disappearance of Truxton King and the
flight of Countess Ingomede, was preparing to set forth in search of
her. A telephone message from Ganlook, fifteen miles north of the city,
came at seven o'clock, just as he was leaving the Castle. The speaker
purported to be the Countess Prandeville, a very estimable chatelaine
who ruled socially over the grim old village of Ganlook. She informed
Tullis that his sister was with her for the night, having arrived in the
afternoon with a "frightful headache." She would look after the dear
child, of whom she was very fond, and would send her down in the
morning, when she would surely be herself again. Greatly relieved,
Tullis gave up his plan to ride off in quest of her; he knew the amiable
Countess, and felt that his sister was in good hands.

It was not until the return of the groom that he recalled the fact that
the voice on the telephone was not quite like that of the Countess. He
had been cleverly hoodwinked. Baron Dangloss, obtaining connection with
the Prandeville household in Ganlook, at once discovered that Loraine
had not been in the chateau in many days.

The fierce, cock-robin baron was sadly upset. Three prominent persons
had been stolen from beneath his nose, so to speak. He was beside
himself with rage and dismay. This last outrage was the climax. The old
man adored the sister of Jack Tullis; he was heartbroken and crushed by
the news of the catastrophe. For a while he worked as if in a daze; only
the fierce spurring of Jack Tullis and Vos Engo, who believed himself to
be an accepted suitor, awoke him from an unusual state of lethargy. It
is even said that the baron shed tears without blowing his nose to
discredit the emotion.

The city was soon to know of the fresh outrage at the hands of the
bandits in the hills. Great excitement prevailed; there were many
sincere lamentations, for the beautiful American girl was a great
favourite--especially with those excellent persons who conducted bazaars
in the main avenues. Loraine, being an American, did not hesitate to
visit the shops in person: something that the native ladies never
thought of doing. Hundreds of honest citizens volunteered to join in a
search of the hills, but the distinction was denied them.

The war department issued official notice to all merchants that their
places of business must be decorated properly against the holiday that
would occur on the morrow. Shops were to be closed for two hours at
midda