RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
ohe
LUliN
From ike 5ceiario
CORRIGHT.
8YNOP6IS.
Klllr Orny. ncwpnpr woman, Amis In
n curio Hlinp half of n, broken coin, tlio
tnutllntcd Inscription on which nrouijoM
linr curiosity nml lomln tier, at tlio onier
of hor inunuRlnff nil tor, to ro to the prin
cipally of an-mliorfon to nlcro out tlio
nlory fiucitratcd liy thn Inscription. Htm In
followed, uml on nrrlval In Cln-Uliorfon
hr ailvmttirca wlillo clumlng tlio iccrct
of ttie broken coin IjckIii.
FIFTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Intruder.
Tho keen Bonnes of nolnau, Rclioolcd
In porll, told him of Homo hidden dun-
gor tho vory tonBcnnsa of tho Bltun
tlon warning him. Turning, ho tmw
tho upraised weapon, nnd In n flash
m. blow from liln own powerful arm
had sont it flying through tho window.
It foil clinking on tho floor nt tho feet
of Count Sachlo and IiIh frlondB. Kit
ty, rescued from tho danger which
ho hnd not realized, npratiR back. An
Instant Inter Ilolcau had grappled
with tho Intrudor.
Hearing tho Round of this encoun
ter, Count Sachlo nnd his companions
nprnng at tho Intervening door, brokn
It in. Thoy found two strnngo men
engaged in an encounter whoso cnuso
thoy could not guosB, but both of
whom undoubtedly woro intruders In
this placo, nnd who, theroforo, might
bo regardod an enemies.
"Tho American!" exclaimed Sachlo,
as now ho enw also tho young girl,
who wan endeavoring ns host nho
might to glvo asHlntanco to Roleau
In hlB struggle) with tho Rtrnngcr.
"Quick, excellency, run!" exclaimed
Ilolcau.
Tho Btrnngo man wns not easily
to bo dlBposcd of, but gavo even tho
powerful Holenit nil ho liked to do to
handle him. Mcnntlmo Sachlo flung
hlmnclf upon Itolcnti, his comrades did
as much for tho stranger.
In tho tnoleo, which slipped from
placo to plnco upon tho floor, Sachlo
lot fall tho llttlo bag with tho king's
half coin In bin excitement ho hnd
forgotten that ho still had It In IiIh
hand. Tho Htrnngor, wIiobo shifty
eyefl caught everything, saw tho bag
aa It lay upon tho floor.
Working gradually townrda tho
placo whoro tho llttlo bag lay, now
underfoot, now Bcuffed nnldo by tho
atruggllng mon, tho Rtrnngcr mnnngod
to trip and throw that ono of Snchto'R
'friends who pressed him most closely.
Thoy fell directly beforo tho packet.
Swiftly, tho long hand of tho stranger
reached out and caught It up.
Thero remained for him no moro
ellsh for tho fight. An Instant later,
Wb crossed arm ngnlnst tho throat of
his assailant, ho broko away, flung
through tho open window nnd left tho
others to shift as they might.
Roleau, ntill held In tho powerful
grasp of Count Sachlo himself, strug
gled furiously, nil tho tlmo calling to
Kitty to mako her own escape.
"Rolonu!" called Kitty. "Quick, ho
ho ban It bo lmB stolen It. Wo must
follow him!" And Itolcnu did his
best to ehako himself free.
"Not eo fust, not bo enBlly," panted
Sachlo, whoso stern grip still held
Roleau's collar. "You will not get
off Junt yet. Who aro you, to como
prowling about my placo thieves
against thlovcs? You Bhnll tell mo
what all this means."
"Go, cxcolloncy, run!" panted Ro
leau, still to bis mistress. "Leave
them to mo. I'll como when I cnn."
Kitty turned, knowing thnt sho
must net quickly or bo takon prisoner
herself.
"Follow me, Rolenul" oho cried.
kJl
S !- .
a
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j
i7"if!S
mm.
M
Ha Broke Away and Flung
BBS-; BS&fsSPSTW
BROKEN
HOUGH
HORACE CUNARD
1915. & WQIOHr A. PATTERSON
"Follow mo when you can. I'll leave
a trail." And na bIio caught up a book
fr.rn tho table Ilolenu guessed what
slio had meant by this a paper trail.
Sho looked this way and thnt, but
could bco no traco of tho Btrangcr
who had thus treacherously Intruded
upon their own plans. A strnngo feel
ing enmo to her mind that perhaps
sho had accn him elBowhero beforo
now. Whero could that bavo been?
Ransacking her memory sho conclud
ed thnt ho must havo been some ono
of tho band of bnndlttl who hnd sur
prised her and her compnnlons in tho
desort.
Trusting to fnrtuno to bring her
nld, sho ran forwnrd In tho general
direction which Rho Rtipposcd tho man
had taken. Sho pnRsed from tho floor
of tho gnllery, which held no traco of
footprints to tho eofter ground whero
alio might bco tho trail, nnd caught It
now. Ho wns running In grcnt lenpu
towards tho edgo of tho forest, whero
tho road enmo In. Yonder lay tho
trail to Grctzhoffen. IIo neomed hound
for thnt. Yes sho presently heard a
sound of hnrso'H hoofs.
"Horses!" thought Kitty to hcrsolf,
recalling tho Htables whoro somo of
Sachlo'8 mounts woro kept Indeed,
sho doubted not that somo might bo
saddled nnd waiting in tho yard. It
was, trtio an InBtant later her own
flying hoofbeats pursued thoso now
lessening In tho dlstnnco. And as
sho fled Kitty left a trail.
As for Itolcnu, his faithful heart
wnH wollnlgh broken when, naving
seen his mistress follow Ills ndvico
and make hor cscapo, ho found him
self In splto of nil unablo to Join her
In tho pursuit of tho escaping thief
who hnd their coin. Tho graBp of
Sachlo upon him did not relax, nnd
now others roenforced their leader.
"Ah, well, messieurs," ho Bald grin
ning, nt length, "you havo tho argu
ment." "Search him!" exclaimed Sachlo.
"I havo lost tlio coin. It was hero. It
Ib gone ho has It about him somo
wheie." Tho compnnlonB of tho count com
piled, but could mako nothing of tho
search, Roleau stoutly nsscrting that
ho knew nothing of It and had It not
In his posscsBlou.
"I dropped It on the- floor In tho
scuille." exclaimed Sachlo. "Surely
this limn must havo It, or It tins wings!
I hnd it In my hand but now, this very
moment. That American suroly sho
la a witch. Did sho tnko It, fellow?
Tell mo?" Ho turned furiously upon
Roleau.
"Monsieur, how can I tell?" replied
tho latter.
At last, however, thero enmo tho
sound of ono driving furiously.
"On guard, gentlomcnl" exclaimed
Sachlo. "Wo do not know who comes
I hopo It mny bo Rudolph."
It was indeed this missing ntranger
tho man who hud been left bound in
Frcdeilck'8 npartments.
It should bo understood now that
when Count Frederick had returned
to his own apartments nnd found hla
private room occupied by a man who
evidently had been thero for no good
purpose a man left trussed up and
bound by yet other Intruders ho had
had somo parley with tho helpless in
truder in tho wny of learning what
bad been tho causo of his strnngo
plight.
"I know wou, fellow," Bald ho. "You
nro of Count Sachlo'a BUlto. You havo
been quartered hero with him as a
guest of this houso and now you
would rob mo!
"Your excellency," exclaimed Ru
dolph, "eparo mo! I wns found hero
(Thrclugh the Open Window.
i Iff f wf ffilM
s WHS ix ?Kil!Siy&Ttk
mmmmmmni
In your room, It In true, or near to It,
at k'ust, nnd was set upon by a radian
and n young woman. Hctwc.cn them
thoy bound mo nnd left mo helpless
flung mo into your room hero ns you
sec. I ask no belief of you. Tnko mo
to Count Sachlo I am his man. Lot
him plead for mo. I shall mako no
plea nt all."
Count Frederick found upon tho
floor n llttlo kerchief, which told him
much.
"Very well," Bald ho to Rudolph,
"that Is precisely what I shall dot Wo
shall go to And your master, Count
Sachlo. Thero has been too much
mystery of late; perhaps bo can ex
plulu a part of It."
It waa thus, therefore, that Count
Frederick nnd hla new passenger had
como in a swift car from Grotzhoffcn
direct to tho lodgo of Count Sachlo,
beyond tho neutral lands. And hav
ing arrived at tho chalet Rudolph had
lost no tlmo in flinging himself from
tho car nnd hastening to explain to his
master that absenco which ho know
would bo so resented. Seeing Roleau
thoro in ndvnnco of him and bound
his own rago overcamo him und ho lost
not un Instant in casting himself upon
Count Sachlo'a prisoner.
This wns not altogether a fortunate
matter for nny; Roleau, surprised at
tho attack, nnd by this tlmo somowhat
In possession of recuperated powers,
mndn so stern a hcavo at his bonds
that ho broko them; and thereupon ad
dressing himself to tho combut onco
more, soon gavo Rudolph all ho liked
to do.
Meantlmo Count Frederick, thinking
it well to gunrd all exits of tho chalot,
himself hnd gono to the rear, and had
found tho open window through which
Kitty nnd tho strunger had escaped.
What ho now Baw, theroforo, In tho
muln room, wns his own lato prisoner
engaged In conflict with Count Sachlo'a
prisoner.
"They find him a Tartar!" exclaimed
ho to himself; for at that moment Ro
leau, casting Rudolph aside, made for
tho outer door of tho chalet.
"Stop!" cried Count Sachlo loudly,
na others would havo followed him.
"It is useless! Wait he baa not the
coin. Why wnsto tlmo on him!"
Thoy fell back ob tho count onco
moro took charge of this complicated
situation.
"As for you, Rudolph," he exclaimed,
"you havo como Into, and you havo
failed you hnvo not the coin that you
were sent to bring mo."
"Kxcellency, no I havo failed. That
man" ho pointed to tho door where
Roleau had fled "ho and a young
woman cnught mo even aa I was
searching for it whero you directed
mo. They fell on mo and trussed mo
up and left mo helpless. I stayed
thero until tho master of the place
catno. It wns ho who brought me
hither 1 told him you would mako
any explanation that could bo made."
"And a flno explanation anyone can
mako!" exclaimed Count Sachlo bit
terly. CHAPTER XIX.
The Apaches.
Tho man who had proved himself
tho last possessor of tho king's half of
tho Grct7hoffcn coin waa tho most un
worthy of nny thua far concerned In
Its destinies. Truo, Kitty's recollec
tion hnd been correct sho had indeed
seen him nmong Landozl's condottlcri.
Yet lawless aa tho members of that
band wero, ho senrco was lit to claim
comradeship with thom.
Hla namo in truth wns DIake a ren
cgado Engllshmnn, who had for somo
tlmo belonged to tho underworld of
tho cnpltal of Grctzhoffen. If, animat
ed by somo grcnter ambition of hla
own, ho now nnd then Joined tho bands
of tho desert rovers, hla real prefer
ence was for the underworld of tho
city, whero, with hla comrades of tho
cheaper thieving gentry, ho might for
tho most part smoko or loaf in Idle
ness, not concerned In deeds of activ
ity or daring. It had been by moro
clmnco of bis prowling nnturo that ho
had learned something about tho own
ership of tho broken coin had guessed
thnt it might bavo sorao valuo, and
had resolved to possess himself of It.
As ho flod now, theroforo, bo made
not for tho desort so much aa for tho
dens of his own sort in tho purlieus
of Grctzhoffen town itself. When nt
length, nftcr his long rldo across tho
neutral country, ho found himself once
moro near to what ho called homo, ho
cast looso his liorso and completed his
Journey on foot.
At tho door of tho underground dive,
whoro ho counted upon meeting most
of his friends, ho mado tho usual sign
of admission. It was n choice band of
kindred Boula who roso to greet him
ns ho entered. They nsked him what
cheer.
"What havo I done what havo I
taken?" Swaggering, ho pushed them
nsldo and throw on tho tablo in tho
center of tho room n bit of coin which
ho took from hla pocket.
"Something, comrades, I am think
ing."
A roar of laugbtcr broko from them,
as, a motley group, thoy surrounded
htm,
"IIo Is a Jolly Jester, is It not bo, ray
brothors!" exclaimed ono. "A coin!
If it wero wholo it might bo worth per
haps a lira or bo, but broken It la
worthless. What cnn wo got for this
In n bank, my brothors? So, Blako,
Is this your day 'a work!"
"You may laugh, comrades," said ho,
"all you llko; at tho snmo tlmo, I
venture you that coin will bo worth
something to us boforo wo aro doao
with it."
"What Ib It?" exclaimed ono, curl
otiBly, examining tho inscription. "An
old Homnn coin, do you think?"
"Truo, thero la a mystery about It,
my bullies, never doubt that, It U
mystery that will pay well when
solved. Besides, It might net na somo
Bort of safeguard for us. Thero has
been plenty of talk of lato that our
band may need frlenda to keep us
from tho noose. Very well, then I
think tho ownership of this coin at
laast -ns 111 glvo ua friends when wo
may need them. Guard It well, that
same broken coin, my brothers."
"What do you mean?" nsked tho
spokesman curiously. "Who baa
sought it, then?"
"Such men as Count Sachlo of Ora
hoffen. It was of htm I took It. Thero
was pursuing It, also, that oamo young
American and that rufllan of hers,
who serves her bo llko a dog Roleau,
I heard her call him. My word, ho i
bad a grip of steel in his hands ho '
well-nigh did for mo beforo I could i
mako my escape. I saw Count Sachlo '
drop tho coin upon tho floor
my man so I could pick It up, nnd
then I fled. My word to you, brothers,
I fled nt speed! So hero I nm."
Now, whilo theso thlcveB of tho city
wero holding their llttlo conference,
their bolder brethren of tho desert,
not so far away In their own rendez
vous, wero gathered for an evening's
convorso a dozen or moro of Lan
dozl's band of desert riders, hall fol
lows well mot, friends of tho king's
troops nnd encmlca, oa they boasted,
of none but tho rich. Their hcadquar-
She Caught From the
ters, as was generally known, lay a llt
tlo wny back on tho cross-trail of the
main road, between tho two kingdoms
of Grahoffcn and Grctzhoffen, which
crosBcd midway of tho noutrnl lands.
When Kitty fled after tho thief
Blake, It was at first with no deflnito
purposo of her own; but sho had not
gono far beforo sho realized that alono
sho could accomplish llttlo against
such men as ho; and sho doubted not
thnt ho was on his way to Join hla
comrades. What then waa thero to
do? Who could aid her?
Even as sho rodo,tho thought camo
to Kitty's mind of tho debonair bandit
leader, Landozi, the Banio who bad so
gallantly freod her and escorted her
to tho city's gates but a short tlmo
beforo. Sho was woman enough to
know the impression she had mado on
tho bandit chief and shrewd enough
also to hit upon him as an ally in her
own plans. Therefore, aa Kitty rodo
now not bo fast as not to leave abun
dant bits of paper on tho trail so that
Roleau might bo able to track her It
waa not towards any citadel of tho law
not to Gretzhoffcn town Itsolf but
towards tho capital of lack of law;
tbo rendezvous of tho ragged ban
ditti of tho desert.
Thoy eat, theso rudo and careless
folk, ill clad, ragged, yet not 111 con
tent, under tho sheltering rocks which
mado their lair or den on tho cross
road In tho neutral binds. Cooking,
eating, drinking, thoy spent tho tlmo
as persons of no moro mentality than
theirs would spend It Joking, con
versing, talking of whnt they had dono.
vaporing of what thoy wero about to
do. Most prominently In their minds
scorned to linger tho tnomory of their
llttlo expedition in which they had
taken prisoner tho Count Frcdorlck
and tho beautiful young Amorlcnu.
"And tho chief lot that prlzo go!"
grumbled ono. "Out of tho wholo en
terprlso wo got nothing, absolutely
nothing. What tho count gavo us
would not havo mado two llro uptcco,
divided fairly among our band. Tho
main prize tho young woman wo
got nothing for her whatever. And
yet, what a chnnco for ransom!"
"Such a chnnco docs not como oft
on. But I wondor whoro tho chief
himself la tonight. And aro tho pick
ets out down tho road? In theso timos
wo ennnot bo too careful, for thoy say
that between tho two kingdoms war
mny como, nnd if bo it would bo but
our luck for ono of tho armies to
ask us to recruit with thom."
"Go, you fellows, two of you," in
structed ono who Boomed to bo somo
sort of Uoutonant. "Step out and
scout down tho road a bit."
It was not long after this thnt tho
roon left at tho rendezvous heard in
tho darkness a woman's scream.
With this camo tbo laughing shout of
omrados.
i iirWm m Wm ' k ill I 'Mil Ih'i ' i BFf ; V ""w JliKKLWlLl
"Ho. brothers!" cried the rufllan who
held Kitty In his arms "By tho Lord,
'tis tho same! 'tis tho young Amor
leun blghncsB whom wo lost!"
"Looso mo! Let mo fros!" cried
Kitty vehemently "I camo to you for
help. I trusted In you. I nm In need
and I nsk you gentlemen to bo my
friends."
"What, your friends!" Thoy laughed
loudly at this.
"Yes, your leader knows me do you
not remember how ho took U3 captlvo
tho other day? Ho told mo then if I
needed aid to count on him. Does ono
of your brotherhood speak falsely?"
They fell back from her now re
spectfully, impressed In part by what
sho said, and In part by tho fear that
they might offend their leader. This
lattqr fear waa well placed, for even
now they heard tho Bounds of rapid
"Hist!" exclaimed one, "Landozl
it
to very likely he."
And it wna he, the man whom thoy
nil respected through their fears. Ho
flung himself from his horsu now und
strodo into the lighted circle.
"What now, fellows !" exclaimed he
na ho caught .sight of tho young worn
un standing there, disheveled, vale
"Io you not know this excellency?
What, would you Insult her!"
"I camo hither for help," exclaimed
Kitty, addressing him with such up-
Table the Coveted Coin.
peal in her eyes as any man would
bavo found it dilllcult to resist. "I
nm In need I am In pursuit of a thief
nnd I"
"And you ask a thief to catch a
thief?" Tho bandit chieftain smiled
grimly.
"No, not in tho least I do not call
you so, you brothers of tho desert.
You yourself, Captain Landozl, told mo
to como to you if I needed help. Well,
I need it now, tonight, this
very moment! I am all alone.
I need conduct to Grctzhoffen
town. I am convinced that tho man
who robbed mo fled thither. What,
would you allow ono to cscapo who
would rob a woman?"
"No," exclaimed Landozl. "Thnt is
not our trade. It is our profession
that wo take only from tho rich; and
wo do not side with thoso who rob tho
weak. Excellency, my word Ib my
word. You como to us for aid, and wo
should bo barren of all honor did wo
not give you aid. What can we do?"
"Rldo with me!" exclaimed Kitty.
"Yourself two or three men show
mo tho wny from hero to Grctzhoffen.
Shield mo against any other possible
rldera who may not bo of your broth
ebrood. Is It ngrced?"
"It Is agreed!" exclaimed Landozl,
nnd with small discussion they soon
were In tho snddlo again Landozl,
two or threo of his stoutest men nnd
Kitty; nnd onco moro sho felt the
rush of tho wind against her cheek,
as a good liorso carried her forword.
CHAPTER XX.
Th? Sewer Rats.
"Who was tho thief that robbed you,
excellency?" demanded Landozl, na
they drew up near tho edgo of tho
city did you seo him well?"
"Perfectly," said Kitty. "Moreover,
I nm suro I hnvo seen him before."
"Whoro?"
"With your own band, monsieur he
waa ono of those who rodo with you
tho othor day!"
"Ah, a Bllra man sharp face
white?"
"Precisely tho same."
"I know him Blako! Ho was with
ua that dny, yes, but I promise you ho
is not really of our brotherhood, IIo
is not worthy of 'association with gal
lant gentlemen llko ourselves. Wo
rldo tho trails ho creeps through the
nlleyu of tho city. Wo nro borderers
bo ia a common thief. Blake truly,
it must hnvo been ho. No one of our
own gentry would havo robbed a wom
an. Now, you help mo in your own
quest. I know Blnko'a lurking place.
Ho and his kind havo a sort of a den
In tho low qunrtor of tho town. Tho
prefect of police leaves them pretty
much alone, because in theso times
the ofllcors of the law have much else
to think about Their opium lair
their den for stolen goods yes, yes, I
know. But dare you go with mo?"
"I must dnro it," said Kitty firmly.
"Perhaps my friends will follow mo
I do not know but oven if not, you
and I must get back what bo baa Bto
len from me."
"And what wns It, excellency T"
"No more than n broken bit of coin,
captain, of valuo to none as It la now,
of gmat valuo to mo provided I can
attain it and tho other hnlt."
"You need say not moro. Tho er
rand la enough to Intcrcat me be
cause now I shall havo that fellow
Blako whero I have longed to find him.
Ho Bhnll not rldo with us again. But
come," ho added.
They found their wny through the
darkening streets in tho purlieus of
Grctzhoffen town. Under the lender
ship of tho chieftain they threaded
street nfter Btrcot, alley after alley,
until nt length their party descended
into a steep gully in a loss important
portion of tho city. A faint llglit
showed through tho chinks of a wall
which Bccmcd to bo tho facing of a
bank, but which really concealed Borne
'.of den within.
'er, excellency," whispered
"is tho placo whero thoy holo
up llko rats In n sowor and they
bavo no moro principles they aro
worthy of no moro. Como, my mon,
closo In."
He pushed ngnlnst the door round
which shono tho gleams of light, nnd
hnstcned into a sort of passageway.
Their entry nttructed no attention for
the time.
Only two of the gang remained, the
others having departed on one errand
or other of their own. When Kitty
and her companion looked through tho
llttlo window, which gavo In upon tho
recess under tho bluff, they Baw sit
ting closo to tho tablo two men
Blake, the renegado, and another of
bis band. Tho keen eye of Kitty de
tected Blake's hand lying upon the
table and near it tho object which
sho Bought tho missing coin!
"Quick," whispered Landozl, and as
ho spoko ho broke Into tho room.
Without hesitation ho flung himself
upon Blake, and Kitty, wishing to be
of service, nnd finding no hotter
menus, caught up an empty bottle
which stood near nnd dealt so inter
esting n blow upon tho head of the
remaining rufllan as to put him out of
tho combat for tho time. An instant
later sho had caught from tho table
tho coveted coin.
"Let him go, Landozl quick!
Come! I have got it!" sho exclaimed.
And an instant later sho was in tho
passageway onco more.
Sho had almost mado her way out
Into tho open, when in tho semtdark
ness she felt a strong hand clutch at
her wrist heard a low laugh at her
ear.
"Roleau!" sho cried aloud.
"No, not Roleau," Bald a voice sho
know well enough the voice of tho
Count Frederick.
"So, you have it! Very well, cling
to it, then but don't drop It. To pro
vent that I will even hold your hand
in mine."
"You brute!" exclaimed Kitty, sob
bing now in tho intensity of her emo
tions "nfter all I havo dono to get
It and it is mine!"
"Why nrguo it, my dear young
lady?" exclaimed Count Frederick. "I
havo told you I must havo it. I regret
as much aa you that I must disturb
you."
"Release me let mo go!"
Panting, she looked up at him In tho
half light. What sho saw was a faco
grim and full of purposo a faco which
it Beemed to her she would alwaya
hate but in which at least thero was
no traco of any fear.
"Come," ho said, and flung an arm
about her waist as ho stepped toward
the open. "Let Roleau fend for him
self I am satisfied with whai. I havo
now."
An instant later ho halted. From
what sounds he heard at the rear, he
knew cscapo was cut off there. And
now crowding in at tho entranco of
tho main gallery in which they stood,
thero enmo yet othora of tbo thlevea
bnnd, barring exit there na well.
Count Frederick, shielding Kitty,
stood at bay.
Count Frederick, Shielding
, Stood at Bay.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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