The Dermott news., 1918-02-21

maid away with Il sharp word, and now she was pacing the floor.
 Hedwig. of all people
 She hated her. She had always hated her. For her youth, first; later, when she saw how things were going, for the accident that had made her Il granddaughter to the king.
 And Karl
 Even this last June, when Karl had made his looked-for visit to the sum mer palace where the court had been Tn residence, he had already had the thing in mind. Even when his arms had been about her, Olga Loschek, he had been looking over her shoulder, as it were. at IIedwig. He hnd had 1t all In his wicked head. even then. For Karl was wicked. She loathed him while she loved him.
 Hedwig would marry Karl She might be troublesome, would indeed almost certainly be troublesome. Strangely enough. the countess hated her the more for that. To value so lightly the thing for which Olga Loschek would have given her soul. this in itself was hateful. But there was more. The countess saw much with her curiously wide. almost child ishly bland eyes: It was only now that It occurred to her to turn what she knew of Hedwig and Milky to account
 She stopped pacing the floor, and sat down. Suppose Hedwig and Milky Larisch went away together? He'd even for that That would stop things. But Hedvig did not trust her. And there was about Milky n dog-like quail ity of devotion. which warned her that. the deeper his love for Hedwig, the more unlikely he would be to bring her to disgrace. Milky might be difficult.
 She must try for Hedwig's con fidenee, But Karl, How to reach him? Not with reproaches, not with anger. She knew her man well. To hold him off was the first thing. To postpone the formal proposal, and gain time If the chancellor had been right and things were as bad as they ap- peared. the kings death would preclpi- tate n crisis Might. indeed. overturn the throne.
 The king was very feeble. This afralr of yesterday had told on him. The gossip of the court was that the day had seen change for the worse. His heart was centered on the crown prince.
 An here was another viewpoint. Suppose the crown prince had not come back? What would happen with the king dead, and no king? Chaos, of course. A free hand to revolution. Hedwig fighting for her throne, and inevitably losing It.
 But that was further than she cared to go just then. She would finish cer- tain work that she had set out to do. and then she was through. No longer would dread and terror grip her in the night hours,
 But she would finish. Karl should never say she had failed him. She had In her possession papers for which he waited or pretended to walt: data secured by means she did not care to remember: plans and figures carefully compiled-a thousand deaths in one, if they were found on her She would get them out of her hands at once.
 II was still but little after five. She brought her papers together on her small mahogany desk. from such hid ing places as women know-the Things of perfumed sachets, the toes of small slippers. the secret pocket in muif; and having locked her doors, put them fin order. Her hands were trembling, but she worked skillfully. She was free until the dinner hour. but she had q great deal to do. The papers in order, she went to n panel in the wall of her dressing room, and. sliding 1t aside, revealed the safe in which her jewels were kept. Not that her jewels were very valuable, but the sufe was there, and she used it.
 The countess took out a jewel-case. it. lifted its chamois cushions. and took out small book. T. was an hiding place but long im- had made her careless. Re ftrFing to the book she wrote letter in code. II was. to all appearances. a friendly letter referring 10 T family in her native town and asking that The recipient see that assistance be sent thel before Thursday of the fol- lowing week. The assistance was specified with much detall--at her ex- pense to send so many blankets. so many loaveS of bread. long list. Having finished, she destroyed, by burning. number of papers. watch. Inc until thu 1act bod s,rp,l frl,,,