old &C
quaintance in the fair conspirator."
The captains eyes grew round and
his honest face expressed surprise.
The following morning Countess Ro-
siny arrived. The apartment adjoin-
ing that OF the chevalier was given her
and the prisoners met In the presence
of Captain Euler at the breakfast
table.
The greeting that Chevalier di Leon
gave was quite surprise to the count
ess: he acted courteously, bat gave
not the least sign that he had ever
met her before. When the breakfast
was over he retired to the reading
room, where the countess followed
him, without the captain.
you don't seem to recognize me,
chevalier!"
He glanced around cautiously, and
when he saw they we're alone he whis-
pered: 81 thought 1t might be dtsa-
greeable for you, countess, but now
that We are alone, greet you with
all my heart"
What brought you here, chevalier?''
Chevalier di Leon laughed and
shrugged his shoulders. II think 1t
is q caprice of the Count Won Werden-
stein; he wants to extend all the hos
pitality he possibly can. Look at those
masterfully constructed windows that
give you air and light, without per
hitting you to see even the sky. Is
that not the limit of forethought?"
The countess recognized bitter feel
ing in the chevaliers heart, and cast
ing down her beautiful eyes, she
sighed: From now on you will have