Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-12
CHAPTER xIN-Continued

thAEIEh AIN-tOnttnueu
THE Committee OF Tent This thing
l. had happened 70 her. Then II was
true that the half-mythical committee of
men existed, that this terror of Livonia
was real terror. which had her by the
throat For there was no escape. None.
Now, indeed. she knew that rumor spoke
the truth. and that the Terrorists were
everywhere. In the 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.
TO be as instantly abandoned for their
futility. Where could she go that they
would not follow her? When she had
reacted from her first shock she fell to
pondering the matter, pro and con.
| what could they want of her? If 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 Ia
he 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, physical-
ly, and mentally of hard fiber but the
Very name signed to the paper set her
| nerves To twitching. 1t was the Com
mtttce of Ten which Ind murdered
/ Prince Hubert and his young wife; the
Committee Of Ten which had explode,
a bomb in the very palac, Itself, and
/ killed old Breidau. of the Kings Council
/ the Committee of Ten which had burned
the Government House and had led the
mob in the student riots year or so
! before.
/ Led them, themselves hidden For
| none knew their identity. II was said
That they did not even know. each other,
wearing masks and long cloaks at their
meetings, and being designated by num-
bers only.
In this dread presence. then. she
would find herself that night, For she
would go. There was no way out.
I She sent "A request to be excused from
dinner on the ground of illness, and was,
as result, visited by her royal mistress
at o'clock
The honor was unexpected. Not often
| did the Archduchess Annunciata so favor
] any one. The Countess, lying across her
bed In II perfect agony of apprehension
staggered into her sitting r ON and
knclt to kiss her lady's hand.
But the Archduchess. who had come
to scoff, believing not at all in the i'll
ness, took one shrewd glance at her and
put her hands behind her
1T may be, as you say. contagious
| Olga she said. you would better &c
/ to bed and stay there. | shall send
Doctor Wiederman to you"
When she had gone the Countess rang
for her maid. She was cool enough
now, and white, with cruel line about
her mouth that Minna knew well. She
went to the door into the corridor and
locked it.
Then she turned on the maid, II an
ready for you, now"
Madame will retire."
you little fool! You know what
am ready for 20
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
thin black riding-crop. Minnas ruddy
color faded. She knew the Loscheks
knew their furies. Strange stories of un
bridled passion had oozed from the ole
ruined castle where for so long they
had held feudal sway over the country
side
Madame :" she cried, and fell on hel
knees. What have l done? oh, wha
have 1 done?"
That is what you will tell me-" sait
the Countess. and brought down tn,
crop. A livid stripe across the girl,
face turned slowly to red.
II have done nothing. swear 1t
Mother of Pity, help me! / have done
nothing"
The crop descended again, this time OF
one of the great sleeves OF her peasant
costume. SO thin 1t was. so brutal the
blow, that 1t cut into the muslin. Groan
ing. the girl fell forward on her face
The Countess continued to strike pitiles.
blows into which she put all her fury
her terror, her frayed and ragged
nerves
The girl on the floor, from whimper
ing. fell to crying hard. with Erca
noiseless sobs of pain and bewilderment
When at last the blows ceased, She lay
still
The Countess prodded her with hei
foot Get up" she commanded.
But she was startled when she saw
the girls face. 1t was she who was thC
fool. The welt would tell its own story
and the other servants would talk. Il
was already deep purple and swollen
Both women were trembling. The
Countess. still holding tho crop. sa
down.
"Now!" she said. you will tell ms
to whom you gave a certain small bool
Of which you know"
81. madame?"
"You"
"But what book? I have given moth.
ing, madame. l swear It,"
Then you admitted some one to this
room?"
mo one, madame, except" She
hesitated.
"well?"
There came this afternoon the men
who clean madame's windows. No cne
else. madame"
She put her hand to her cheek, and
looked furtively to see II her fingers
were stained with blood. The Countess,
muttering. fell to furious pacing of the
room. 80 that was 1t. Of course. The
girl was telling the truth. She was too
stupid to lie. Then the Committee of
Ten, indeed, knew everything-had
known that she would be away. had
known of the window cleaners. had
known of the same, and her possession
of the code.
Cold and calculating rage filled her.
Niburg had played her false. of course,
But Niburg was only go-between. He
had known nothing of the code book.
He had given the Committee the letter.
and by now they knew all that 1t told.
What did 1t not know?
She dismissed the girl and nut away