I.-
RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
If:
H
r'!
A.
The Rroken Coin
A Sfory of Mysfer,y and Adventiire
EMERSON HOUGH
From the Scenario qK
GRACE CUNARD
r
fims
m
COPYlCtr. 3S. OY
wmcttrfi pArrcftJQtt
8YNOPSI8.
Kitty Gray, newnpnprr wnmnn, finds In
curio hliop hnlf of 11 tiroknn coin, tho
inutlliitrl Inscription on which iiroum-it
hor curlonlly nnd InniM her. nt thn onli-r
of lirr munuKlnK odltor, to ko to the prln
finality of UrrUhofTpn to tilrcii out tho
Htory RiiRKt-ntPd by thn Inscription. Hhn Ih
followed, find on arrival In Uri'trlHinVn
lier ndvcnluri'H wlillo (iitiHlnff tho ccrct
of ths broken coin bi'Kln.
SEVENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XXV.
Divided.
An Kitty approached tho llttlo room
of tho count's palnco which before
now bad proved to bo something of a
storm center In tho affaire of thoGrctz
hoffoa coin there cntno to her tho
conviction Hint thoro might bo others
bosldo herself who would havn HOino
inkling aa to tho whuroabouts of tho
missing portion of tho coin, and who
might therefore arrlvo upon tho kcciio
at much tho iinino tlmo as that of her
own visit. Bho wns not altogether
fliirprlned at tho midden Interruption
of hor labors, Just at tho moment of
hor success.
As nho saw herself tho object of a
poised weapon, sho swerved nsldo In
stinctively culled out Instinctively for
hoi p.
"Rolcau!" sho exclaimed, for, wom
anlike, sho had learned tho vuluo of
11 strong man's arm, and hor first
thought wan of tho faithful servant
who so otrangely had attached him
self to her own vnrylng fortunes. And
Rolenu enmo hastening from his
watching place outsldo tho door.
Ho saw tho llttlo room occupied by
a man who now suddonly had en
tered and who menaced Kitty, so
that, to fiuvo her llfo as sho supposed,
Bho wns on tho point of surrendering
to him both pieces of tho coin. Tho
sight of liln mlstroBU In danger was
enough for Rolcau. With his custom
ary battle cry ho plunged immediately
Into tho conflict, careless of tho threat
ening weapon. In tho melco tho two
half col mi both wcro dropped upon tho
floor.
Even now tho ruling Impulso of Kit
ty did not qulto forsako her. Sho
stooped and regained ono of tho hnlf
coins, but tho struggling men, shifting
licro and thcro in tho room, kept her
from securing thn other. In tho blind
instinct for cscnpo sho fled now to
tho open hnll, tnklng that direction
which led back from tho front of tho
building.
Roloau heard her pass, and could
not Join hor in flight but ho heard
her glvo a cry of alarm whoso cause
ho could only guess. Ills energies wore
fully occupied by tho combat with this
, LwBIHSJ!? tc9k1
HhaalHrVsdy
i
paused for broathlng spaco, heard a
steady footfall advancing to tho door,
heard tho calm volco of Count Fred
erick himself.
"Gentlemen 1"
Tho Intrudors, whatover tho errand
of each, took tholr eyes from ono an
other and turned now, recognizing yet
another man who Bcarco had como in
friendship.
"You honor mo greatly, gentlemen,"
said Count Frederick with his usual
coolness in any extraordinary situa
tion. "Hut might I nsk why you caro
thus to disarrange my apartment?
Had I known your own curiosity re
garding it, I might hnvo nsked some
of my servants to assist you in u
search moro orderly."
"1 wns sent back by my master," be
gan tho stranger who was uono other
than Ilartcl, tho lato successor to Hit
dolph In Count Sachlo's good graces.
"Ho had left certain of his belong
ings some silver cases of tho toilet,
Monsieur to Coiutc ho did not troublo
to nsk you about them, and now he
sent mu "
"Indeed! That Is most plnuslblo!
Hut why seek for them in my rooms,
when his quarters were In qulto nn
other part of tho palace, my dear sir?"
"As to thai," replied the othor with
calm effrontery, "1 cannot say. I only
ciimo hero because tho servants told
mo that this was the room. Of course,
If tliero has been any mistake "
"Cease, I say," exclaimed Count
Frederick, frowning now, his faco
flushing.
Ho turned from Ilolcnu to tho othor
Intruder In his npartments. Rolenu
stood dumb. Tho other shook his
head.
"Monsieur le Comto," said ho, "tho
young woman wns hero when I en
tered when this mnn also entored.
Sho passed yonder when sho had tho
opportunity and took with hor ono
half tho coin. There lies tho other on
your floor. Sho disappeared wo heard
a cry "
Count Frederick stooped and picked
up tho object pointed out to him. It
was his own half of tho coin or that
which ho had called his own slncu ho
hud taken It from her.
So then, ho reflected, sho had found
tho way to his most secret hiding
place sho was on tho very point of
success when this last contretemps
had Interfered with her plans. A new
feeling of admiration for her keen
ness and persistence oneo moro ctuno
to Count Frederick's heart. For n
moment ho stood regaullng hnlf-ro-gretfully
the bit of metal In Ills hand.
"1 shall not offer this trinket to
you, my friend," said ho grimly to
tho man Ilartcl, as ho pocketed tho
coin, "for of courso you wero not look
ing for coins only toilet articles sil
ver ones, did you sny, sir? You shall
tako back nn excellent set of my own
to Count Snchlo, with my compli
ments. Tell him that it would seem
111 to me that any guest of mine should
suffer i Isk of loss either to his person
or hla property whllo ho was beneath
my roof!"
With theso stinging words, which
brought color to tho other's faco,
Count Frederick turned coolly away,
and onco moro faced Itolcau. That
was in his faco now which did not bo
speak remorselessness, revengeful
ncss. No, something softer lay in tho
man's cool gruy eyes.
reach For tho tlmo Kitty wna of the
hollcf Hint her senses must leavo her
forever. Tho hcdbo of solitude was a
poignant torture.
How long sho had thus remained
sho could nut tell, when at length tho
close-fitting door In ono sldo of tho
four walls opened. An old woman
camo in, bringing somo food for her.
Kitty tried her in every language
which sho had ever known, but got no
answer. Tho old woman shook her
head, and after a tlmo retreated si
lently as sho had como.
(lotting no answer to her appeal for
help, Kitty sat down onco moro, light
ing herself to retain her faculties, her
calm, her polso. Fscapo? How could
thcro bo hopo for that? For onco Bho
was at her wit's end as sho looked
about her. Sho sat moody und silent,
too dazed, suffering too much, too un
certain In her own mind to plan intel
ligently any courso of nction. Sho
was brought to herself somewhat by
hearing tho tluklo of somo objoct on
tho floor at her feet.
It was a bit of stono wrnpped tight
ly in a llttlo wnd of paper. Surely
It had been meant as somo communi
cation to her from somcono outsldo
tho room. It must have como through
tho window.
Sho opened the paper und smoothed
It out. Aa sho read It sho wondered
how mnny other persons thcro wcro In
this strango country who could claim
acquaintance with her own plans.
"Better write an Imaginary story for
your paper and return .to America.
Give up the coins and you will gain
your freedom. Refuse and you will
faro badly."
who waited for him Impatiently
enough nt the rendezvous which had
been established
"Well, well, then, Hartcl." exclaimed
tho count, "why tho delay? What's
wrong? You nro not going to tell mo
tho Bnmo story that Rudolph brought
you hnvo not fnllcd?"
Tho shamefaced look of tho other
gave him his own answer Count
Snchlo himself gavo way to hearty
curses of all Incompetence.
"Tho count retained one-half tho
coin," went on tho unfortunato mes
senger. "I don't know which It was.
Tho girl tho young American got
the other plcco. I saw her pick It up.
But Bho did not gut both! I don't
know which ono sho did get, but I
know that each has one-half tho
count and tho girl. Sho must hnvo
been carried away by somo othor
man. I heard her scream, then all was
silent"
"So all escaped you? It is another
matter what I myself mny have dono
as to tho girl and tho coin they es
caped you7"
"Yes, excellency, naturally I could
not prevent tho man from escaping,
and tho count himself allowed tho
othor man to do so."
"What other man?"
"Itolcau, they called him tho girl's
servant ho followa hor Uko a dog
nnd fights llko one."
"So, thoro wero two others present
bcsldo yourself?"
"Yes, it seemed as though everyono
interested in tho coin camo all at
onco."
"Naturally, tho competition asks
quick work of nil of us. And we will
Ppl ISfwII mSrokr w
She- Felt a Hard Hand Close Upon Her
Mouth.
stranger whom now ho saw to bo one
of Count Sachio's men. Ho hnd noted
him at tho huutlng lodge. Ho himself
had not tlmo to reason as to tho prca
enco of this now factor in tho general
imbroglio, hut nt last, able to brlug
his own weapons Into play, ho stayed
tho issuo for a tlmo. Thoy both had
tlmo to recognize ono another ns they,
stood, tho ono as much bullied as tho
othor, nnd nolthor qulto comprohond
ing what tho other was doing hore.
Very, naturally tho sounds of all this
confusion could not bo concealed. Tho
scream of a woman had rung widely
through tho halls, and used as they
wero to extraordinary circumstances
hereabouts, tho servants could not fall
to lnvestigato tho causo of this. They
hastened In tho direction of tho up
roar, but thoir ndvanco wns stayed by
tho conunund of tho master of tho
palaco himself.
Tho men in tho room, as they
CHAPTER XXVI.
Solitary Confinement
When Kitty In her blind Impulso of
self-preservation sprang out of Count
Frederick's room, sho did not at first
contemplate continued flight. Onco
out of rench of immediate danger, sho
paused, loath to leavo what sho had
como there to obtain, and loath also to
abandon her stout-hearted ally in his
tlmo of stress. Sho turned back,
paused just outsldo tho door onco
moro As sho did so, yet another door
opening into tho hall was pushed
silently ajar opened fully. Yet nn
other man, whom never in her llfo
had sho seen lieforo, now stepped out.
Sho felt n hard hnnd closo upon her
mouth, moro than half-stilling her
scream for help. "Sllenco!" Bho heard
his volco insist. "Go on ahead of mo
Onco moro Kitty undertook tn
scream, and again tho Arm hand
stopped hor voice. It seemed to her
that somo pungent aromatic drug
filled tho car with its fumes. Sho
struggled less violently. Events
seemed to pass by her in a dream,
and sho regarded them cnrolcsBly,
apathetically. In Bhort, eituor In part
or in whole, sho had lost conscious
ness. When nt length sho fully regnlned
her senses sho was nlono alono with
a terror which ccemed to her moro
overpowering than any sho yet had
known. Instead of her own apart
ments in her hotel, instead of tho room
of Count Frederick or tho huntlug
lodgo of his quondam friend, Count
Sachlo, sho found herself surrounded
by four barren walls In what cdlllco
or in what plnco, sho could not guess.
Thero seemed somo sort of door
yes. Thcro was a small, high, barred
window; but tho latter was at such
height as to bo almost beyond her
An Old Woman Camo In
Theso strango words suddenly
brought Kitty back to a train of
thought which for tho tlmo had been
broken. Sho felt quickly at her bosom
and at her waist for tho bit of coin
which sho had brought away from
Count Frederick's room. It was gono!
At somo tlmo during her Journey from
Count Frederick's palaco to this place
long or Bhort whether It hnd been,
sho could not tell tho coin had been
taken from her.
Kitty sprang to tho sill, of tho llttlo
window and peered out for an in
stant; but her hold was too fccblo.
Sho sank back, not soelng what would
huvo given hor great Joy to seo.
Apparently nomo oyo had caught
sight of her face, brief as had been Its
appearance In truth, Itolcau, hound
like, had run his gamo to earth. It
was ho who had caught Bight of her
Just for nn Instant Lator oho heard
onco moro tho tinkling of somo falling
object upon tho floor. Sho picked it
up It wns a aubBtnntlal fllo, which
evidently had been flung through the
window by somcono having tho intent
to aid her. This thought gavo her hopo.
Almost ns soon ns sho grasped it sho
fell to work at tho bars which had re
strained her.
Meantime, nt tho sccno from which
Bho had been so unceremoniously ab
stracted but now, Count Frederick re
mained etlll pondering on tho strange
events which had been brought home
so closo to him. Ho wns too much
preoccupied in his concern over tho
young womnn's disappearance to noto
carefully anything elso that went on
about him. When ono of his house
hold placed n messago In his hnnd, for
tho time ho gazed nt It, Bcarco com
prehending that It camo from tho roy
al pnlnco.
Sluco ho had left unattended the
servant of Count Sachlo, whom ho
hnd found in his own room, tho latter
seized tho present opportunity to cs
cnpo from the place and to tlnd hla
Bringing Some Food for Her.
act quickly. Tell me, what happoned
then?"
"Tho Count Frederick allowed her
to escape strangely, he seemed to
have small resentment for her after
all. Nor did ho have too much for
Rolcau, whom ho must hnvo ranked a
wholly faithless servant. Ho did not
punish him but even sent him off
after tho girl! Excellency, my word
for It, ho seemed to miss tho girl as
much as tho coin did Count Fred
erick."
Follow them then, Ilartcl. Follow
Roleau If you can find him ho will
lead you to tho girl, whorover sho may
bo. For mysolf, I cannot guess."
It wns tills counsel, followed dlli
gontly by tho unhappy messenger of
Count Sachlo, which resulted in a
quick shifting of tho forces of Kitty's
onemlos. It was truo Rolcau had
gained access to n point within night
of Kitty's window, whero still ho
tried to bo of aid to her still hoped
sho soon would bo ablo to aid herself.
Rut hero ho wub surprised by theso
emissaries of Count Sachlo It was
nono less than tho nobleman himself
who led tho forces now.
Thcreforo when, aftor all her toll,
Kitty at length managed to mako her
oscapo through tho barred window, it
was but to find herself onco moro a
prlsouer Rolcau onco moro a prisoner
with her! Tho fact of captivity had
not changed only tho phases of enp
tlvlty. She and her ally had only ex
changed captors. Who hor lust prison
guardian had been Kitty could not
tell. Now, without doubt, sho was
onco moro to bo subjected to tho scant
courtesy of tho nobleman of Grahof-fen.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Tho Counterfeit Coin.
Count Frederick finally aroused
himself from tho apathy of Inaction
I own master, Count Sachlo himself In which Kitty's eudden dlsappcaranco
find left him Now he teamed that
tho message from tho king asked his
nttondnnco nt tho palaco as soon as
might be. Tho king hnd, it seemed, n
communication which ho desired to
mako to Count Frederick nt once.
"Confound hla royal highness!" ex
claimed Frederick to himself. "I never
leavo him but ho asks mo back at
onco. Ho is ulwayo in somo trouble,
nnd I am Ill-disposed now to bo nurse
to any king, for I havo affairs of my
own to troublo mo sulnclontly."
Novcrtholcss, grumbling, ho went
his way to tho palaco, for tho royal
will was something not yet nt least to
bo set usldo.
"Good! Count Frederick," Michael
greeted him. "I nsked your return be
causo of a sudden thought that had
como to my mind."
"As to what, your majesty? Did it
como to you alone, utiasslsted?"
Tho king was too much preoccupied
to concern himself with sarcasm.
"Yes, assuredly. It is regarding the
coin."
"Tho coin! I thought your majesty
cared llttlo for It so llttlo that you
gavo it away unasked to one who Is
not oven of our country a stranger
tho young American."
"Precisely. That Is true. And I had
cause for my act. Uut, seo you, one
docs not muko gifts unrequited. Now
tho young American has disappeared,
nnd so has the coin. Perhaps, rather,
I should reverse that, and sny that tho
coin has disappeared and with It tho
young American. At least, that Is to
suy they both aro gone. So I Bent
for you, my dear Frederick, to tell mo
what to do."
Tho nobleman stood for a moment
but hnlf concealing his real feelings,
gauging tho man before him, this imi
tation of a king.
"Sho was a most charming young
person," began tho king, trying to
conceal his own thoughts. "Do you
not think sucli hair as hers is rare?"
"Raro, indeed, your majesty alio Is
in all things rare," suddenly ex
claimed tho count.
"And where is sho gono?"
"I do not know I have no idea."
"Rut you can And her you ceittilnly
can bring her back."
"I hopo it, your majesty I hopo it
very much. Rut then, as to the coin?"
ho ndded, somowhnt maliciously for
ho knew woll enough where but the
wind In royal qunrtors.
"Oh, yes, about tho coin. Well, 1
wns only going to ask you to find It
for me."
"That scorns simple, your majeBty!
Even though I do not know where tho
young girl Is."
"That is why I ask you, my dear
count."
"Agreed then, your majesty. Of
what uso is a servant of the king if
ho cannot do tho king's will? 1 ac
cept your errand. I will soon return
to you thn coin at least, I hopo so.
After all, perhaps it has no eucIi valuo
as you seem to think I am sure it hns
less value for you than other things
that wo might mention."
Count Frederick did not odd aloud
what was In his own mind tho truth
that tho coin had moro valuo for
him than ho at any tlmo before now
had believed.
Presently ho excused himself from
tho royal presence and departed to
put Into effect u llttlo plan of his own
which ho fancied might blunt both
horns of this dilemma into which the
naiveto of King Michael so suddenly
had placed him.
As luck would have it, there had
been thrown into his hands tho king's
half of tho coin.
Count Frederick thought for a mo
ment before ho mado a plan. Then
ho mado a hurried Journoy to a ccr
tain. silversmith In whoso skill ho had
much confidence
"Mako me," ho said as ho laid upon
tho counter his piece of tho coin "a
replica of this absolutely, line for
lino, so that I myself cannot tell the
two apart Do you hear mo? Can It
bo dono?"
"Yes, excellency," said tho workman,
"it can bo dono so nicely that I my
self scarcely could toll thorn apart"
"Then Quick with it," said Count
Frcdorlck. "How soon?"
"By tomorrow, excellency, I promlso
you a duplicate"
It was theroforo on tho morrow
that Count Frederick was ablo onco
moro to visit tho royal palaco with a
mind moro at peaco with circum
stances. With him ho carried what
was apparently tho king's hnlf of ths
coin which ho had given to tho young
Amurican to carelessly, and which
now nt onco ho coveted again 3inc3
tho youug American herself wns gone
"So soon!" exclaimed Michael. "You
aro tho aomo of puuctlllousucss and
efficiency, my dear count. Ttou aro
indeed a man of results. Go now to
my cabinet again and help yoursolf to
such Jowels as you fancy."
"No moro, your majesty, I thank
you. If I havo been of service I am
pleased. Jowels aro not for me. They
aro for women and no womnn has
Jowols from mo now. I havo reformed,
your majesty. I Bhnll bo taking my
self to a monastery noxt."
King Michael laughed loudly at this
Jest on tho part of his former boon
companion. "Not bo far as that for
mo," ho said. "I am not yet ready for
any monastery. 1 swear I C3n remem
ber a queen's faco and a queen's figure
when I seo them, well as ever. And I
saw them both hero not bo long ago.
I thought I had secured tho chnnco to
seo them yet again when I gavo hor
as our gift this which you havo re
stored to mo now. It seoms I failed
In that. Rut should tho samo case
como up again for action should sho
by Intent or accident moot us again
I am In pcE0C3slon onco more of what
formerly was raiuo. Perhaps tho o
ran could bo tindcrtnRefl ao ljvo, my
dear count Sho gave W to ou to
return to mo? Well, no matter, only I
hopo that In some way, ou some day,
sho will como back again."
"I trust it, your majesty," said Count
Frederick fervently; anfl the deluded
monarch, pleased at tho quick execu
tion of his wishes, Juiew nothing of thn
deeper machinations of tho keen brain
which ho fancied still was In bis serr
ico.
CHAPTER XXVHL
Means to an End.
Kitty, left alono onco moro, fount
herself In better heart than Bho had
been but now. At least, she had aeon
Rolenu had found onco moro proof
of his faithfulness and his efficiency.
Surely ho would help her to escape yet
again. And as for Sachlo better he.
of whom sho knew something, than a
stranger of whom sho know nothing
at all. Of lato despair had beon knock
ing at her heart in such fashion that
tho summons of opportunity found no
hearing, but now sho began to plan
onco moro.
She Bought to study tho exits of tho
apartment in which sho found herself.
Thcro wero two doors, so it seemed,
both fastened. Sho pushed strongly
at one; It opened beforo her. Sho
stood onco moro faco to faco with
Count Sachlo, tho mocking conspira
tor who tnd of lato had bo much to
do with tier own misfortunes!
"Mademoiselle!" Bald he, "I am so
pleased."
"For myself," rejoined Kitty indig
nantly, "I was never bo much dis
pleased :. I am now. So the gentle
men of this country lu this way show
their quality In their treatment of
women? I compliment you."
"Your words nro at least better than
your absence mademoiselle 1 llko
neither."
"And whnt of me? What shall I
say of a man who treats mo ns a crim
inal? Nay, a criminal would bo treat
ed better lu my country ho would
havo a trial. Thero woud bo process
of law, obsuvaucu of tho law. Is tho
habeas corpus writ a thing unknown
in this country havo the people never
et wrung that right from tho hands
of tyrants? lu my country thero aro
some iccourses which any citizen may
have"
"Your own country? Why did you
over leave It, mademoiselle?"
"Tho reasons concern mo nlonc, sir."
"Indeed, you mistake they do not
concern you alone. Wo aro many of ub
In this country ulso concerned with
them. Wo would that you never had
corno from America. Thero aro many
reasons moving to that. And, indeed,
wo even ask your return to your own
country."
"So, then, it was your message to
mo that I got? Most melodramatic
of you, Count Snchlo hut by what
right do you demaud my return?"
"Thcro nro somo largo rtgnta,
mademoiselle, which need smail ex
planation." "But which allow you to hinder me
in tho performance of my own duties
to ask mo to bo unfaithful to my em
ployers? Why, you ovon ask mo to
decelvo tho public to present a coun
terfeit to pretend that I havo dono
what I havo not done."
"So? And you cannot tuko such
good advice?"
"No, I will not. To deceive, to pre
tend, to counterfeit thoso aro attrib
utes of your kingdom, not of my ojvn
country, America. In my country wo
hr:o better standards men and wom
en alike for which I heartily am
glad."
"You hn.vo a stinging tongue, ma
demoiselle," Bnld Count Snchlo, red un
der his swarthy skin. "Perhaps it will
grow milder if left unused. I shall
leave ou here until you oro willing
to nay you nro dono with Gretzhoffen
nnd ready to roturn to your own coun
try. This land, mademoiselle can
keep Its own secrets It could even
closo over tho secret of tho dlsappcar
anco of a young woman and leavo
her fate a mystery. I trust that you
will reconclder what you havo said."
A moment and ho hod left her onco
moro. Beforo no passed tnrougn tno
door sho glanced beyond. Tho room
wns occupied, apparently, by his
friends cscnpo on that sldo was Im
possible Tho other door still remained fas
tened. Kitty turned to U with bur
glarious intent using an art learned
when sho was a schoolgirl. With no
belter Instrument than a hairpin, sho
hnd seen wonders dono at opening
locks.
Her brisk Interchange of compli
ments with Couut Sachlo had Bet her
pulses Btl.-rfng onco moro. Sho want
ed to got out sho wanted to escape,
and Bho proposed to escape. Onci
moro free, she admitted to horself, sho
would bo willing enough to tako the
advlco which but now she had
scorned willing enough to tako Bhlp
back hone, to seo tho familiar oky
lino of her own city, to And her own
placo back In tho smoky and grimy
city, her own place in tho hum and
grind of tho old newspaper. How
good it would seem to her now to boo
tho faces of tho local room. They
might chaff hor nil they liked. YeB,
Bho would go back homo.
And now, with schoolgirl flnesso la
the employment of tho small instru
ment at her disposal, Bho succeeded
In her burglary. Sho felt tho lock turn
at last felt it give saw that alio
could open tho door. Sho did opon
It nnd closed It ngaln.
Bnck of her sho beard onco more
tho croak of tho othor door as It
opened. Sho turned to encounter
onco moro tho flguro of Count Sachlo.
Ho Bmllcd at her an once moro ha
entered unannounced
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
'.
ii
ii
i
i
K
X
- j
M
m
l!
j
