The Glenwood post., 1919-07-05
room

"You know that he is the prince?'
"And that you are his cousin"
She was silent for a moment. "Not
only is it impossible for you to enter
his room but it is equally impossible
for you to get out Of this one except
by the way you entered. If L thought
there was the slightest chance for you
to"
let me be the judge of that, coun-
tess. Where is his room2"
1.-THE last to the right as you leave
this dcor-at the extreme end of the
corridor. Across the hall from his
room you will see an open door. A
man sits in there all night long keep
ing watch. You could not approach
Prince Ugo's door without being seen
by that watcher.
you said in your note to Barnes
that the-er-something was in Curtis
study"
"The prince sleeps in Mr.. Curtis
room. The study adjoins it, and can
only be entered from the bedroom.
There is no other door. What are you
doing?"
II am going to take a peep over the
transom, first of all. If the coast is
clear, l shall take little stroll down
the hall. Do not be alarmed. 1 will
come back-with the things we both
want. Pardon me-" He sat down on
the edge of the bed and removed his
shoes. She watched him as if fasci-
mated while he opened the bosom of
his soft shirt and stuffed the wet shoes
inside.
Then he said: "You are not dressed
for flight. May I suggest that while 1
am outside you slip on dark skirt
and coat? You cannot go far in that
dressing gown. 1t would be in shreds
before you had gone hundred feet
through the brush. If do not return
to this room inside of fifteen minutes,
or if you hear sounds of struggle,
crawl through the window and go
down the vines. Barnes will look out
for you"
You must not fail, Theodore
Sprouse," she whispered II must re-
gain the jewels and the state papers.
| cannot go without"
81 shall do my best" he said simply.
Silently he drew chair to the door,
mounted it and. drawing himself up by
his hands, poked his head through the
open transOm. An instant later he was
on the floor again. She heard him in
serting II key in the lock. Almost be-
fore she could realize that it had ac-
tually happened, the door opened slow
ly, cautiously, and his thin wiry figure
slid through what seemed to her no
more than u crack. As softly the door
was closed.
For long time she stood, dazed and
unbelieving. in the center of the room,
staring at the door. She held her
breath, listening for the shout that
was so sure to come-and the shot,
perhaps! A prayer formed on her lips
and went voicelessly up to God.
Suddenly she reused herself from
the stupefaction that held her. With
teverish haste she snatched up gar
ments from the chair on which she had
carefully placed them in anticipation
of the emergency that now presented
itself. A blouse (Which she neglected
to button), short skirt of some dark
material, jacket, and pair of stout
walking shoes (Which she failed to
lace), completed the swift transforma-
ton. AS she glided to the window, she
jammed the pins into small black
hat Of felt. Then she peered over the
ledge.
She started back. sitting cry with
her hand. A mans head had almost
come in contact with her own us she
leaned out. A mans hand reached
over and grasped the inner ledge Of
the easement, and then mans face
was dimly revealed to her startled
gaze. 'N