Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21

from the arbor, and hurried through
into the narrow path which led to the
hidden gate beyond Just here .nntS wnefe
yards from the spot where she and
Hugh Renwick had listened to the pact
of Konopisht. a figure stood bowing.
She had been SO intent upon i neetmg ,,nn,ent ent
before she recovered from the shock
of her surprise. The man before her
was tall, with good shoulders. and wore
His eyes were dark and as he smiled
they wrinkled very pleasantly at the
corners. -. ,,,,
uncertainty. ,.,
mo bese s ION 70 n,eet"@" She paused. for
fhe Thought suddenly entered her head
that this perhaps might be anotner oi
the men sent to detain her But N ma
moment she realized her mistake. The
air with which the man swept OH ms
hat and bowed convinced her that he
was gentleman and his manner put
her at once at her ease. .,,s ,v,,, :.
smile, has gone on to make some ar ar
rangements for your comfort. He has
asked me to conduct you to the auto
mobile and will join us beyond the VII
An automobile There would still
be time, perhaps, to reach Vienna be-
fore the archducal party should leave
"oh; of course" sasped Marishka
.Tf YOU will come this way, Countess
-" he said with something of an air.
He bowed, but kept his gaze fixed upon
hers There was something very re-
narkable about this mans cyes-she
they held her for a second: held rel her her
his hat gestured for her to pass on. She
took the walk before him, descended
the steps which led to the lower path
where he hurried forward and opened
Even now. no notion entered her head
that this polite person was other than
he represented himself to be, And the
we'll equipped machine which. stood in
the road outside the wall only caused
her momentary thrill of joy at the
opportunity which placed the means of
their escape so readily at the hand of
the now really admirable Herr Rem
wick. As she paused again for a mo-
ment, her companion threw open the
door Of the limousine, and lightly
IF the COUNTIES strahni will enter"
he said quietly. There is little time
to lose.''
Marishka obeyed and in moment the
man in the Norfolk jacket was seated
beside her, the chauffeur had thrown in
swiftly upon it's way. She sank back
into the comfortable cushions with a
sigh of satisfaction which did not escape
her companion.
been in this neighborhood," he said With
strange smile. II was not until then
that she noticed the slightly thick ac-
cents with which he spoke and she
glanced at his profile hurriedly. His
nose was aauiline and we'll cut, but the
suggestion of his nationality was elusive,
In spite of his evident gentility. his GOOD
looks, his courtesy and his friendship
| t,l- n
her first belated instinct that all was
not as it should be. The man beside her
looked past the chauffeur down the road
ahead. turning one or two glances over
hind them. She noticed now that the
car had not gone in the direction OF
the village. but had reached the country
road which led to the west and was mov-
ing at a high speed which seemed to take
the waiting Renwick little into considera-
ton. All the windows of the car were
closed. and she had sense Of being
| Observation-Disclosures. For while she
did not dare to give her thoughts ut.
Prague highroad and turned to the right
she started and turned In alarm to the
man beside her.
You told me that Herr Renwick was
waiting yssSs for u.s. just beyond the village
The question trembled and died on her
| lips for the eyes of the man beside her
answered before it was asked.
II regret" he said evenly, that there
is no time to wait for Herr Renwick"
"You-you have" she stammered
helplessly :,
Il beg that the Countess Strahni will
not be unduly disturbed"
| Where are we going? This Is the
road to Prague. Tell me where you are
| taking me- insist"
He smiled at her again, but did not
reply.
Marishka was now really alarmed anc
| looked out of the closed windows AT the
flying hedgerows in desperation. wonder
ing what she must do and trying to thinl
how this dreadful mishap had befallef