The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, May 25, 1916, Image 2

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    RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
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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
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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
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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
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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.)
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