r ■ - HOUGH rron\t^5cei\ario HORACE CUNARD

■ CQPygiQHr. lij!5. £, WtomA^irTfRSQ-*

b 2S? <> of 10 ~pim 5 SS^wS**!^ 1 ^ ,h ' 1 '^p^ thirteenth installment charter XLVl. By Procwi of EllmlnrtJon. Tho vcapon of the renegade leader I»Uke vaa aimed Readily enough. But “® ‘Taction of time In which Roleau <a*a*ed the poeltion he had taken aaved the Ufa of one man and coat that of another. U waa the fellow thief. Blake'. ««ufade, fresh from the renderroua. who fall under the bullet Intended for Roleau hlmaelf. Blake sprang forward, groping der cover of-the smoke, to find the body of hlBagmemy. stooped, paused, sprang back—It was not Roleau. but bis own man whom he had alaln! Koleau by this time, with no more than a quick Hash < f self-congratula-tion at his unexpected safety, had sprung away. Blake called out to his followers and started after Roleau. He did not meet him at the outer opening. but ran into the arms of the bsid of gendarmes who had followed Roleau hither. Boeing the renegade, pistol In hand, and knowing that he had fired the shot Just beard, the sergeant selted upon Blake and disarmed him. The apache leader fought with all the bitter desperation of hla kind when cornered. crying aloud for help, cries brought others of the band, who Joined In the melee, so that the Issue for a time was in doubt aa between the lawful and the lawless—these last two factions who were locked In struggle by reason of the fortunes of the

At this Juncture Roleau flung himself Into the conflict. His giant strength proved such aid that finally the sergeant and his men had subdued not only Blake the leader, but others of his hand As for Roleau be stood grinning at the turn of events and making no further attempt at escape. Neither did the officer make any movement to apprehend him again. “Come with me. then, my friend." said the officer. “You have fought well for me. We shall see what shall see." Wherrfcre Roleau. no longer under espionage, went back with gendarmes toward the headquarters of the prefecture. Much of this was noted by Kitty Oray herself, who arrived upon the > scene In time to witness this not unhappy end of her own quest Count 1

plicatlng factors hare In his own business of finding a victim for the law.

i say now to this, slrf"

your excellency, that nd leader of thieves. 11 me, knows all there ■A the murder. He or If he does not like, re whet we wanted— t Jewel that he sought s excellency's rooms, t It might hare value ilgh In power In this Is why he followed us;

wli CCl Ihj Tb

it something, and we

fet

accused." said the preiflly to Blake, his own "What have you to you not speakT Consow the secret of yon-

der murder—the motive for which we ourselves now know. I know yon.

Bli

id Is broken now How ■pend the rest of your purchase a few more price of a confession Perhaps that may be.

drag you crave—for a

"1 will confesssuddi

the king of the epacbee. his face gray with terror. “I will tell you every-

thing—only give me—It"

"Then you killed the man In yonder

Bli

Gretxboffen coin."

> speak, but only nod ength. hoarsely. "It Is at can I gain by delay Give me—that! Give

we It ell."

your motive, then.

ce of Count Frederick : submit there Is no stlon of anyone In reooket) at 'him. willing who tan slight upon ‘f help1 Idly In

"Ladlslaw.“ said he. -are Gretxboffen at on there. Either young It or Count Frederick, or the ktag The Utter U most likely of the throe. It came out much aa Sachlo had soned. In the confusion now prevailing In Grotxhoffen the two pesoed u challenged even to the palace door. Aa for the king, he waa by this time well forward In his wine. He received Sachlo and hU friend readily enough. Utile It mattered to him who came, for all were welcome. He reproved for hb hesitation the chamberlain who announced Sachlo. "J-<et him come to us," said be. "L<et them all come. They are welcome. Sachlo ’—yea. many a bottle we two have split together." Not one. but more ih»n one bottle, forsooth, did they two split between them now, and meantime LadlsUw, secret agent, unnoticed, was here and there. In this room end others, unmolested. ea a friend of the king, and busy with purposes of his own. In the chambers of the king all was given over to wine and boastfulness. There was one who did not accept thus lightly the issue of the day. Count Frederick of Gretxboffen. serious of mind by this time. tamed hU steps toward the palace, pondering many things meantime. It was now his own deliberate purpose to demand some decision of his monarch as to the eminent enterprise with which all Grotxhoffen was soon to be concerned. He had given orders, as an officer of the army high in power, to moblUxe all the forces of ths king

-“im.

And even as these pUns quietly ent forward bare. King CortisUw of Grahoffen was pacing his floor, consumed with wrath of a sort not easily placated. "Listen, gentlemen." said he to hU officers who gathered about him after Sachlo had departed. "Why do you wait. We will win all. or we will loee all today. March then! CortisUw calU every man under arms to Join the colors Thus, as Count Frederick made his way to the palace, the military forces of totfa countries were imviny ready for a struggle which might soon ensue. Ho passed almost without plan, toward that portion of the palace where he knew he would find King Michael. But at a moment when L« » and pawing near a door which made off from the hell, he beard voices—one voice which suddenly he had conviction was familiar to him— the deep voice of Sachlo of Grahoffen 1 He held his breath that he might catch every word that came from the within. "Listen! LadlsUw." he beard Sachlo iy- "What, did you tell me that had It? Glvedt to me. In my hand! It cannot be true." "None the lew. It U true." said other voice, that of the man called LadlsUw. Apparently be hell something which both regarded. "LadlsUw you have won fortune for ns both. There U rft price can be pul upon this halt of the coin. It U ours.

Count Frederick smiled to himself— smiled for an tnstant only. "Yes. Sachlo.” be heard the answer. "Now If we bad our other half hero, we could Join the two." “I do not need It." exclaimed Sachlo. exultanUy. “I have It In my head. 1 know the reading of both. It telU of the secret recess under the floor of the torture chamber.” Count Frederick board Sachlo laugh deeply—heard bis voice once n self satisfied. 'Never again," said Sachlo. “will I abuse good wine! It fuddled a king ' c our are and benefit today." "You are going—there?" "Yes. To the last hiding pUoe of what we seek." CHARTER XLVIII. In ths Torture Chamber. Count Frederick broad them approach the door, and darted around the nearest corner. He knew which way Sachlq would go. and gave him time to establish a lead. Sachlo went straight enough for a Umk. guided only by his sense of direction. but at length be baited, confused In the passageways which ram Ifled and spread this way and that. It waa at that moment that Frederick. elf surprised, came upon him sud denly. The two stood for halt an Insunt, faring each other My dear Frederick." exclaimed Sachlo. looking bis man fair L. the face with that courage which had than once stood him In such good stead. "How fortunate! 1 was on my way on an errand of the king." T know something of the ways below hero" said Frederick. "I have been here often. Perhaps between us we may discover what you seek In ~ iw of what so recently has passed. It would be rosier for you to be our lemy than our friend—Is ll not true, dear Sachlo?” Sachlo made no reply. They walked forward, descending, advancing Inin lb* darker portions of the subter iron passages. 'By the way. my dear Sachlo." said Frederick, at length—he had Sarhli Just lightly by the arm. and walked :at of him. ao there might be not sudden treachery—"there is a room yonder where we have long hidden medley*’ armor of this palace. W ould yon like to see It? It le Just bw

The next moment Count Frederick It at h'■ •hack the Impact of another The Aw struggled furiously. “ Qn,ck! *r,\h'ra!" panted Sachlo "Kin him! iV W last!" "I am not Bmed" cried Ledlslaw.

"Let me search."

Frederick felt the hands of his new ismy feeling at his pockets, fcoarebig for some weapon, and rejoiced that he also at the moment was unarmed. At least the conflict would be

The Advancing Heats of Grahoffen Were Met by a Sleet of Missiles.

ngo. an extra bottle of Beloc. and my majesty sent a man. Count Sachlo. yonder to bring it My majesty de-

But they ware more than a vn*toh for him. Count Frederick felt an tnn throttle him. felt his eyes almost start from his bead, felt hla breath leaving him. Slowly slipping. Inch by Inch, he felt hlmaelf Impelled toward the open door. Strive as bxst be could, he found himself unable to resist the Joint attack of these two des-

perate men.

A moment later he beard the heavy dang of the door behind him. He was alone. He had proved the victim of the plan which he

The Sergeant Seized Upon Blake, formed. He was locked In the torture chamber of Gretxboffen. that place of horror which he had reserved for his enemy. He had failed. He had lost all—all! He had been tbs cause, per baps, of the rain of hi* country! CHAPTER XLIX. Le Rei S'Amuse. It was not often in hit muddled Ufa that Michael had so full warrant give rein to his Impulses. He bad not noted the absence of Sachlo After a time, his attendants, hesitating, told blm that a woman was waiting to be admitted. Her name was one which came to hi* brain above all others. Admit her at on you delay?" She came before him now. pale, downcast, almost trembling. Heavy enough had boon the burden of anxiety aha long bad carried. Sbe bad come to the king, but she sought not this weak king's comforting. No. she bad come hither in search of the man on whom even the king must rely. 'Ah. mademoiselle." be began, half maudlin, "you have come to us at last Why were you ao absurdiy long? W# have grieved for you. and who would grieve the king?" "Your majesty." said Kitty Cray and half shuddered as she gave the title, gating aa she did upon the bloat ed face of this man who claimed to be king. "Your majesty, you are more than kind in remember so unimportant a person." Unimportant! Do not say that word. Unimportant—wb>-n all we have thought of waa yourself. What has kept you spray’—though I am sure 1 came as soon as you could.'' Yea. your majesty, as soon as I

dd."

And because you have beard of si we have done today, of how we have routed the army of yonder King Cortlslaw—it waa cleverly done, mademoiselle, though 1 do say It." ' And what of him who was with you. your majesty?" "Whom do you mean? Count 8a

chloT'

Court*. Sachlo? Was he hero, your majesty? 1 meant another." Ah. always you m<i>:i that other Always bo seeks to come between bis king and bta king's desire,- said be. compiatnlngly. "And what Is It that your

desires?"

"Why. my majesty desires things, my dwr," be r.-idl.d, t a liberty. •“

• ’jL'le der lb*

"Yes. hero. Yon have said twice. He waa here, twice or once— 1 know not bow many times, you are hero, mademoiselle, and that Is enough. My majesty desires—" He advanced toward her. The leer upon his puffed face gave her swift disgust as well si terror. With no purpose whatever, as he stumbled forward she fled from the room. Bed she knew not where. Without much plan. Kitty turned inward the Interior of the palace, and down the long hall which before that Um* she bad explored. Something told her that Frederick, If he were here In the palace now, had passed that way. The torture chamber—that dread ■ot! Must sh* go there to look for a? She sped on rapidly along th> passageways which she had learned before. 7 hrough the last drop sunken tunnsl which led to the door of the torture chamber Itself she alone, trembling with fser. and yet re

solved.

The door waa locked. She turned to lbe key upon the well. As she turned there came to her _ sound. Someone was knocking si ths door. The blood stopped at her been. Sbe felt her face go cold. Had the deed Indeed come to life? Was It Indeed true that some hand from beyond the grave alone could point out the. Place of this treasure? Whet could It mean? But t)ie knocking at the door grew bolder. Sbe heard a voice—a faint voice through the steel facing of the Inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted the key. gave one great push to open the door, which yielded the more quickly to a power exerted within. Sbe iw tbd faint gleam of a llgl to those of her own candle, saw the face of the man she bad sought! "Your she cried. "It Is your She beard him answer calmly, slowly. without agitation, as though all the time he had been convinced she would

come.

"It la ended." said Count Frederick at last, slowly. "Never again will 1 doubt! I prayed for you. prayed that you should understand before 1 died But It waa meant for you to come for me. that I might know—know as much as they who are here, who have been mj fellows and my friends. Msdemol sell*—I bad said good-by to everything excepting one. There was that left which no man should die without knowing—that experience which only makes life worth living. I have dread ed all things, but now I hope. 1 must -I shall hope!" He stooped toward her now. and for the moment each waa careless of the strange surroundings In which they stood. Fty a half moment the heart of Kitty Gray was on the point of sur-

their own kingdom, leaving behind them the befuddled monarch who had no Idea that he had entertained such vipers. They never reached the confines of Grahoffen kingdom; Instead they met the army of Cortlslaw already afield and well acrosi the neutral land* "Look!" cried Sachlo. "CortisUw la afoot! By the Lord! Yonder comes a real king." It was even so. Soon they among the advance guard*, the skirmishers of the main force, which were advancing. In time they were brought to the bodyguard of the king himself, for Cortlslaw marched with his men. after the fashion of monarch* of old He bad put all his fortunes to the test that day. 'What! Sachlo." he said, as he grimly regarded that nobleman. "You have failed again r* 'No. your majesty. I have not failed I bring you success, at last." He opened the palm which be raised before the eyes of hU king. In It lay the broken half ot the Gretxboffen

■in.

"The cola!—by our udy! It is onra! Bring It to me closer. Give It to me! Let m* see!" “The secret*!* ours!" said he. "The torture chamber—the treasure!" "It lie* In the northeast comer of ths palace, deep under the walls." said 'Come let us march steadily toward the unsuspecting city of Gretxboffee, governed by an addled klnc too far gone m hla cups to suspect danger of any sort—a king never strong, and now weaker than his wont at e time when all tb* forces of a real king were needed " They met no resistance at the walls of Grtitrhoffen Itself. The armies of King Michael were not In evidence The people of Oretshoffen ran this way and that. Iroderleas "Where are i?" they demanded. "Where U the army? Where Is the king? Where Is Count Frederick?" To these demands came no present answer. The forces of the enemy advanced along the avenues "Tender It lies, your majesty." said Count Rachlo. pointing to the rastla which they approached. "Deep beneath the walls yonder, in the northeast comer, my eye* saw the torture chamber of Gretxhoffen " 'Did you find the treasure?" demanded CortisUw. 'No. your majesty, thst was exploration fit for your majesty's hands alone. ' dill not search for IL Rather. I hastened to bring your majesty here In

"Gowns.” and Beech mount gasped at the Intrusion and desecration. If sh* had placed the sign on the locked gale of the private little park In the center of the circle of house* Beeehmounl could not have been more perturbed. Phil liked Pauline's pluck. They bad been chums years ago. be remembered. He had always been glad when the little, wide-eyed, sturdy girl from Boston had come to visit across the street. He had thought her wonderfully clever. He smiled now. looking at the little sign "Gowns" "I shall pises It In the hands of Gorbell." said his father testily. "If* absurd that she cant sec for herself how It lowers property values. She’s twenty-two or three—old enough to know better " "Perhaps if I aaw her personally we could smlhge ft without going to Gorbell." Phil aurCested. "How would it do to train suae rlr.es over ths sign, dad?" "Go now." growled Mr. Hubbard. "Get It over with." So across the street went the emissary. a very courteous, neighborly emissary, with the glut of fun In hU blue eyes and a decided longing to renew his old friendship with Polly, ns he had called her years before. He was admitted by a neat, blackdad maid, and waited In the long reception room. A few good rags lay on the polished floor, a few excellent pieces of mahogany were here and there, and old Mme. Dele's gold and glass cabinet* for her treasures. Evidently the plo-end-psttern establishment eras upstair*. He stood looking at a picture on the mantel Pauline came down the long

Monsieur le comte. for that have do time now." said sbe gently "It ~as but chance which brought me ere." "Chance? Ye*. If fate. If the band of heaven mean chance, I shall call It chance, not otherwise. I ray that It was the plan of fate long ago that you should come to me. now and here." "We have come close to the secret." said Kitty Grey slowly. "But w* have me closer to perils." "True, more than you know." "What do you mean?" "Sachlo was hero—It was he and hla au who thrust me In here, where 1 had planned to place hla. They know U all—all that we do now. mademoiselle Sachlo himself has gone to carry hla now* to hla king We arc undone, mademoiselle! Thera will be

r."

If war. then why do we watt here?" she demanded ot him. "War U wbat we have sought to avoid for tht* king dom by our own knowledge of the coU. If It bo too late—why. then, we must fight. Ab. bow I wish I were s man. that I might fight as well." "You have fought well for si) of u*. mademoiselle." said Frederick. 'Ate have repulsed our enemies. Would you repulse—your friend?" She made no answer, but was sway before him In the dark passageway CHAPTER L.

Ths Patti*.

end Ladlalaw. as may be . allowed no grass to grow unfeet as they hastened toward

9 soon shall know." said CortisUw and signaled the advance. The sound of hoof* and trampling feet filled the streets of Creuhoffen The army of Gretxhoffen. In close formation. marched forward under the summons of the buglers. Quickly passlug down the mein avenue which led to the palace, they spread out by co' titnns right and left, covering the full front of thst edifice, which lay be'ore them hidden In Its screen of shrub

bery.

"Look, your majesty." said Rachlo and pointed Through a little break In the screen Ing waV of green he saw the plume o' a horseman who sat motionless aa though waiting. "One of their guards'" exclaimed Cortlslaw. “Go take him Stop for nothing. Press on Into the nalar* Itself." The front ranks broke forward, rocb eager.to be the first to take captive the foeman thus discovered. Not one man. but many hundred* met their coming—the forces of Grots hoffen In smbuah In fhe first front ths picked men of the guard had been stationed under the screening shrub bery by the actual commander In chief the Gretrhoffen forces that day — none lc»« than Count Frederick him

self.

In such brief time aa had been el lowed him. he had made his arrange ments and posted hla forces In what conceived to tie the only feasible strategy. Now the Jaws were sprung Whether trap or victim should prove 'ie stronger waa Utor lo be known Tht- bugles of Gretxboffen. high and clear, sounded the countcr-ehargo. Tht advancing forces of Grahoffen were full in the fare by a level sleet of dies, and from their rovering thi e* of Gretrhoffcu sprang oat. section after section. Fare to fare, lint against Itn*. the two detachments me la ths abo> k ot arms. ITO UK CONTINUED.!

"How do yon do. Phil? It's nice of you f> call so soon." Her soft coatralto vole* woke e queer thrill that he had forgotten. He forgot all about old genUenan waiting over the way as he talked with her. She years, mostly in France. "This is only temporary." she said happily. “I mean my beginning here. I want a really good, exclusive lllile lewhere tn the Forties in Fifth avenue. But I've come to stay and I m going to make good. I only design personality gowns. Phil, on special orders. Do you think I’ll succeed?" "I know you wfll." he assured her heartily. "Mother wants one now." Pauline half closed her e; <s meditatively. "I can Just see her In one. ifrlrg her over, please do." The little maid came to say the car was waiting. "I’ve got a very neat little cne that I drive myself." she assured him. “It's a French car and I needed It. Don't you want to come with me. Phil?" Phil accepted the invitation eagerly, all forgetful of his father. "Did you speak to her about the Infernal sign?" asked Mr. Hubbard after dinner that night. Phil smiled convincingly. “I don't believe It will etay there "Well, well wait. then. I don’t want to take the girl's livelihood from her. but she ought to know bet-

ter."

"Tee. sir." said Phil. "Exactly." Mrs. Hubbard smiled from the tee tray end of the table and the following noraing the little designer of temperamental gowns received a call from her neighbor and an order for a Maeterlinck gown. It was to be a twilight grey, with underlays of chiffon. old rose and dull topaz and deepPaullne put her whole bran Into the modeling of it. and Phil would drift across the street quite naturally to watch her. or trot around In the grey and silver car seeking temperamental weaves and garnitures. “Yon know. Phil." she told him. “your mother Is adorably tweet and dear, and I am going to make h*-r a perfect dream of wistful boa- . know tt? I thing she likes me. too. Your father doesn't, though." She laughed merrily "I tr.et him on the street and offered a friendly greeting, and he Just growled at ms." ' He'd better like you." Phil swung bark sturdily.

-Why?"

"Don't you know why. Polly?" “Youll make me steer wrong. Let

go my hand. Phil."

“I'll run the car myself." He look the wheel from her firmly. "I'm goan* ™ n 11 for "l" yen. Polly. '"hat will Beerhmount say?" she flashed back whlmalcally. "Phil. I think the world of you. but I'm afraid. 1 can hang out my little gild ■ Ign right under tly-lr n.aca and laugh, but do I dare to marry their

vary ntreat bachelor?"

Twtha’Mli anything to say about

wered

Phil

marry you ICepyrtsht. jt’li. by i

"He's

going to

- M -Ouv* Nr.

Gern an War Croquette. The Gorman administration *nruncet the Introduction of a new war •oquett* called vullkoet. which la to be manufactured under central authority and sold at tit ceata. It u composed ot Indian ccrnmral. spaghetti Iniw called "betrayal noodles' tn Germany), vail.^a dried vegetable* "A —” nxtracli