Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-06

to put your gloves in when you travel
Please excuse the work. I have done
in a hurry.
FERDINAND WILLIAM OTTO.
Suddenly the countess laughed, chok
ing hysterical laughter that alarmed
Minna; horrible laughter, which left
her paler than ever and gasping.
The old castle of the Loscheks
looked grim and inhospitahle when she
reached it that night. Built during the
years when the unbelieyer overran
southern Europe, it stood in a com
manding position over a valley, and a
steep. walled road led up to it.
But, its ancient glory and good re-
pute departed, its garrison gone, its
drawbridge and moat things of the
past, fits very hangingS and furnish
ings moldering from leng neglect, it
hung over the valley, past menace,
an empty threat.
To this dreary refuge the countess
had fed. She wanted the silence of
llS Gun AttAliS III " iAANIi " tl4AHiN'
Wretched herself, its wretchedness
called her. AS the carriage which had
brought her from the railway turned
into its woods, and she bfeathed the
pungent odor of pine and balsam, she
relaxed for the first time.
Why was she so hopeless? She
could escape. She knew the woods
well. None who followed her could
know them so well. She would get
away. and somewhere. in a new world.
make a fresh start. Surely, after ALL
peace was the greatest thing in the
world.
The carriage drove on Minna, on
the box, crossed herself at sight of the
church, and chatted with the driver,
a great figure who crowded her to the
very edge of the seat.
81 am glad to be here" she said. 81
am sick of grandeur. My home is in
Etzel." She turned and inspected the
man beside here. You are a new
conner I Think"
81 have but Just come to Etzel."
"Thcn you cannot tell me about nay
people" She wns disappointed.
"And YOU" inquired the driver,
you will stay for a visit?"
"a week only. But better than moth
ing"
after that, you return to the city"
"Yes. Madame the countess-you
would know, If you were Etzel-born-
madame the countess is lady in wait
ing TO her royal highness, the Arch
duchess Annunciata."
$50" said the driver. But he was
not curious, and the broken road de-
manded his attention. He was but
newly come, so very newly that he did
not know his way, and once made
wrong turning.
The countess relaxed. She slept
that night.
When she had breakfasted and
dressed, she went out on a balcony,
and looked down at the valley. Her
eyes dropped to the old wall below,
where in the sunshine the caretaker
was beating a rug. Close to him, in in
innate and cautious conversation, was
the driver of the night before. Glanc-
ing up, they saw her and at once
separated.
Gone was peace, then. The countess
knew-knew certainly. Our eyes see
everywhere" Eyes, indeed-eyes that
even now the caretaker raised furtive-
~ from his rug.
Nevertheless, the countess was
minded to experiment, to be certain.
For none is so suspicious, she knew,
as one who fears suspicion. None so
guilty as the guilty During the fore
noon she walked through the woods,
going briskly. with vigorous, mountain
bred feet. No crackle of underbrush
disturbed her. Swift turnings revealed
no lurking figures skulking behind the
trunks Of trees. But where an ancient
stone bridge crossed a mountain
stream, she came on the huge driver
of the night before refectiyely fish.
ing.
lie Saluted her grayely, and the
countess paused and looked at him.
You have caught no fish, my friend:7
she said.
"No, madame. But one plays about
my hook"
She turned back. Eyes everywhere,
and erms, great hairy arms. And feet
that, for all their size, must step
lightly!
On the second day she made a des.
perate resolve, and Enthusiastically
put it into execution at once. She
sent feT the caretaker When he came
uneasy, for the Loscheks were justly
feared in the countryside, and even
the thing of which he knew gave him
small courage, she lost no time In
evasion.
Go" she said, land bring here your
accomplish"
my accomplice, madamel 1 do
not"
You heard me-" she said.
He turned, half sullen. half terrified,
and paused. (which do you refer to,
madame?"
She had seen only the one. Then
there were others. Who could tell
how many others?
1.-THE one who drove here"