Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-14
CHAPTER xIx-Cont,nued

CTILL no one spoke. The Countess
~ faced them. Only her eyes showed
her nervousness she stood haughtily,
her head held high. But like most
women. she could not endure silence for
long. at least the silence OF shrouded
figures and intent ewes.
Now that am here" she demanded,
may I ask why | have been sum-
moncd?"
II was Number Seven who replied,
1t was Number Seven who. during the
hour that followed, spoke for the others.
None moved. CT but slightly There
was no putting together of heads. no
consulting. Evidently all had been care
fully prearranged.
Look on the table, Countess. You
will find there some papers you will
perhaps recognize"
She took n step toward the table and
glanced down. The code-booS lay there
Also the letter she had sent by Peter
Niburg. She made no effort to disclaim
them.
Il recognize them" she said clearly.
You acknowledge, then, that they
are yours"
Il acknowledge nothing"
lHty DtuT iIulNatioiS' iib
dame"
Possibly"
DO you realize what will happen,
madame, If these papers are turned over
to the authorities?'
She shrugged her shoulders. And now
Number Seven rose. tall figure of
mystery, and spoke at length in q cul-
tivated, softly ntoned voice The
Countess, listening, felt the voice vague
Is familiar, as were the burning eyes
behind the mask.
1T is our hope. madame" he said,
that you will make it unnecessary for
the Committee Of Ten to use thosc
papers. We have no quarrel with wom-
en-. We wish rather friend than an
enemy There be those. many of them.
who call us poor patriots, who would
tear down without building up. They
are wrong The Committee of Ten. To
those who know its motives. has the
highest and most loyal Of ideals-to the
country"
His voice took on n new, almost n
fanatic note. lie spoke as well to the
other shrouded figures as TO his conf
rades. No mean orator this. He sell
dom raised his voice. he made no ges-
lures. Almost while she listened. the
Countess understood.
They had watCnFu tne RrHuudl ueCay
Of the country he said. Its burden of
taxation grew greater each year. The
masses swcatod and toilaa to carry on
thoir backs the dead weight of the
aristocracy and the throne. The iron
hand Of tho Chancellor held everything ,
an old King who would die, was dying
now, and after that boy, nominal
ruler only, while the Chancellor con
tinued his hard rule. And now. as VI
that were not enough, there was talk
of an alliance with Karnia. an alliance
which. carried through, would destroy
the hope of republic
The Countess stared.
"No wall is too thick for our ears
he continued. "Our eyes See every
where. And as we grow In strength,
they fear us. We'll they may"
He grew scornful then. To gain sup
port for the tottering throne the Chan
cellor would unite the two countries.
that Karl's army. since he could not
trust his own. might be called on for
help. And here he touched the Countess's
raw nerves with a brutal finger
"The price of the alliance. madame.
is the Princess Hedwig In marriage. The
committee. which knows all things. be-
lieves that you have reason to dislike
this marriage"
Save that she clutched her cloak more
closely, the Countess made no move.
But there was a soft stir among the
figures Perhaps, after all, the COM
mittee as a whole did not know all
things
''To prevent this alliance. madame. is
our first aim. There are others to fol-
low. But"-he bent forward-"the King
will not live many days. 1t is our hope
that that marriage will not occur be-
fore his death"
BY this time Olga Loschek knew very
we'll where she stood. The committee
was propitiatory. She was not In danger