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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1916)
RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF ' I? ! f) The Broken Coin cZ Story of By EMERSON HOUGH Mystery and B T yi From the Scenario by Adventure Grace Cunard (Copyright, 1915, By Wright A. Patterson) JNovellitd From the Motion Picture Drama of the flamo Name. Producod by the . Universal Film Manufacturing Company. u 8YNOP8I8. Klttr Qray, newspaper woman, flndi In a curio shop hnlf of a broken coin, the mutilated Inscription on which arouses her curiosity and leads her, at the order of nor managing editor, to go to the prin cipality or uretihorren to piece i tory suggustnl by the Inscription. piece out the Hhe Is followed, and on arrival In dretihoffen tier adventures while chasing the secret f the broken coin begin. TWELFTH INSTALLMENT CHAPTER XLIII. The Sinews of War. It was touch and go botwoon the two llttlo kingdoms for a tlino. Tholr troops had faced each othor In tho opon flold. Mlood had boon shod. Gonorala had looked other generals In tho oyo at no great dlatanco. At tho HneB of contact tho Imperial rulers of tho two countries Jjad boen within earshot ono of tho othor. Yet thoy parted now. Why? Tho trumpets soundod tho recall, oven au tho loadors woro awaiting tho sum mons for tho charge Why? At least ono ruler had boon eager for tho as sault, yet did not advanco his troops. Why? Tho other, vacillating ns over of soul, nono tho loss had boon upon the battle front itself, whether or not his courngo had been more than tomporary. Ho now retired. Why? Tho answer to nil thoso questions lay In tho hands of tho young Amer ican girl. Sundorod, tho two halves of tho divided Orotr.holTon coin still ploadod for reunion. Ono lay in tho grasp of another. Had either king dom on this day owned them both, war would havo ensued. Cortlslaw of Orahoffon, old as he was, nono tho less was In respect of martial naturo far In advanco of tho woak ruler of Gretzhoffon. Michael had como to tho roscuo not so much to savo Count Frederick from danger bb to savo Count Frederick for him self. Ho needed Frederick's courage Not so Cortlslaw, who retired to his own city fuming and full of Iro. Evil waB that hour for tho courtiers of Orahoffon, and worst of all for tho un fortunate Sachlo, who had promised so much for his sovereign and him elf, and who had como so far short of tho moasuro of his promises. "Bollnvo mo, my good friond Sachlo," oxclalmcd Cortlslaw, whon at longth that crestfallen individual was brought boforo htm. "Your falluro to bring mo tho missing half of tho coin has well-night cost mo my dignity nnd you your life. I will not longer suffer such disappointments at your hands." "Your majesty," began Sachlo, but tho other raised a hand. "Wo aro at tho brink of war now at nny moment war may bo forced on us, whether wo llko It or not I did not think Mlchnel would march, but ho has shown that undor certain circumstances he not only can but will. If wo delay we loso all tho ad vantages of tho initiative Nono can toll what yonder Count Frederick will do, for at least ho does not lack cour age. And now ho will bo eager for rovongo against ub for tho danger In which wo have placed him." "It wob a dangor shared by all those who engaged In tho strugglo for tho coin," Bald Sachlo. "Wo had It Convinced Count Frederick the Room Was Empty, In our own hands. Wo brought It to tho very odgo of our throne; It was In our country when thoy took it once more." "Yes, and those persons woro per sons that had no more at stako than you have, Count Sachlo," broke In Cortlslaw, with the cold wrath his officers knew bo well. "Have they more reason for success than you? Aro thoy of groater wit than yourself? By tho Lord! It thoso things bo bo, 'tis time wo had hotter wits about us than such as yours." Sachlo hung his head, but found no spoocb. In answer and tho king went on: "Listen now." He beckoned about him othor offl cere of his court, and hold out bo foro him In his palm tho halt coin which bad como Into his possession. "8e what this says It talks of treas ssHHVfrlL. Jsssk MSB aSfJ SH BW W i ure troasuro! Wo know that tho Gretzhoffon treasure Is enormous wo know that It le conccalod In tho tor ture chamber, whatovor or whorovor that may bo. Iioyond that wo know no more It Is tho othor half of tho coin alono that can toll us what wo covet now. This half but whets our anger until wo havo tho mato for It. "Now, my noblemen, you who pro tond to servo mo and thla pooplo, onco more I warn you yonder half coin, or your resignations or your heads." His officials left him, all In a stato bordering upon conatornatlon, for thoy know that this king was not ono noon forgotful of hlfl hatred or his revenge They laid tholr heads to gether, Sachlo desporately anxious now, and triod tholr best to formu lato somo plan. All thoy could con clude was that tho coin had found Its way back to Grotzhoffcn onco moro In tho possession of tho persons who so stoutly had defended It. Meantlmo theso wero far away as tlmo had allowed them. Tho walla of Grotzhoffcn sheltered now both Kitty Gray and Koloau. Closo bohlnd thoso rodo King Mlchaol at tho head of his troops, at his sldo tho man whoso dangor had called him forth nono loss than Count Frodorlck him self. "My dear count," exclaimed Mlchaol In his own very pretty opinion of his prowess, "all Is woll that onds well. Did you not note tho speed with which wo camo to rescue you? Was It not all magnificent?" "Yob," replied tho count. "Tho wit of yonder girl her courago thoy woro indoed magnificent." "Hor wit? Hor courage?" "Pardon, your majesty, but was It not those things which brought you to our rcscuo? How elso could you havo known of our stress? It was sho who carried tho nowB sho, I doubt not, who also carries tho coin." "Tho coin? What coin? Why do you speak of It?" domanded Mlchaol In a certain surprise "Wo havo that half coin In our own possession or at least havo supposod so surely did havo It but tho othor day. You havo ono half, havo you not, and I tho othor? If cither half bo missing, at IcaBt I do not know whero It Is." "It Is In Orahoffon town this min ute In every likelihood," exclaimed Count Frederick, careless of any consoquenccs that might nriso If his counterfeiting woro dlscovorcd. "Wo had a hnlf, that equally Is miro, in our hands in tho mountain fight. Tho young woman nnd myself gavo It in kooping of her sorvant, the man Ro loau a stout follow and a desporato fighter, as moro than ono of yonder army might attest." "And whero Is ho now?" "That Is what I cannot say," re joined tho count. At tho tlmo tho danger of conflict ended I turned to llnd him, and ho was gone, as you know. Wo agreed that thoso two, Roleau and his mtstross, would meet as Boon as possible My own fear Is that tho young woman will tako ship at any tlmo and sail for homo. With hor goes tha secret, for very likely Rolcau would go with her." "I do not Bharo your foars, my doar count," ho said. "In my own belief tho young woman will not bo so apt to leave tho palaco prcBontly." "Loavo tho palaco?" "Yos, Bho was In tho charge of my people thoro oven as I Btartod out with tho troops. I am thinking that a palaco is a safer placo than a ship for a young woman who is a stranger in a strango land a beautiful young woman. CHAPTER XLIV. In the Name of the Law. Ab for, Roleau, now object of solid tudo on tho part of a nobloman and oven a king, ho wob experiencing fur thor adventures of his own. As soon aa ho hud mado his escapo from tho flold whero tho threo had bo noarly met disaster, ho mado such spood as ho could after Kitty, who, aa ho knew very woll, would hasten ns fast as might bo to find some hiding for hor self and tho coin. But whero was sho now? That he could not guess, for ho had no means of learning that Kitty had been loft In tho palaco of tho king. Rather, ho supposed that sho would bo at tho ho tel which Bho had mado hor residence. Ho bont his own steps thither as rap idly as might bo. Ho met only coldness at tho offlco at that stately caravansary, tho Rltz, whoro both ho and his mlstross, savo for tho Intercession of tho king, boforo this would havo boon sot out In tho streets bag and baggago. "Madoraolsollo, tho young American oxcollency?" ho askod of tho clerk at tho dosk. "Sho la at homo today?" "Wo know nothing of mademolsello, tho young Amorlcnn oxcollency," ro plied that worthy coldly. "Sho loft no announcement of hor plans when sho departed. She has not returned." , "Aro you Buro as to that?" domand ed Rolcau, nonplubetf hs tv uhat next to do. "I am not hero to mako guesses on such things," rejoined tho clerk. "I know nothing, and that Is something." "Nothing Is enough for ono of your kind to know," replied Roleau blandly. Ho might perhaps havo cngagod In still moro truculent conversation with tho clork, had ho not at that momont felt a hand laid on his arm. Ho turnod to faco a sergeant of gondnrmos, who drow him to ono aide. "In the namo of tho law, you are my prisoner," said tho man. "Como with mo." "On what charge then, monsieur?" domandod Roleau coolly. "It Is my right to know something of that, I fancy." "Tho charge Is murdor, as you know," said tho sergeant. "Tho same on which you woro Just In charge. I am to warn you onco moro that what you say may bo usod against you at tho trial. "At tho trial?" oxclaimod Roleau. "I thought that was all dismissed. Did wo not havo tho king's excuse to loavo? Tho king hlmsolf sot free my master and my mistress.;' "Doth your employers?" grinned the sergeant. "I am servant of both, and certainly If olthor went froo then so should I. Is that not true?" "It Is 1st from truo," roturned tho gondarmo grimly; you will see how far. Murdor was committed yonder by somoono, as you know. You saw It Bald that you saw It. The law doos not Bet such witnesses froo." "Tho king sots froo whom ho pleases In this land," rejoined Roleau. "I shall tell my mistress of this." "Do so," laughod the gondarmo, "a rich jost onough. Dut first find your mistress." Roleau found this a proposition diffi cult of prosent answer. Others of the police closing In upon him, he went with them now poacoably as ho might; to tho tribunal whoro somoono must answer for tho recont crime Tho profoct groeted him grimly enough, yet with a certain exultation In his mlon. It was nocosBary In that country, as in others, that a victim should bo found for tho law. Per haps in that country moro than In many others, It mattered llttlo who that victim might bo. "So wo havo you again, MosBor Ro leau?" "And why, may I ask your honor?" rejoined Roleau, Innocently. "I was "I Warn You the Other Half away, truo, on business In other lands business connected with my coun try's wolfaro. Having concludod that mattor I roturned fast as I might, and horo I am." "Criminals always come back to the scones of their murdor," assorted the protect pompously. "Is that truo? I did not know It. As for mo, I havo done no crlmo. I was simply looking after my mlo tross' affairs In hor room hor excel loncy, tho young American, who Is so high In tho king's good will." "That la nil very well, very woll, but It Is not onough, as you will boo," rejoined tho protect. "Tho king did not sot you froo." "Only because tho king had not yet heard from my mistress. Qlvo mo leave to bring tho two together and that may bo done and she will set all right at once. Ask her." "I do not ueod to ask her. The king has sot for me tho task of finding yonder murdoror. I must fill that task. I have dono so now." "What myself I am suspected of that crime! Your honor, that Is Im possible. Thero has been no proof of any crime." "Send to tho king," be added, catch ing a gllmpBO of uncertainty on tho faco of tho prefect. "Sond to my mistress. I claim that right under the law." "I Bond to tho king?" demanded the prefect blustering. "Why should I? I can control tho process of the law without troubling royalty with detalla of that sort." "But suppose thero aro conse quences. Thoso are ticklish times, be llovo mo, your oxcollency. I havo seen blood doeds done today. When a king goos to war and our king may go boforo long tho llfo of an officer loft behind 1b worth no moro to him than that of a good fighting man taken with him to tho front. Perhaps as bo twoon your honor and myself" Tho official took counsel with. his own caution for a moment. "I will myself go to the palace," Bald ho at longth. "To bo sure, wo cannot bo too careful In the attaining of the (W '''i1WaW rHsTarBr IT' IrrfaWaai flMT r ( . aWJ''JKiclWaaaEaaJaBME.'laaaay aHaaaMl - - WaBBA2aV"VValHsjHBw 7bbbW'.jWbbbH ' ::'f:,iilaHaann:faaKjaUWMII( J xy J.vsBBBBUBBaK3HBn$ bbbbbbBbbbhbV TKCBQ IM BBBBbBBBBbW BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBbHbbHbBBBi ' fttBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBHBBBBBBBBBBBBBBaV VB ''JbbT K H M IMtaJK ZaaBBBaHlBBBB I IS l aaB bbHi HriBBB& bb( (fJfPiL ends of justice. It I anm uta ac cess to tho king, I shall at least havo mado the attompt. If I can havo an audlenco, I shall put something of this caso boforo him myself. Wo wlBh not to moddlo too Intimately In affairs of which wo do not know. Dut It tho king disavows you" CHAPTER XLV. The Chamber of Horrors. Arrived presently in tho royal pal ace and In tho company not only of Count Frederick, but of yet other no blemen and officials, King Michael re laxed his martial front undor the warming Influence of tho wlno on which he bo much rolled. "They fled," ho exclaimed again and again, boastlngly, as ho referred to the scenes which but now he had loft. "They fled before us llko sheep, my dear count. With myself to lead the army and you at ray sldo what chance would they havo? Thoy knew thoy had nono, and took counsel of their wisdom for once. If they re main In that counsel, surely they will stay bohlnd their own walls, and not give offenso to our country. We would annihilate them. A halt hour moro, and we would havo plundered tholr city today. Their troasuro would have been ours!" "What troasuro, your majesty?" In quired Count Frederick coldly. "Would wo go to war for that?" "For what else?" smiled tho king. "For liberty, Justice, freedom, your majesty."v "Tut! tut! whero do you get thoso terms? A monk speaks! But listen, did we not march to your rescuo?" "Yes, your majesty, I am not un mindful and not unthankful. Dut still wo lack tho cluo which alono can make war posslblo or deslrablo tho cluo which alone has back of It motives worthy of a king and of a pooplo." "Well, well, what does all this mean then?" rejoined Michael, Irritated. "Whero do we arrive? What is It that you ask?" "I can ask no questions and answer nono, until wo have found once moro tho young American, your majesty." King Michael smiled In self-satisfaction at last, "Ah, woll, that Is easy," sold ho. "I havo said that sho 1b, or should bo, horo In this palace. It Is true she brought mo tho nows of your plight." Count Frederick waited for no chango In tho royal will, but bowed of This Coin or Your Heads!" himself from the room. Inquiry found for htm presently tho waiting woman in whose caro Kitty had been placed, and together they approached tho room whero she had been left, some hours boforo, to hor own dovlces. They knocked, knocked again, and yet again but got no answor. The woman at length opened tho door with hor own key. Her sudden exclama tion convinced Count Frederick that tho room was empty. "Sho is up to her tricks," exclaimed ho to himself. "Now I wonder " Ho did not pauBo to ask much of the waiting woman, but hurried away down tho hall, Intent on certain plans of his own. He must find her, must see her at once. Ho had no real Idea as to which courso Kitty had taken after leaving tho room, but alone after a tlmo, ho walked moro slowly, he could not say why. Something came to his senses, as first not recognized a faint Bcont a perfumo which It seemed to blm ho had known boforo tho per fumo of violets, faint, indefinite, fra grant. Ho found himself at longth In a nar row hallway from which thoro wero no sldo passages. It led him deoper back Into tho palaco, Its trond continually downward. Thus Anally ho found him self In tho solf-samo subterranean tun nol which Kitty earlier had discovered. "Sho was searching for the torturo chamber!" said he to hlmsolf, with sudden conviction. "That is why Bho camo horo!" Ho camo at length to tho great door which closed the passagoway. Yos, In the dust boforo him woro footprints, and in tho dust on tho door itsolt woro finger prints! Tho sllonco and secro cy of agoB bad boen broken within tho hour. Ho pushed opon tho door pushed It until It mot somo obstruction somo thing which luy vaguely whlto upon tho floor. Ho turned downward tho flare of his light started back from what ho saw. Sho lay at his foot, unconscious, helpless doad, for all ho could toll. He bont ovor hor, doubt, torror In his eyes, and reached o'ai h'.u Itand. Sho stirred undor his touch. Hor oyes opened, looked into his. What sho saw bending over her was tho faco of hor enemy. "Who is It?" she crlod. "Loose mo loavo me! Whoro am I?" Sho caught her hands to her faco now aB thero camo to hor onco moro tho terror of what sho had seen. Sho dared not look about hor. "Take mo away!" sho moaned. "Take mo away!" He made no answer for a tlmo. "Why have you followed mo horo?" she domanded at last, half hysteri cally. Ho spoke now, slowly, almost sol emnly. "Why?" Bald ho. "I do not know why. I think It must have boen be cause you woro In trouble Perhaps you called me perhaps that Is why I camo." "What do you mean? Would you taunt mo now, at such a tlmo? I havo boen frlghtenod almost to tho point of death It waB torrlblo." "Come" said Count Frederick, and placed about her an nnn on whoso strength, In spito of herself, sho was glad to lean. Ho was guiding hor toward tho door. Sho turnod and saw again that which but now hnd smitten her with terror. Hor nerves, weakened by tho long strain upon them, gave way onco more. The flaro of the candle lighted up tho cavernous interior at whoso en trance thoy stood. Count Frederick saw what sho had seen. On the walls Btood out hooks, steel arms which supported oyoloss, grin ning skulls old how old no ono could toll, fleyond arose rods and gratings, barbed, pointed, curvod. An iron chair was In a corner, and In It sat a grinning skeleton. It was tho torturo chamber, the room of terrors, born of othor years moro Bavago than theso, and brought down unchanged through all tho centuries! "Como," said Count Frederick, his . own voice agitated. "It 1b no time . to think of auy treasure now, but you yoursolf!" Ho caught her away swiftly into tho other passage, and flung tho door shut behind thorn. In sllonco ho led her along the subterranean passage and up the stairs. Ho loft her onco more alono In her j own room, to composo herself as best sho might, while ho wont on to rojoln tho king. "So, then, you found her, faithful mossonger?" demanded Michael. "Yob, your majesty, at longth. Sho was but strolling about to pass the tlmo during your absence While I know llttlo of such matters, it seems to me that tho trials of tho day have been extreme for her." ' King Michael ended by asking the attendance of tho young woman hor solf; but It was just at this juncture that thero arrived at tho palaco nono loss than tho profect of poltco, who mado suppllunca through several court official for admittance to audience with royalty. "Ho says," ventured tho last cham-. borlaln, "that ho comes regarding tho murdor at tho Rltz hotel, in which your majesty was graciously pleased to be interested." "Yes, yes my dear Count Fred erick, It was absurd that you should bo mixed in that or tho young Amer ican I havo not had tlmo to think of it slncii then. What is all this now? Drlng tho man In." And so presently tho prefect, abashed and much perturbed, was ad mitted. "Well, woll," domanded tho mon arch, "what Is It why do you como hero?" "For only ono reason, your maj osty," began tho profect humbly. "We are convinced that there Is moro than chance medloy in this murdor. Tho thing goes deoper than we thought at first." "Havo you no suspect?" "One, your majesty, a person of no Importance by namo Roleau." "How now, count?" Michael turned to tho nobleman who still stood near. "What think you of this matter?" "Count Fredorick considered for a momont boforo he replied. "Sot him froo," said ho at length. "Watch him. Ho will lead us to some thing porhaps. Do sure that once ho is looso ho will not bo at rest for long." "An excellent Idoa," said Michael. Mlchaol turned now to tho matters closer to his hoart tho wolfaro of tho young American, whom ho had not soon slnco his return to tho palace Even now sho waited for admission to his presence, and ho had hor sum moned at onco. "What! mademolsello," cried Mi chael, "you aro palo. You havo not yet fully rocovored you havo boon 111?" "Yes, your raaJeBty," replied Kitty, smiling somewhat wanly. Ho now no ttcod that tho serving woman at her sldo carried hor wraps, and that sho horself appeared ready for tho street. "What! you mean to leavo us?" ex claimed ho. "What doos this mean?" "Your majesty," Bald Kitty, "gracious ly allow mo my absonco for tho time I must roturn to my hotel." It was with deop relief that finally Kitty found herself onco moro freed of tho roynl prosenco nnd tho royal palace. Sho aped, fast aa might bo, back to iier hotol. Count Fredorick oxcuBed hlmsolf but a momont lator. To tho king ho an nounced his Intention of roturnlng to his own home Instead, ho mado his way also to tho Rltz hotol. Tho clerk at tho hotol was moro deferential to tho nohlomau than ho had beon to tho nobleman's servant a trlflo earlier. "Hor excellency, tho young Amerl- cau? But riosv nho enma sho may fc in her room we shall boo. Shall she Join you In tho parlors, Monstour 1 Comto?" "In the parlors on tho floor above," ropllod Count Frederick, rathor vague ly, and paBsod up tho broad stair. But ho had certain planB of his own which did not Include a public audience with tho young American, Instead, he passed boldly down tho hall. Before tho door at which ho would havo an nounced hlmsolf ho paused, He could not well escapo detection If he turned back, for tho volcos of othors camo to htm down tho hall. And In tha room boyond the door ho hoard an other volco apparently sho was us ing tho telophono. Yes, It was sho. Ho waited for an Instant, and found hlmsolf without Intention In posses sion of what sho said, Kitty at tho timo, In fact, was tele phoning to tho hoadquartors of po ltco asking for knowlcdgo of hor serv ant Roleau. Hor volco went on now rapid, staccato. "Monsieur, ho was freed, Roleau yos, yea what then? On probation? yes, I know. Ho was horo ho was followed to tho hotol he was followed MBBHaHHaBBWrtfVltfl iSHB(.HNavM Oa9aHHaaWanHnV VL MB It Was the Torture Chamber the Room of Terrors! to the rendezvous of tho apaches yes, yes by whom? why? He Is there now, porhaps? Ah, bah! what mannor of officers aro you? What is your plan in all this to have him klllod by thieves in turn?" Count Fredorick paused to hear no moro, but flushed guiltily ovor his eavesdropping rotraced his steps down tho hall and Bought moro docorous means of meeting tho young woman whom ho wished to seo. Dut even as ho did so he reflected that from tho detached exclamations ho had heard Buroly sho was planning yot othor ad vontures. If Rolcau had beon here if ho had boen followed away by tho pollco toward tho thieves' headquar terssurely this undaunted girl would in turn do what Bho could to rcscuo , him. If so, onco moro sho herself would nncd assistance Count Frederick stepped to one sldo in tho hotel lobby and bided his tlmo. It was as ho thought. Doforo long Kitty hastened through tho lobby and out toward tho street. Evidently sho had paused to mako no moro than slight changes in her toilet. Doyond question tho purposo in her mind was to find Roleau. Count Fredorick strollod toward tho desk and nodded pleasantly to tho questioning clerk. "Yes," Bald ho, "I was so fortunato " Ho did not pauso to sajr doflnltoly In what way ho had been fortunate, but, unhurried, strolled down tho stops luto tho street, Intent on nothing bo much ns upon discovering what Kitty Gray next would do. It was now a curious train that of thoso persons engaged In tho search for tho rausterlous coin. Roleau had Indeed found an occupant in the room of his mlstross whon he hastoned thither tho moment ho wns roleasod from csutody. That occupant, how ovor, wns not his mlstross, but an other nono loss than a membor of the apacho band who had held hor apart monts under espionage Roleau, hid ing himself, waited for tho appearanco of tho Intruder followed him out from tho' hall into tho street. This had boon but tho moment boforo Kitty's ro turn. Tho profoct had ordorod Ro lcau's discharge by telephone from tho palaco, almost as sho was leaving, and both sho and Roleau had hastonod to tho hotol. Now, as Kitty craorged, followod by Count Fredorick, yet anothor ono of Dlako's underworld band steppod out from his hiding 'placo and followod Count Frederick himself. And all of thoso, each was In pursuit of tho cov eted Gretzhoffon coin. As for Rolcau, his man mado rapid progress, and It was not long before ho had trailed him to tho rendezvous of tho band which he hlmsolf previous ly had learnod. Undaunted, ho would havo pursued tho fugitive to tho inner chamber of the rondozvous had not ho heard a Bound which caused him to pauso. It wob at this time that Dlake, load or of tho band of thlovos, chancod to return to tho rendezvous. Ho bad passed part way Into tho subterranean paBsago whon he lookod on ahead Just In tlmo to boo ono of his mou uraorgo from tho central room and make a spring at an intrudor whom ho hlm solf at onco recognized as tho man who at this very scono carllor had given him so desporato a bat tlewho later had glvon him Into tho hands of tho law. Thinking only of rovongo now, for getting tho coin, tho roncgado loador whipped out his rovolvor and llred polut blank at Rolcau, -(TO DE CONTINUED.) f A .. A 1 TT wryi t -1 . jwiwivr- Zif "A