The Dermott news., 1918-04-04
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

A glance about showed her that her
code book WAS gone. In the tray
above. her jewels remained untouched;
knacks the archducbess had given her
on successive Christmases. even
handful OF gold coins, all were safe
} enough. But the code book WAS gone.
Then indeed did the countess look
. death In the face-and found 1t ter
rible For moment she could not so
much rs stand without support. 1t
was then that she saw paper folded
under her Jewels and took 1t out with
shaking fingers. In fine, copperplate
script she read:
Madame-Tonight at one o'clock a closed
nacre will await you in the Street OF the
Wise Virgins. near the church. You will
no In II, without fail. to wherever II takes
you.
tsigned The Committee of Ten
The committee OF ten, This thing
had happened To her. Then II was
true that the half mythical committee
Of ten existed. that this terror of LII
vonia was II real terror. which had her
by the throat. For there was no es-
cane. None. Now indeed she knew
that rumor spoke the truth. and that
the terrorists were everywhere. In
daylight they had entered her room.
They had known OF the safe, known
= OF the code. Known how much else?
Wild ideas OF flight crossed her
mind 10 be as instantly abandoned for
their futillty. Where could she go
that they would not follow herr
When she had reacted from her first
shock she fell to bordering the mat
ter, pro and con. What could they
want of her? II she was an enemy to
the country. so were they. But even
that led nowhere, for after all. the
terrorists were not enemies To Livonia.
They claimed indeed to be its friends,
to hold In their hands Its future and
its betterment. Enemies Of the royal
house they were. OF course.
She was nearly distracted by that
time. She was brave woman, ply
sically and mentally of hard fiber. but
the very name signed to the paper set
her nerves to twitchlng. 1t was the
committee OF ten which had murdered
Prince Hubert and his young wife: the
committee of ten which had exploded
q bomb in the very palace Itself. and
Killed old Breidau. of the kings coun-
ell: the committee of ten which had
burned the government house, and had
led the mob In the student riots
year or so before.
In this dread presence. then, she
would find herself that night! For
she would go. There was no way out.
The countess rang for her maid.
She was cool enough now, and white.
with a cruel line about her mouth that
Minna knew well. She went 10 the
door into the corridor. and locked II.
Then she turned on the maid. Il
am ready for you, now"
MADAME will retirer'
"You little fool You know what
/ am ready forl"
The maid stood still. Her wide.
bovine eyes, filled with alarm. watched
the countess as she moved swiftly
across the room to her wardrobe.
When she turned about again. she held
In her hand n thin black riding crop.
Minpa's ruddy color faded. She knew
the Loscheks. knew their furies.
MADAME, she cried. and fell on
her Knees. "What have l done3 Oh,
what have l doner
"That is what you will tell me-" said
the countess. and brought down the
crop. A lyid stripe across the girls
face turned slowly 10 red.
81 have done nothing. swear II.
Mother OF pity. help me have done
nothing"
The crop descended again, this time
q, one of the great sleeves of her
PEASANT costume. So thin II was, so
A. ntai tho hlau fhot ~ ruf into tho