The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-12-12

make fresh start Surely. after all.
peace was the greatest. thing In the
world.
The carriage drove on: Ninna. ON
the box. crossed herself at sight Of the
church. and chatted with the driver.
4 great figure who crowded her to the
very edge Of the seat
II am glad to be here" abe said. Il
am Ack Of grandeur. Ny homo Ii in
Etxel." She turned and inspected the
man beside here. ~You are Q new
conner. I thinkr'
II have but Just come to Etzel."
Then you cannot tell me about my
people," She was disappointed.
"And you" inquired the driver.
"you will stay for q vidtr
"A week only. But better than moth
ing"
after that. you return to the cityT
~Yes. Madame the countess-you
would know. II you were Etxel-born-
madame the countess Ii lady in wait
ing to her royal highness. the Arch
duchess Annunciata."
l
not curious, and the broken road de-
manded his attention. He was but
newly come. 20 very newly that he did
not know his way. and once made .
wrong turning.
The countess relaxed. She slept
that night.
When sAs had breakfasted and
dressed. she went out on . balcony.
and looked down at the VALLEY. Her
eyes dropped 10 the old wAil below.
where in the 0unshine the caretaker
was beading q rug. Close 10 him, In in
innate and cautions conversation. was
ths driver of tie aisht before. Glanc-
ing up, tAay aaW hsr and at once
separated.
Gone WAS peace. then. The countess
knew-knsw certainly. -Our eyes see
sveEyWhsra." Eyes. indeed-eyes that
even now tie earstAksr raised furtive-
" from his rug.
Nsverthsless, tie countess was
minded to experiment. to be certain.
For none II % suspicious, she know.
a. one who fears suspicion. None 20
guilty a. the guilty. During the fore
noon she walked through the woods,
going bfiskly, with vigorous, mountain
bred fest. No crackls Of underbrush
disturbed her. Swift turninss 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 nlxht before reflectively 61h-
ing.
He saluted her gravely, and Tie
countsss paused and looked at him.
you hsve caught NO ash, my friendr'
she said.
'.No, madame. But one plays about
my hook"
She turned back. Eyes everywhere.
and arms, great hairy arms. And fest
that, for all their sixe, must step
lightiyi
On the second day she made des-
perats resolve, and character1stically
nut Il into execution at once. She
sent for the caEstaker. When he came.
uneasy, for the Loscheks were Justly
feared In the countrywide. and even
the thing Of which he knew gave him
small courage, she lost NO time In
evasion. ss
"Go," she said. "and bring here your
accomplice.~
.Ny accomplice. madamei I do
not"
~You heard me-" abe said.
He turned, half sullen, half terrified.
and paused. (which do you refer to,
madamoT
She had seen only the one. Then
there were others. Who could tell
how many othefsf
'-The one who drove here"
30 he went, leaving her to desperate
reflection. When he returned, 1t was
to usher In the heavy ngure Of the
Spy.
(which Of you il in authorityr she
demanded.
=, madame. 1t was the SPY who
spoke.
She dismissed the caretaker with Q
gesture.
"Havs you any discretion oyer met
Or must you refer matters to those
who sent your
must refer to them"
"How long will It take to send .
message and receive . replyr
| He considered. "Until tomorrow
night, madame"
Another day gone. then. and nothing
determined
'Now, listen" she said, -and listen
carefully. I have come here to decide
certain question. Whether you know
what that question II or not, does not
matter. But before I decide 1t must
take certain journey. wish to make
that journey. It II into Karnia."
She watched him. ."It II impossible.
Ny Instructions
Il am not asking your permission
wish to send letter to tho commit