New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-12-27
CHAPTER X.--Continued.

-
A glance about showed her that hel
.ode book was gone. In the tray
above, her jewels remained untouched
her pearl collar. the diamond knick
knacks the archduchess had given mel
on successive Christmases, even 8
handful OF gold coins, all were sa1t
enough. But the code book vas gone
Then indeed did the countess look
death In the face-and found 1t ter
rtbIe. Fer a moment she could not sc
much rs stand without support. II
was Their that she saw n paper folded
under her Jewels and took it out witt
sinking fingers. In fine, c0pperplate
script she read:
Madame-TonIght at one o'clock n closed
Hacre will await you In the Street OF the
Wise Virgins. near the church. You will
xo In Il, without fall. to wherever 1t taxi
yOu.
ts,gned The Committee OF Ten,
The committee Of ten! This thing
had happened to her. Then it was
true that the half mythical committee
Of ten existed. that this terror of LII
yOnIa was n real terror, which had her
by the throat. For there was no es-
cape. 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, to be as instantly abandoned for
their futllity. Where could she 90
that they would not follow her?
When she had reacted from her first
shock she fell to %pondering the mat
ter, pro and con. What could they
want of her? If she was IN 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,
10 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 n brave woman, ply
sicaily and mentally Of hard fiber, but
the very name signed to the paper set
her nerves to %twitching. 1t was the
committee of ten which had murdered
Prince Hubert and his young wife; the
committee OF ten which had exploded
~ bomb In the very palace itself, and
Killed old Breidnu, Of the kings cOun-
m A.. -a,,tt4A, lf tnn tsIfah bad
burned the government house, and had
the mob in the student riots a
year or SO before.
Ia this dread presence. then, She
would find herself that night! For
she would 20. There was no way out.
The countess rang for her maid.
She was cool enough now, and white,
With Il cruel line about her mouth that
Miuna knew well. She went TO the
door into the corridor, and locked it.
Then she turned on the maid. II
am ready for you, now"
MADAME will retire?"
you little fooll You know what
] am ready for!"
Inc tHstlu ftUOu sum. I1CI Nlut,
eyes. filled with alarm, watched
countess as she moved swiftly
across the room to her wardrobe.
When she turned about again, she held
IN her hand a thin black riding crop.
Ainna's ruddy color faded. She knew
the Loschcks. knew their furies.
aEfadame!" she cried. and fell on
her knees. "what have l done? oh,
what have ! done?"
That Is what you will tell me-" said
the countess. and brought down the
A livid stripe across the girls
face turned slowly to red.
81 have done nothing. I swear II.
Mother Of pity. help me! I have done
nothing"
The crop descended again, this time
on one of the great sleeves Of her
peasant costume. So thin il was, so
the blow, that it cut into the
0roaning. the girl fell for
ward Of her face. The countess o n |
tinued to strike pitiless blows into
which she put all her fury. her terror.
her frayed and ragged nerves.
The girl on the floor, from whimper-
Ing. fdl to crying hard, with great
noiseess sobs Of pain and bewi,der-
ment. When at last the blows ceased,
me lay still.
The eountess prodded her with her
foot Get up" she commanded.
Bot she wa startled when she saw
he GIFTS face Il was she who was
he 6col. The welt would tell Its own
40, ed tho ether servants would