The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-31
CHAPTER xIIl-Continued.

The candle was at last lighted. l
burned fitfully, illuminating only TIN
zone in the darkness.
II need lantern" Bobby observed
There's 4 deaft here. 1t comes from
the otner grating. Some time, wheI
you have time, I'd like to see what
beyond 1t. / was kind of nervou
about going alone"
1t was the old passage, then, o.
course. Old adelbert stared as Bobby
took the candle and held it toward &
second grated door, like the first, bu
talleF.
A close examination revealed to Ole
Adelbert two things: First, that
brick-lined passage, apparently IN good
repair, led beyond the grating. Sec
ond, that it bad been recently put in
order. 80 unused passage this, but
one F,sSt in order and repair. For
what2
,F'1at 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
keF, 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
bundle of keys, tied in a brown
paper.
But he did not back to his chest.
He went instead to the thicket around
the old gate, which was still termed
the Gate of the Moon" and there,
armed with a lantern, pursued his in
vestigations 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
plan, which bad 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 machine.
"The matter of passports for the
border is arranged, madame" Black
Humbert told her.
81 have my own passports" she said
proudly.
''They will not be necessary"
81 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
No, there must be no word
of the committee, or of the terror that i
drove her to Karl. For, If the worst
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
marry Hedwig in spite of the trouble
1t would precipitate, then indeed she
was lost. II, on the other hand, he
was inclined to peace, If her story OF
! tottering throne held his hand, she
would defy the committee of ten. Karl
himself would help her to escape,
might indeed hide her. 1t would not
be for long. Without Karls support
he kings death would bring the ter
,orists into control. They would have
,ther things to do than to hunt her
tut Their end would be gained with
tut her. Let them steal the crown
Drince, then. Let Hedwig fight for her
hrone and lose 1t. Let the streets
un deep with blood and all the pande-
aonium Of hell break loose. K
But il Karl failed her. She clinched (
er teeth.
The countess did not sleep. She
vas, with every Eber of her keen brain, I
her arguments. She would 6
eed them, for she knew-none better
how great q handicap was hers.
he loved Karl, and he knew it. What
Id been her strength had become her
Ieakness. o
Yet she was composed enough when,
nfor~ the sun - we'll up, the ma {
Etes lrsw ~ d the village Detoe