RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
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6Ke BROKEN
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Fronthe5ceiario HORACE CUAJARD
copypiQHr. 1915. & wpioht A.FwrregsoJ
Wove.iuil From Hie Motion Pictuio Urainu ol llio Hume Nurna.
Universal Film Manufacturing Company,
8YNOPSI3.
Kitty Orn', newnpiipcr woman, flndn In
a curfo shop lialf of n bruknn coin, the
rnutlluliMl limcrlptlon on which nrouitci
tier curloMty ami lemls her. ut the order
of hor nmntiKtnK editor, to ko to tho prin
cipality of (Jrvtclioffan to piece out tho
utory aiiKgoatnd hy tho limcrlptlon. Hint In
followed, nnd on urrlvul In OrctxhonVn
her adventures whllu chasing the secret
of tlio broken coin nenln.
TWENTY-FIRST INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LXXIII.
Tho Encounter ot 8ea.
Over tho Bun, up Into tho stura, oped
tho dlatroBS call nt tho nhip nt sen:
"S. O S. Grutzhoffcn! 8. O. 8. Grotz
boffonl" Broken, Incoherent nt tltnos, but lm
pcratlvo, tho Htrlilunt wnll ol tho wlro
loflH clamoring out Into tho empty air,
nuking for oara fnr nwny to liston to
what It Bald. And curs did hear tho
onrH of frlondB.
Tho prlmo minister of Grotzlioffen,
as han boon snld, had by this time
succeeded in mukliiK boiiio Bort of a
cloaranco of tho uuwelcomo guests ot
tho UrotzhotTon palnco. Ho had got
tho king to bed, boiiio of his ofllcers to
horsa, and a few of Ills Borvnuts to
work. As for himself, ho felt him
eolt unablo to establish tho broken
machinery of tho government on any
lasting basis. Frodorlck Count Fred
erick tho man with tho strong brain
and arm whoro was ho?
Ilcut upon answering for himself
this somowhat lmperntlvo question,
tho prlmo minister mado search hero
and thoro for somo cluo to tho miss
ing nobleman. Ills agents ran tho
trail to iho dock whonco Count Fred
erick had sailed so ninny days ago.
Ho loaruod that at tho tlmo tho king's
yacht hud put out thoro had boon seen
tho lino of Htuoko ot a passing steam
er, far bolow, toward tho mouth of
tho bay. Apparently tho king's yacht
had sot out with tho purposo of inter
cepting this steamer. What then hud
happenod nono could toll. Somo
whoro out on tho Ben tho uoblcmun
of Gretzhoffon had disappeared.
Thoroforo, said tho prlmo mlntstor
to blniBolf, it might well bo truo that
Count Frederick, having been gone a
cortaln porlod of tlmo, might now bo
roady to return. Thcso long absences
woro usual with him, but always ho
bad conio back. Hitherto that hud
meant his r-turn by land. Now It
must moan iia roturn by sea. It
might bo quito as well, reasoned tho
prlmo minister, to havo one ot th
earllost IntorvlowB with Count Fred
erick on his roturn. It was well, sure
ly, to bo woll established with thoso
who would tako control of affairs in
tho detracted kingdom of Gretz
hoffon. "I shall oven tako our other yacht,
tho Adolina," Bald tho prlmo minister
to himself, "and put myself in tho way
of tho royal yacht, should it now bo re
turning." And oveu so ha did.
I Tho Adolina was a stout littlo steam
ing craft, of good lines, and well
enough armed.
I Tho prlmo minister did not hnston
In his errand, for indeed ho had no
dolluito purposo In view. Only, having
put tho Adolina into commission, ho
pushod out qulto beyond tho bay, un
til ho folt the long roll ot tho Med
iterranean under him. Thon, us It
chancod, at a point not so far from
the lato shipwreck of tho Prinz Ad
lor, he Blackoned speed and kept him
Bolf baroly undor way. Having noth
ing bolter to do, ho waited.
It was night now, and tho stars wero
shining brightly above. Tho gentle
airs ot tho South European sea wero
Boft and languorous. Hut, to tho prima
minister, as ho restlessly paced tho
dock ot tho Adolina, thoso things
wero lost. Ho was engaged In reflec
tions of nono too ploasant a nature
Sighing, ho said to himsolt: "Thoro Is
no uso in this. I might as well put
back."
He turnod as tho boat's wlreleBS op
erator hastoued to htm now, a paper
la his hand. Ho had not noticed tho
cracklo ot IiIb own wireless masts of
lato, although from tlmo to tlmo ho
had sont out slgnnls In tho hope of
striking somowhero somo Information
regarding the missing craft.
"I beg pardon, sir," said tho messen
ger excitedly, "but wo have Just got
an S. O. 8. Somoono is calling tho
Adolina."
"Calling us where Is It who Is
It?" demanded the prlmo minister.
"Thoy are calling Gretzhoffon and
signing 'Frederick.' It is S. O. S.
they are In troublo somewhere. Who
is It, excellency?"
The prime minister started as
though Btruck by an electric shock.
"Frederick! Who but tho vory man
I want Count Frederick and calling
ubI Toll mo what Is It that ho says?"
"Only tho same thing, excellency
's. O. S.Grotzhoffcn Adolina
Frederick? And, yes ho Bays 'Ono
hundred and seventy-llvo miles south
southwest.' "
"Ono hundrod and eoventy-llvo miles
that, of courso, must mean from tho
port whonco he sailed. We oro moro
EMERSON
HOUGH
Produced by tint
than half of thnt whero wo llo now
wo cannot bo moro than forty miles
from him this mlnuto." '
"Kaslly within thnt, excclloncy. Tho
stuff comos awfully strong thoy are
close, that Is sure"
"Send tho captain at onco," ordored
tho ofllclnl.
Tho captain camo and luarnod this
nowH also. At onco tho bow ot tho
yacht was headed toward tills call,
which enmo down out of tho stars Im
ploringly, urging speed.
That was what tho night called out
with its mysterious volco. Tho quick
wit of Count Frederick had availed In
this emergency In which ho found him
self. Ho know that tho Adolina would
bo In commission. Ho hoped that
somoono might bo found o tuko com
mand, Ho knew that any aid which
came, must come soon.
Tho Adullnn now swung In full
speed, her engines purring softly In a
continuous roll as alio took up her top
gait, and hold It steadily. Always tho
call catno, "S. O. S. Gretzhoffon 3.
O. 8. Gretzhoffon." For, as a mnttor
of fact, although loft long bIiico in
his own don on tho upper dock, tho
oporator of tho Princess had dutifully
dono what ho had boon bidden to do.
They plowed on Into tho starry
night for boiiio time. At length an ex
clamation camo from tho captain to
tho otllclal who stood at his sldo on
tho bridge.
"I soo her!" said ho. "Dead ahead,
and coming on at a good clip herself.
Screaming bloody murder. Woll, well,
wo will soo In a couple ot Jlllles what
it la all about, She's not sinking
Bho's not on lira whut's wrong
there?"
Mountlmo, on board tho Princess
such confusion reigned that ut the
tlmo none saw tho swift upproach of
the Adolina. Tho ownor of tho Prin
cess was busy with his late pris
oners. Count Frederick was onco moro
nssullod when he attempted to leuvo
tho wireless room whero, us has been
said, the operator still held to his task,
wholly ignorant, naturally, that bin
call to Gretzhoffon had been answerod
thus swiftly. Indeed, Frederick and
Kitty both found themselves In des
perate plight enough, for one of them
was outnumbered, und tho other over
powered, Hut now thoro camo tho calling of
men on deck, and the rush of feet as
thoy ran hero nnd thoro. Even Wynd
ham, engaged In his drunken sport ot
hectoring tho weak girl who cowered
holpless and torrllled In his own room,
at length left her nnd camo on deck.
By this tlmo Frederick had onco
moro broken free of tho man who had
attacked him, and had himself reachod
a place on deck whence ho could see
tho outllno ot tho oncoming boat. Tho
searchlight of tho Adolina swept tho
decks of tho Princess. Pack of it
could bo soon little oxcopt tho loom of
her rigging. Hut now camo tho Hash
of u shot and its plungo Into tho sea
dead ahead ot tho Princess.
"Good bless us!" exclaimed Wynd
ham, almoBt soborcd now at this.
"Thoy aro llring on ua firing on tho
British flag. It's not dono, you know!"
"Put It Is dono, sir," said tho ex
ecutive olllcer at his elbow, when a
second shot carried away a part of tho
bowsprit ot tho Princess. "Hound to,
or sho will sink us."
"Thoy aro damned pirates!" said
Wyndham. "I'll not havo It."
"Pirates or not, sir." Bald tho oxocu-
tlvo ofllcor, "thoy will sink us if wo
don't round to."
Tho next instant he took tho matter
Into his own hands. Tho ongino bolls
clanged below. Tho Bhlp slackened
speed, stopped, and lay rolling in the
Ben. By this tlmo the boats of tho
Adolina were putting out, well packed
with marines. They swarmed aboard
now without invitation, and appeared
eminently roady for any business that
might bo offered.
"Who are you?" domauded Wynd
ham. "What do you moan by boarding
my boat?"
"What do you mean by sending a
wlreto8B, sir?" demanded tho officer of
marines. "You called us, and wo aro
hero. What Is wrong?"
"I will toll you what Is wrong,"
broko In Count Frodorlck horo, push
ing his way forward. "Wo aro two
prlsonors hero a young lady and my
self. We have beon mtshandlod, both
of us, by this ruffian horo. Ho or
dered mo In irons for no reason in tho
world except to give him bottor his
own way with this young lady. Ho Is
neither officer nor gentleman. Having
no means ot rockonlng with him, I,
myself, ordered tho wireless sont out
to Grotzlioffen. I called you on my
own responsibility. Wo noedod help,
nnd wo thank God you havo come."
Tho master of tho Princess now
stood crestfallen, much of hla bravado
gone "I meant nothing," said ho.
"I will forget it all, captain, if you
lot mo go although wo ought to blow
you out of tho water," Bald Fredorlck,
"nnd all like you. You aro not tit to
fly any flag, least of all tho good one
that you disgrace Clear out with you,
and leave these waters. If you show
njrn'n wo will clnlc you without an In
stant's hesitation."
"Who aro you?" demanded Wynd
ham suddenly, Impressed by tho force
of these words.
"I nm Count Fredorlck ot Gretz
hoffen, of the klng'8 cabinet, and his
goncrnl In chief as well," said Count
Frederick. "This Is tho government
boat for which I called. Aboard It
yonder is tho prime minister of our
kingdom. Wo aro a small peoplo, sir
rah, but wo do not lack spirit. Sond
for your own Bhlps it you llko, and
blow down our walls you aro a
stronger peoplo than ours. But wo
will soo them full boforo wo will
humblo ourselves to such as you. As
to what you havo done Bay ono word
moro, and wo will sink you and take
our chances with your flag."
Count Frodorlck, having thus spo
ken, turned away, and paid no more
attention to tho master ot tho Prin
cess. "Como," said ho to Kitty, when at
last ho had found hor.
In a fow moments the two woro on
board tho yacht ot their own country
or at least that of Count Frederick.
With a llnal shot of deflanco to tho
craft from which they now had
escaped, tho Adolina again got under
way and Bwopt a wldo curve around,
heading back for tho port of Gretz
hoffon. Tho Princess, soon hull-down
In tho distance, niado hor way off as
host sho liked, to bo hold thoreaftor
only In a contemptuous memory.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
The King of All Countries.
Count Frederick signified to the
prlmo minister that affairs ot state
wero little to his liking at this tlmo.
nnd that ho desired to be alone. On
tho deck ot tho Adolina, therefore
might now bo seen but two persons
Count Frederick and Kitty Gray. Thoy
"The Other
sat near the rail, both silent, the girl
looking out ovor the rippling sea,
ncross which the good boat now was
leaping on hor homeward way.
"Mademoiselle," said ho softly,, his
hand falling on hers as it lay on' tho
rail, "mademolsollo "
Sho stirred moved but did not
withdraw tho hand. Still she looked
out across thnt sea beyond whoso
waves lay her own country, so very
far away.
"Mt-'Jeniolselle," said ho onco more,
"seo, wo aro going home"
Sho half turnod to htm at this
though still her hand lay undor his.
"Soon," said sho ut length, sighing,
"I must bo going." Her volco had no
elation in It after all.
"Going, mademoiselle, where re
joined Count Fredorlck.
"Home, across tho sea. It has all
beon llko a dream. I wonder If I am
awnko. If I nm nllvo."
"I thank heaven that you are both,
madomolsollo. As to your return, how
can that bo?"
"My work Is dono here. I have no
reason for remaining."
"No reason, madomolsollo? Our
work is but beginning I say, our
work. Madomolsolle Katharlue you
know, you Burely know!"
He could soo tho color rise in tho
cheok turned away from htm, but she
mado no answer.
"Oh," he wont on rapidly, "I know
do I not know? Some power drove ub
on some good purpose was under
your coming here It was some plan
ot fate which brought you. As you
have said, the coin Itself spoko with
Us brokon tongue All the tlmo It
has been crying out, endeavoring to
speak to toll what was hid to toll
us, madomolsolle, what was right."
"Yes," said sho, slowly. "Llborty
Justice that was tho message that it
meant, porhaps. Thoso wero tho bur
led treasures which so long have
been lost to this peoplo."
"Yos! But wo havo found them all
wo own tho koy to nil of them now
ns wo llko wo may uso all thcso for
tho good of this country. Yondor
weak king must go. Tho peoplo! I
eeo now that the king Ir Tor their use,
not thoy for his! To servo wisely
and Justly mademoiselle, It was yot
who taught mo tho beauty of that am
bition!" Silenco foil again. Sho did not
speak. Sho dreaded to hear what yot
iho longed to hear.
"Tho treasure of tho king, burled
bo long, madomolsolle yes! But ono
treasuro which also now I havo found!
Iovo, madomolsolle that Is what I
havo found, the greatest treasuro of
them nil. It was burlod In my heart,
I know not how long. I novor know
It. Its secret was hidden. It Is but
now that I mysolf havo found It. Ah.
had I tho key to that as well, I should
bo tho happiest man in all tho world."
Sho stilt gazed out across white
tipped, rippling waves. Hor faco soft
ened, but what ho saw now on hor
check was a tear, stoallng down bolow
her lashes! Grlovcd, he htmsolf could
not apeak. At laat she turned to
him.
"1 am so Borry!" said sho.
"For what, mademolsollo? You
know I lovo you, that I nover will lovo
again. Is not that tho truth Itsolt?
Can you doubt It? Doubt mo, fall to
bcltovo my every word nnd 1 will go.
You shall not soo mo again."
It was like him thus boldly to chal
lenge fato. But sho only shook her
head.
"1 cannot," said sho. "I wish I
could."
"But you cannot?"
Ho hnd her hands in his now. And
now sho turned her faco towurd him.
"You shall never dony tho truth, my
dear," said ho. "All my lifo I shall
challenge you to deny mo and my
lovo. When you can, when I havo
been unfaithful to you, lifo ends for
mo, But between now and then, long
years of happiness Ho long years of
lovo long, happy, UBoful yeara."
"Happy? UBoful? Yes, for you,
Half of the Coin," Exclnimsd Kitty.
porhaps, but how for me? You can
not como to my country. How cau 1
stay horo? What place Is thoro for
mo?"
Ho took her ruco now between his
hands and looked hor fair in tho oyos
eyes now filled with tears.
"But," said sho, "was It fair was
It fair to mako mo lovo you whon 1
could havo no hope to mako mo lovo
you and thon to send mo away?"
"Send you away! That should nov
er be. If need bo, I also would go. '
"And leave your duty your place
horo? Then I should not lovo you."
"Thon you do!"
In splto of tho tears in hor face,
Kitty Gray suddenly smiled with a
miraculous swoetness. "I am Ameri
can," said she "Wo havo a fablo of
ono Georgo Washington. I am llko
him I caunot toll a Ho!"
All her answer now was Inarticu
late. He caught her in his arms and
for tho momont nelthor of thorn cared
what tho past had been, what tho fu
turo might bo.
"Fnto has spoken!" sold sho. "If
only It wore right that wo might be
togothor I should spond my life In
trying to make you happy, too, Sir
Frodorlck. But you cannot go with
mo that would be wrong, and how
can I remain horo? You forgot I am
an American. I am an alien here, and
I am not of your "
He laid a band upon bor lips, frown
ing. "You shall not say that word,"
said ho. "You shall not mention rank
or class never in all your life to mo.
What we have won, we have won to
gether. What we enjoy, we shall en
Joy togothor. What of honor or rank
or reward there la for mo, that shall
be for you as woll. I will liston to
nothing I will not tolerate tho
thought of your leaving mo now I
say, wo but begin everything."
"Now, como," said ho at length,
firmly. "If lifo ended for us both now,
It would not havo been lived In vnln.
Fear not ns to tho future Lot It rest.
Como with me"
Qho hesitated for yot nn Instant,
holding back from what Bho foared.
"Why, In tho last turn of evonts,"
tiald 3ho, "yo yourself ro'cht be."
"I might be what, m near''
"You might uc King!"
"No," sold ho. "In tho country
where we will live lovo alone will be
tho king."
CHAPTER LXXV.
The Last Siege.
"Excollency," Interrupted tho prlmo
minister, at length approaching tho
deck whero Frodorlck still sat with
the young Amerlcnn "Excclloncy, I
Intrude, but perhnps "
"What Is It?" domanded tho noble
man calmly. "Aro thoy calling us
from our own port?"
"Precisely that, excellency. Wo
havo a wireless call. Wo woro sum
moned out, and now are summoned
back again. Thoy demand that we
ahall como quickly."
"What Is wrong?" demanded Count
Frodorlck, springing to his feet.
"Everything, oxcellcncy! Word has
como that Grahoffcn Is marching
against us once more even now our
city may bo besieged."
For a momont Count Frederick
stood silent. "I Beo," said ho. "That
faithless tyrant Cortlslaw has forgot
his treaty and Is going to war against
us when he thinks us unprepared. IBs
traitor and spy, Sachlo, has kept him
well advised I warrant that. How
aro thoy coming this tlmo?"
"In part by land, but also In n
strong fleet by sea."
"So thoy aro attacking on what they
think tho weaker sldo of our works.
Is thoro no such thing as faith among
kings Is thoro nowhere honesty In
all tho world Is thero no mnn of
faithfulness and power any moro?"
"Sire," Bald tho prlmo minister, un
covering and bowing to him, "there Is
ono such in our own country."
"Michael, our king that man?''
"No, sire not Michael, our king. It
Is nono other than yourself I mean. In
you only can our kingdom havo any
hope that Is plainer now than It has
over beon In nil our history. Tlms
must chango or wo are undone. Wo
must dethrone our king at last. Take
tho placo, I beseech you, excellency,
which bolongs to you, the placo which
you only can hold, for, believe me, It
Is only In you that Gretzhoffon may
havo any hope.
"I trust that you will reraemb
that It was mysolf that first made
this plain to your excellency," he
added, thoughtfully.
"Tlmo for all that later," Bald Count
Frederick hastily. "First wo must
get back to port nnd pull together
such forces as wo can."
"Excolloncy, I, myself, attempted
something of thnt beforo we loft,"
said the prime minister. "I attempted
to carry out such orders as I fancied
you would havo given had you been
there. Somo of tho regiments, no
doubt, havo assembled. The guns
may bo ready on our sea-front now."
"Vory well. Full Bppod uhead thon.
Wo may not bo In tlmo."
They vcro but bnrely In time. Be
fore tho Adolina docked In Grothot
fen port thero might havo been seen
In the bay tho smoko of tho advanc
ing fleet tho Grahoffen exptditionary
force already was crowding in for tho
landing. At tho samo tlmo, upon tho
opposlto side or tho city, tho army of
Gralioffen, In full force, was advancing
over tho routo which heretofore hnd
carried tho assault. Already this col
umn, composed of cavalry, infantry
and the full artillery of Grahoffen.
had rnssM tht neutral strip, and was
entering tho suburbs below the castle
va"s of tho Grctzhoffen "citadel.
Thoy enmo oxultantly. confident or
thoir victory, and swept on as though
eager to begin tho Backing of tho city.
And tho sacking of Grotzlioffen suroly
Hail bjguu but for tho urrlv.il of ono
man.
Tho prima minister was right. The
confidence of tho peoplo of Grotzliof
fen. as much of It as was loft for any
one man, now rested solely In tho
nobleman who held so prominent a
part In tho country's affairs of late
Count Frederick of Grotzlioffen. Swift
ly enough passed from lip to lip tho
nows that Count Frodorlck had como,
that he would lead the army, that ho
would direct tho dofenso of the city,
that his mind was organizing the re
sistance. And as this word passed,
choers followed It. Tho men flocked
readily to tho standards, and onco
more abided tho shock of arms.
In this strained moment Count
Sachlo of Grahoffen mado good his
promise to his king he fought In tho
front rank of his own troops, and not
oven tho Jealous eyes of Cortlslaw
himself could And fault with his cour
age or his Judgment. Ho himself led
tho last assault against the walla,
which finally broke through the outer
ueronsos. The forces of Grahoffen ad
vanced so rapidly that It seemed In
deed as though Cortlslaw would make
good his threat to leave standing not
ono Btono upon anothor In this capital
of his enemy.
This wob Sachlo's opportunity, and
ho knew It It was his crucial hour.
One thought oven moro potent than
his ambition for military glory still
ruled the soul ot this warlike noble
man. Sachlo fought that he might
gain one thing tho treasurers of the
king, burled deep somewhere In this
citadel. That treasure was the causo
of this war. Without Its discovery the
war Itsolt was worthless.
Ho stole away from the head of
his troops as finally they broko in
among tho shrubbery of tho palaco
gardens as yot not having met tho
encounter of tho ambushed troops of
( .v.tznonen, again cunningly and of.
locuvuiy uiBposeo. tor tnis purposo
by tho orders of Count Frederick him
self. Ho mado his way up tho palaco
stairs, fought through tho guard which
defended tho entrance and thus alono
pressed toward tno Inferior of the
palace once more As ho had boastod,
ho know this placo as woll as hla own
bedchamber. Ho rushed on through
the wide hall, down tho stairs to tho
floor below, and back to tho point
whenco led down tho gallorlcs of tho
cavern's floor under tho castle Itself.
He smiled now grimly as ho has
tened. As yet ho was unhurt, and as
yot he was unsuspected. Onco more
his sanguine soul lusted for success
and counted on It.
Ho met no opposition, hoard no
where in thcso portions of tho palace
any footfall or any volco. Thus for
a moment or two he strode on and
then paused, frozen In his stride by
that which confronted him.
Sachlo was sure that ho had soon
the last ot the young American. He
reasoned that in all likelihood Count
Frederick of whose absence he know
qulto woll through his own secret
agents had Joined hor somewhere.
Ho know of the wrock of tho Prlnz
Adlcr. Sachlo was clear In his own
mind that these two onemlos of his
wero gone, never again to confront
him.
And yet now, as though spirits sum
moned by his own thoughts, thoy
stood boforo him both of them tho
tall nobleman and tho alendor, shrink
ing girl leaning on hla arm. Yes, It
was thoy! His enemies had arisen
from tho very gravo to confront him.
Ho paused irresolute, unnerved, not
bollovlng what ho Baw, and for the
tlmo himself made no speech.
"What do you horo, Sachlo?" broko
In' tho deep volco of his enemy, onco
his frlond a friend onco too ofto
betrayed.
"I camo by virtue of my sword,"
said Sachlo, boldly now, seeing tbnt
ho might not evado this Issue.
"By virtue of your sword only stall
you escapo from horo, Sachlo," Bald
Count Fredorlck, calmly. "Stand back
ot mo, mademoiselle, and glvn mo
reach."
In a flash the swords of the two
went out and Joined In the encounter.
Each was an excellent swordsman, and
for a moment neither hnd advantage.
Tho young girl screamed In torror nt
tho sight, for she knew tho redoubt
ablo reputation of Sachlo as a swords
man, and long oro this she bad se
lected tho one whom she desired to
Beo victor In this or any encounter.
But Count Frederick did not glanco
hor way. His eyo was still fixed on
that of his opponent. Only, softly,
gently, ho repeated to hor, "Stand
back, mademoiselle. Give us room."
Sachlo was full of tricks. Ho had
no wish to waste time hero, and yet
know not how to pass the blade now
opposing him. Suddenly he flung up
his hand to his chest as though struck,
hoping to find hla foo off his guard
for Just an instant. It did not result
so. Tho steady point of Count Fred
erick lay gleaming beforo his breast
ready to thrust. And for another rea
son was this subterfuge worso than a
useless ono for Sachlo. As he caught
hi3 hand against his bosom thoro
came from Its concealment In his
pocket something metallic, which toll
upon tho floor. It rolled but bilcfly,
for it was not round this ploco of
metal. It was a half coin.
Upon this Kitty fell with a suddon
cry. She know in a flash what was
this bit of motal. Sho know how
Sachlo must have prized it, and now
how Sachlo, in tho luck ot the gamo,
had lost, and lost by his own hand.
Agile as a cat, the girl stooped, ran
In. and emerged with tho bit of metal
in her band. And still tho oyes of
tho two fighting mon dared not turn
her way. Sachlo laughed, nnd tossod
over his shoulder a taunting word.
"It Is worthless, mademolsollo," Bald
ho "counterfeit 'tis nothing."
Count Fredorlck said nothing, but
ho heard her words coming to him
now from behind his shoulder.
"I have got them!" she exclaimed,
"both halves of tho coin they are
ours thoy are ours I am going now
como quick as soon as you can."
But the cold eye of Count Frederick
never turned from the faco of his ad
versary. He made no answer to these
words, although he heard the sound
ot her footfalls back of him as she (led
down the hall toward the Interior ot
tho cavorns.
"Well, Sachlo," said Count Fred
orlck, "your trlckory failed. Your at
tack has failed at every point. Fate
fights against you, Sachlo. You havo
lost the toss ot the die. You havo lost
tho coin."
Tho strong wrist of tho swarthy
nobleman covered his breast with' his
extended steel. His eyes, bold ovon
In this extremity, met that ot his op
ponent. But Sachlo knew the die In
deed was cast. He knew now that he
had failed.
For one moment ho edged on Inch
by Inch, endeavoring to reach a point
from which ho might spring past
Frederick, and so follow the fleeing
girl down the pnssagoway. But always
the other edged inch by Inch in front
of him. Always the cold eye looked
into his. Always tho steady steel
menaced him.
"Yos, Sachlo," said Frederick, once
more, coldly, "I shall kill you. Shall
It be now?"
But Sachlo himself suddenly closed
this present encounter, suddenly de
ferred what he himself knew In swift
consternation must bo his end. With
a quick sweep of his sword defending
the front ot his body, he sprang to
one side and back. Casting down
upon tho floor tho blade with which
he had fought, he fled Incontinently.
Count Frederick did not pursue him.
Two things prevented that. Ono of
these was the errand to which Kitty
Gray had summoned him. Tho other
reason was Kitty Gray herself.
Turning ho hastened aftor hor, fast
as ho might, dowu tho deop passages
through which sho but now had fled.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
M--V -
