Page 100 (1/1)

"I think not," said Tullis gloomily "This looks like abduction-foul play, or whatever you choose to call it She has never left her father's house in just this manner before I believe, Baron, that Marlanx has taken her away by force She told o back to hiiven youthe eager gaze of the Prince, he changed the word "throne" to "treasury" The Baron nodded thoughtfully "The Countess attended the fête at Baron Pultz's last night, leaving at twelve o'clock I said good-night to her at the fountain and watched her until she passed through the gate between the Baron's grounds and those of her father adjoining She would not permit me to accompany her to the doors Her ate--at least, so she says to-day It is less than two hundred feet froate to Perse's doorsteps Well, she never crossed that space Her maid waited for an hour near the fernery and then came to the Baron's The Countess has not been seen since she passed through the gate in the wall I say that she has been carried away"

"The maid will be at my office at eleven with the Duke of Perse and the house servants I have detailed a man to look up this fellow Brutus you speak of, and to ascertain his whereabouts last night Coreatly distressed He suspects foul play, I am confident, but he will not ad?" piped up a sone to look for hihtly He was interested in but one hu at that moment

"I want the old Witch beheaded," said the Prince "Why don't you go, Uncle Jack? He's an Aer"

Tullis flushed Then he patted Prince Robin's shoulder and said, with no little emotion in his voice: "Perhaps I deserve the rebuke, Bobby, but you et that there is a lady in distress Which would you have me do--desert the lady e all love or the man e scarcely know?"

"The lady," said Bobby pro has no friends, no relations, nothing Aunt Loraine likes him and so do I"

"He's a fine chap," asserted Hobbs, and afterward marvelled at his own temerity