The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-10
CHAPTER X.-Continued.


code book was gone. In the tray
above, her jewels remained untouched /;
her pearl collar, the diamond knick-
knacks the archduchess had given her
on successive Christmases, even a
handful of gold coins, all were safe
enough. But the code book was gone.
Then indeed did the countess look
death in the face-and found it ter
rfble. For q moment she could not so
much as stand without support. 1t
was then that she saw a paper folded
under her jewels and took it out with
shaking fingers. In fine, copperplate
script she read:
Madame-Tonight at one o'clock a closed
Hacre will await you in the Street of the
Wise Virgins, near the church You will
go in it, without fail. to wherever it takes
you.
(Signed, 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
vonia was real terror, which had her
by the throat. For there was no es-
cane. 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 futility. Where could she go |
that they would not follow her? |
When she had reacted from her first |
shock she fell to bordering the mat
ser, pro and con. What could they
want of her? If she was an 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 it's friends,
10 hold in their hands it's future and
its bettermeD.. Enemies of the royal
house they were, of course.
She WIS nearly distracted by that
time. She was a brave woman, ply
stcally 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
a bomb in the very palace itself, and
killed old Breidau, of the kings coun-
Gil; the committee of ten which had
burned the government house, and had
led the mob in the student riots a
year or so before.
In this dread presence, then, she
would find herself that night For
she would go. There was no way out.
The countess rang for her maid.
She was cool enough now, and white,
with a cruel line about her mouth that :
NIinna 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 fool! You know what a
| am ready forl"
The maid stood still. Her wide, t
bovine eyes, filed with alarm, watched I
the countess as she moved swiftly "
lcross the room to her wardrobe. n
when she turned about again, she held Il
n her hand thin black riding crop. a
diuna's ruddy color faded. She knew e
;be Loscheks, knew their furies. p
sMadamel" she cried, and fell on
Ter knees. ''What have done? Oh, Il
What have l doneT d
THAT is what you will tell me-" said G
he countess, and brought down the la
rup. A livfd stripe across the girls le
ace turned slowly to red. n
II have done nothing, swear It. el
fother Of pity, help me! have done
othing."
The crtk descended again, this time Il
! one " the great sleeves Of her n
eaaas,k costume. So thin 1t was. 70 q
untat ~ ttow. that It ut into ~ p