Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-05-31
CHAPTER xIlI--contlnued.
p

x
The candle was at last lighted. 1t
burned fitfully, Illuminating only tiny
zone in the darkness.
al need lantern" Bobby observed.
ssThere's a draft here. 1t comes from
the other grating. Some time, when
YOU have time, I'd like to see what's
beyond it. / was kind of nervous
about going alone"
1t was the old passage, then, of
course. Old Adelbert stared as Bobby
took the candle and held 1t toward a
second grated door, like the first. but
taller.
A close examination revealed to old
i Adelbert two things: First, that a
a brickIined passage, apparently in good
4 repair, led beyond the grating. Sec
ond, that it had been recently put in
order. No unused assage this, but
one kept in order I'D repair. For
what?
That evening Adelbert called to see
his friend, the locksmith in the uni
versity place. He possessed. he said,
a paddock of which he had lost the
Key and which, being fastened to
chest, he was unable to bring with him.
A large and heavy paddock, perhaps
the size of his palm.
When he left, he carried with him
a bundle of nrys, tied in brown
paper.
But he did not back to his chest.
He went instead to the thicket around
- -fi forYf1nd
the "Gate of the Moon" and there,
armed with lantern, pursued his in
designations during a portion of the
night
When he had finished, old Adelbert,
veteran of many wars, one-time patriot
and newly turned traitor, held in his
shaking hands the fate of the king
dom.
The Countess Loschek was on her
way across the border. The arrange
ments were not of her MAKING. Her
81 plan, which had been TO go afoot
across the mountain TO the town Of
= Ar-on-Ar, and there to hire motor.
had been altered by the arrival at the
castle, shortly after the permission
was given, of a machine.
'"The matter of passports for the
border is arranged, madame" Black
81 Humbert told her.
Il have my own passports" she said
proudly.
'"They viii not be necessary"
Il will have this interview at my
destination alone. or not at all"
He drew himself to his great height
and regarded her with cold eyes. AS
you wish,' he said. "But it is prob
ably not necessary to remind madame
that, whatever is discussed at this
meeting, no word must be mentioned OF
the committee, or its plans"
Although he made no threat, she had
Shivered. No, there must be no word
of the committee, or of the terror that
drove her to Karl. For, If the worst
happened, If he failed her, and she
must do the thing they had set her to
DO, Karl must never know. That card
she must play alone.
Everything hung on the result of her
visit. If Karl persisted, if he would
M 1870 ACuW1S III SDll6 "a tAS t4OoDAS
It would precipitate, then indeed she
was lost. If, on the other hand, he
was inclined to peace, if her story OF
tottering throne held his hand, she
would defy the committee CT ten. Karl
himself would help her to escape,
might indeed hide her 1t would not
Oe for long. Without Karl's support
the kings death would bring the ter
rorlsts into control. They would have
other things to do than to hunt her
out. Their end would be gained with
out her. Let them steal the crown
prince, then. Let Hedwig fight for her
throne and lose Il. Let the streets
run deep with blood and all the pande-
lonlum of hell break loose.
But If Karl failed her. She clinched
her teeth.
The countess did not sleep. She
vas with every fiber of her keen brain,
Alnoning her arguments. She would
Neeu them, for she knew-none better
whoW great a handicap was hers.
cue loved Karl, and he knew it. What
Weakness.
1et she was composed enough when.
os,e the sun was well up, the ma
e drew up In the village befors