The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-17

The carriage drove on; Nina, or
the box, crossed herself at sight of the
church. and chatted with the driver
a great figure who crowded her to the
very edge of the seat.
! 81 am glad to be here" she said. u
sick of grandeur. My home is In
EEL" She turned and inspected the
an beside here. "You are a new
'mer, think?'
81 have but Just come to Etzel."
'"Then yoE cannot tell me about my
,ople" She was disappointed.
"And you" inquired the driver,
rou will stay for visit7"
"a week only. But better than moth
e."
After that, you return to the city?'
"Yes. Madame the countess-you
ould know, if you were Etzel-born-
adame the countess is lady in wait
G to her royal highness, the Arch
ichess Annunciata."
"Sow said the driver. But he was
It curious, and the broken road de-
anded his attention. He was but
WHY come, so very newly that he did
know his way, and once made a
'ong turning.
The countess relaxed. She slept
at night.
When she had breakfasted and
dressed, she went out on a balcony,
and looked down at the valley. Her
eyes dropped to the old wall below,
where in the sunshine the caretaker
was beating a rug. Close to him, in In
innate and cautious conversation, was
the driver Of the night before. Glanc
ing up, they saw her and at once
separated.
Gone was peace, then. The countess
knew-knew certainly. "Our eyes see
everywhere" Eyes, indeed-eyes that
even now the caretaker raised furtive-
ly from his rug.
Nevertheless, the countess was |
to experiment. to be certain. |
For none is so suspicious, she knew,
as one who fears suspicion. None so
guilty as the guilty. During the fore
noon she walked through the woods,
going briskly, with vigorous, mountain
bred feet. No crackle of underbrush
disturbed her. Swift turnings revealed
no lurking figures skulking behind the
trunks of trees. But where an ancient
stone bridge crossed mountain
stream, she came on the huge driver
Of the night before reflectively fish
Ing.
He saluted her gravely, and the
countess paused and looked at him.
you have caught no fish, my friend"
she said.
"No, madame. But one plays about
ny hook"
She turned back. Eyes everywhere,
ind arms, great hairy arms. And feet
hat, for all their size, must step
lightly
On the second day she made des-
,erate resolve, and Enthusiastically
,ut it into execution at once. She
ent for the caretaker. When he came,
Ineasy, for the Loscheks were, justly
cared In the countryside, and even
he thing of which he knew gave him
mail courage, she lost no time in
vasion.
go" she said, land bring here your
ccomplice."
my accomplice, madamel 1 do
ot-"
"You heard me-" she said.
He turned, half sullen, half terrified,
nd paused. (Which do you refer to,
ladamer
She had seen only the one. Then
here were others. Who. could tell \
ow many others?
"The one who drove here"
SO he went, leaving her to desperate v
election. When he returned, 1t was S
, usher in the heavy figure Of the q
py.
(which Of you is In authority?" she
n
II, madame" It was the spy who
poke.
She dismissed the caretaker with a Z
ssture. tt
Have you any discretion over mel II
r must you refer matters to those b.
no sent your"
II must refer to them"
@HOw long will 1t take to send q q
essage and receive replyY b
He considered. Until tomorrow kl
ght, madame"
Another day gone, then, and nothing ia
I'll
"Now, listen" she said, "and listen hi
refully. I have come here to. decide
certain question. Whether you know bl
hat that question is or not does not Ell
atter. But before / decide it must cl
ke certain journey. wish to make W
at journey. 1t Is into Karnia." be
She watched him. 1T is impossible. he
' instructions"
II am not asking your permission. pr
wish to send letter to the commit its
E. They, and they alone, will de-
rhine this thing. Win you send the To-
terri re
When he hesitated. perplexed, she hs
up and moved to her writing table IL
Il shall write the letter." she said wi
ughtily. "See that It is sent. When fie
.eport at the end Of the time that I
ve sent such q letter. you can judge w
tier than the result II It has not VIC
n received" XII