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Show I ! &y W0 flOUGfi (fromtfhe Scenario by Cl?ACeCONARO)ill I r.- AUTHOR of " THE LAOY?c 6km P(RAT6" "JOHN ftAWN" ETC . If I H ., ( FOURTH INSTALLMENT H ' H SYNOPSIS. l 'Kitty Gray, newspaper woman, finds In a curio H ,'. shop hair of a broken coin, the mutilated Inscription ' ,J- on which arouses her curiosity and leads her, at H v.j tho order of her managlnc; editor, to go to the prln- l xi clpallty of Gretzhoffen to piece out the story sug- 1 s gstqd by the inscription. She la followed, and on .ir- i -V r,VAl ln Gretzhoffen her adventures while chasing the i UT secret of tho broken coin begin. B ' f'; ' CHAPTER XV. H H Uj, If Your Majesty Please. & n 'u view of the spectators, who now had loft H ' tfh txe dancing floor and gathered In groups at a re- H. ' 71 Bpectful dl3tanco from royalty, Kitty received the H . envelop from the messenger the same packet H ? which she had herself sent to the rnlacc lhat H f1 morning for delivery at midnight. H I She did this with a fine air of insouciance, for H; K. fiQe Jelt Quite sure that success now had met all her plans; nor did the outward appearance of the ., packet afford any reason to suspect otherwise. y Yet, even as she took the envelope in her hand, K there came to her a sharp conviction that some- H thing was wrong. It had a strange lightness It H; did not seem quite the same as when she herself H, had sealed it that morning. Hastily, she opened .- the envelope, her lips compressed. It was empty! H Yes, the mysterious coin was gone. Entrusted Hv j to the safest messenger she could find; sent to H the king himself; received by the king's trusted H oflicial; guarded, as was to he supposed, every H moment of the time since it had left her hands H , ' none the less, the coin had disappeared as though H ' vEome specter hand had abstracted it. Hj The blank look of surprise which came to her H face was something not to be mistaken. King H Michael frowned. "What Is this, mademoiselle H are wo made the subject of some sport? How M Kitty stood regarding first one, then the next of M the faces about her. On the countenance of Count H ' Frederick she read only chagrin and surprise equal M, to her own. There was no trace of guilty knowi- 1 edge there Bhe was sure of that. Then another M' hand had come into the game! Some other mind H also was interested, in the mysterious coin of Grctz- M hoffen. H "What then, mademoiselle?" demanded Michael, K himself not yet so fully advised as others regard- K ing the nature of this packet which had been in- Hj tended for him. "What was it that you were so K food as to Intend sending us?" m ' Kitty dared not answer this direct question. She B , concluded quickly that it would be far safer to add H as little as possible to the number of those who H knew the full story of the traveling coin. H "Your majesty," said she, turning upon him so H dazzling a smile as would have made any man H forget all else. "It was nothing! It was but a H small favor I would have Bent your majesty, to H , - show the acknowledgment of my own country, B f 'i since your majesty has done such honor to me H J "i tonight. Perhaps someone in my humble menage H has been unfaithful if so, it was but small loss H after all If your majesty will forget it and give me a few added days of grace, I will explain I will H - try again, I hope with greater fortune." H Michael was ready enough to agree to anything M which would bring back to his society this dazzling H voung creature who stood beside him. M "Very well, mademoiselle," said he, "as you like " M A certain relief was felt by all concerned, as M now he turned and made a sign to the leader of M the orchestra, who stood, baton poised. H Jv "With us, excellenza?" The king offered his H ', ; i arm. The king and the young American, of whose B origin he knew, and apparently cared to know, H nothing whatever, were the observed of all. Mi- M chael at least could dance, and as for Kitty, she H was an American girl H As they swept on in the evolutions of the dance, H. r Kitty caught sight of the dark face of Count H Sachio. H ". That she had earned this man's dislike, or at H ; ' ' least, had deeply hurt his masculine vanity, Hr; Kitty was well enough aware. Yet it seemed this H.; ; 'V could not quite account for the strange expression j r i on his face, as he gazed Intently at her and her H , t ' royal partner. She Jumped at the conclusion that Hg, i Sachio himself also had some interest what or Vt ' how much she could not divine In this same I troublesome coin. Yes, Sachio also had been an observer in this little drama but now enacted. He was watching her she must watch him ft As for King Michael, he was extraordinarily sober; which, In hiB case, was equivalent to saying that he was not extraordinarily happy. V Count Frederick evaded the throngs about the ' king. Unwillingly he turned away his eyes from the beautiful figure of the young American as she C danced. He never had seen a woman who thrilled him thus. He himself did not dance. This was no evening of pleasure for him. He had other plans. Count Frederick started toward the door before k a second thought came to his mind. If thera Bhould for any reason be miscarriage of his plans If there should be need for yet greater delay be-" be-" fore his final overt act was committed then he ought to have a care to retain some footing in the -- king's good graces. Because, revolution or no revolution, the throne of Gretzhoffen was not 1 worth having unless Its owner had both halves of this missing coin. Frederick cared vnot to be a I ' penniless king, and only tho united coin could give any king of Groetzhoffen actual wealth and' actual power. i The murmurs of the people, vague, indefinite, had - from time to time been audible at the open door 1 ' of the grand entrance. ; "Why do Wo starve while they dance?" t They began to edge towards tho palace steps, a dark, 'dense mass. The soldiery were not eager 1 rA to oppose them with steel. The soldiers wero f, 4j themselves of tho people. Moreover, they had had ! tmall cause for loyalty to the king and court of ; Gretzhoffen. They were ill paid and ill governed. y The pcoplo lacked leadership. Count Frederick had hinged his own plans of action upon one event ' ' ' ' the public disgrace of tho king and that event hod not occurred. He frowned as he stood looking out over the der.ne mass which filled tho streets. Een he be-' be-' gan to feel, almost in spite of himself, some sort 1 of a vague pity for there IrsG fortunate ones. I Still over the voice of the etrings and reeds rose 1 ' ,tho low mutterings of the mob, strange to hear, V . "impossible to describe. , King Michael heard this sound. All hoard it, I -. f.iiH voir-e of tbe people, as yet undecided. The If J i king's face paled terror smote home upon his J " eouI. The courage of his usual alcoholic stimuli stimu-li - . ''- i A I j i ' t tit . lant being tonight denied him, his weak nerves gave -way. He saw Count Frederick, now returning to tho salon, from the great entrance door. The latter saw the terror of his monarch's face, and recognized recog-nized on the instant the opportunity for himself to strengthen his own position in tho king's good graces. "Your majesty," exclaimed the astute nobleman, now advancing and offering his hand, "forgive me! I was In fault today in my conduct toward your majesty. 'Twas but a mad Jest of my own. Give me but opportunity to prove my loyalty to your person and our country, and you shall not find me lacking. The people are about us yes, it is true there is danger of revolt, of revolution I shall not attempt to deny that; but give me .ftfcViS T'y'SsS "T? V7 yvrrrm--r ff-wrrJ-. fj ". .V vCWM , -- 1 In the Powerful Hands of Roleau the Stranger Was Helpless. leave to handle them, your majesty, and I promise you safety. I promise you to send them away." "You are Indeed my friend, after all, Count Frederick!" exclaimed Michael. "What you counsel coun-sel seems wise. Use your own discretion, but dis-peree dis-peree them disperse them." Looking from one to tho other, Kitty Gray saw what seemed to her the pitiable spectacle of a king so weak as to lack confidence In his own powers, so unklngly as to resort to the aid of a man whom but now he had been willing to call his enemy. A genuine contempt for him overcame her, as she stood, a look of appraising seriousness upon her face. "Perhaps your majesty will care no more for the dance?" said she. "Since the people seem to be discontended, and are not to join us in this enjoyment, en-joyment, perhaps your majesty soon will retire?" "Yes, yes, excellenza, we soon will retire from the dance " The face of Michael was agitated. It seemed to her that a trifle more and he would have shed tears! Count Frederick hastened to address the people, who now halted, uncertain as to what move next to make. His own agents had been among the people, peo-ple, and had made known his own plans. Yet here waB their master, evidently, for some reason, disinclined to give the word for actual outbreak, and now counseling calm, consideration, dispersal. "My good people," began he, as he stood at the head of the great stairway above them "his majesty maj-esty thanks you for tho honor you have done him in coming out upon this occasion. He himself has found great pleasure in coming here to meet you tonight, although he arose from a sick bed to do so. He wishes you to be calm In these stirring days. lie has planned this great ball In order that you might see the equamlnlty of hiB own soul in these events, so difficult alike for a king and his people to eridure. Therefore, remain loyal to your king, whom I represent before you. The ballroom soon will be cleared. Let tho streets also be cleared. Go to your homes. Wait, and depend on us who have your true welfare at heart." There surged up to him now the figures of more than one man, some in uniform, from places in tho throng, in the street "What Is It what Is wrong why do we not have the order to march on the palace?" they demanded eagerly. "All is wrong," whispered Count Frederick to them. "For some reason, best known to himself, the king is not drunk tonight, but sober. His people are not turned against him on the contrary, con-trary, they seem to respect him moro than they have done for months there would be division among them if we started open revolt now." "Here, take this gold, my friends," he added, and stripped himself of some considerable sums ho had brought with him. "It is all I have. Give It to those who need it most. Take them away from here let them go to the drinking places. See that these places are filled now, and that tho toabt shall be, 'Long live King Michael!'" "We may not yet cry 'Long llvo King Frederick?' Freder-ick?' " The nobleman shook his head. "Not yet," said he. "They still shall cry 'Long live King Michael ' That will do for the tlmo at least." Count Frederick returned through the great en-tryway en-tryway and rejoined King Michael where ho stood. "Your majesty." said he, "your people are returning return-ing to their home3." "Frederick, my friend, my savior!" The weak king, his features working, grasped the hands of the stronger inau. "You tell me they will disperse?" "Even now they do so. your majesty." Kflty, by ihio time somewhat forgotten In the king's vacillating mind, stood looking from one to the other of these two. As she read tl--i situation, il carried somewhat of defeat to her. An instant ago rhc herself had dominated the scene. Otherwise Other-wise now; for Count Frederick gave her a somewhat some-what carcastic smile. It was the time of his triumph tri-umph and of her discomfiture. "Mndempiselle is distrait?" said he. "She la not r'arclrg she will roturn to her hotel, perhaps? What can one do for mademoiselle?" Kitty turned toward him calmly, "if I might ask one of you gentlemen to secure my car for me?" Count Frederick smiled and bowed as he turned away. But Kitty was not so soon to leave the great salon of tho palace that night. She passed toward tho entrance slowly, caught in the crush and confusion con-fusion of others who were crowding out in the fiasco of the much-vaunted black and white ball. For the time, she found herself in the shelter of a great column, whero she was willing enough to pause. As she halted here she heard voices just behind her one deep voice, which it seemed to her she had surely heard before. "It Is a pit' that the affair did not come off tonight, to-night, your excellency," she heard another whlBper hoarsely. "We have everything' in our own hands p. U '--" i&' Tftk 9fii " I E t ' -. w'Sriw H r ill. " Ww&3 '.( 4f4yM' f ' ill - 2 "Come to Me Tomocrow at My Hunting Lodge." now. I have all the plans of the fortifications, tho maps of the avenues, the specifications for each street crossing. It would have been entirely simple sim-ple for the army of Grahoffen to march through this ramshackle city as it liked." "Yes!" broke in the deep voice which haunted Kitty's memory, "I suppose so; but what would we do if we could not pay our troops tho next day7 How much better off than Gretzhoffen would then be our own case7 No, Frederick is right In his main plan. The throne alone is worth nothing It Is worthless in his kingdom or In our kingdom or in any other a poverty-Btricken kingship is no business for any man Why have you not a diagram dia-gram of the treasure's burial place with that, now, the matter would be somewhat different tonight." to-night." "Hush!" she heard the other voice whisper. Apparently Ap-parently warned, at least, by their suspicions, they moved away, although Kitty shifted her own position po-sition so that her presence was not known. Was It Count Sachlo's voloe she had heard was ho, the king's friend, Count Frederick's friend, the worst traitor of all, and was he also plotting plot-ting for tho restoration of the two lost bits of Gretzhoffen coin? Which way should she turn now? To Frederick? Impossible. To Michaol? Equally impossible. The two men whose talk she had overheard, passed now from behind the pillar toward the interior in-terior of tho palace Apparently they were known there and welcome, for surely they were not stopped by any of the king's guards or chamberlains, chamber-lains, and Kitty herself, equally well Identified, passed readily just behind them. Kitty needed but one glance at the man sho trailed to see It was indeed Count Sachio whoso voice sho heard. Tho men passed now to a little room at one Bide of the main hall, which traversed that portion of tho palace. A window and a door, both lightly curtained, cur-tained, opened from the hall within. Kitty, ' as she drew up, could see them now Sachio, and one whose identity she did not know. "Listen now," sho heard Count Sachio's voice boom out, since hero they felt themselves quite safe from intrusion; "listen, while I tell you what Ib the real key to all these matters. It Is this document, bearing on the missing treasure of old King Michael. He died rich, but like a miser, he hid his gold He left a clue, yes I have told you all of that. That clue was the broken coin." "That coin was the same as deed in the old days. All transfers of realty, as you romembor, were made on parchment, written In pen, and tho parchment always was cut in two pieces on a waving wav-ing line The seller kept half the parchment, the buyer the other half. And always it ran 'This Indenture In-denture wltnesseth.' The 'Indenture' was the waving wav-ing lino which divided tho parchment; and the parchment was proof of the transaction, so each holder held half tho proof. "Now, this indenture of tho broken coin of Gretzhoffen Gretz-hoffen witnessed that Michael the First had transferred trans-ferred to his people his treasure their treasure 'he kept half the deed for himself, or for the man who was to stand for himself. In. Borne way he meant to give the people the other half that is to say, the other half of the indenture went somewhere, some-where, no one to this day can guess where except ex-cept myself! "These papers of old told of the torture cham-bor cham-bor somewhere under the fort Our maps cover that, but they do not mark the spot of the treasure's treas-ure's hiding. Only the old coin restored, indenture to Indenture the one half to the other over can Bettle that. "Now, look here, my friend." Count Sachio held up before him a little object, which caused Kitty to start where she stood. It was tbe king's coin! Yes, there was the half coin which sho with her own hands had sent for delivery to the king on the dancing floor at midnight that night and Count Sachio, by means which he only knew, had been the thief! It now was plain to her. Here was one more claimant for the treasure of the dead king of Gretzhoffen. Count Sachio went on. "This Is one-half only of the coin. Alone, It does not serve. I know well enough where lies the other half. Within the next twenty-four hours I will have it I will have both halves within my own hands. Then, my friend, we shall see what we shall see! Events will happen which will surprise this part of the world, at least "Come to me tomorrow at my hunting lodge in tho forest, at the edge of the neutral lands. ' That is the rendezvous of the other half of the coin. I shall Beek a messenger to secure it. I know-well know-well enough how. Have our men there, for I, Count Sachio, will be prepared to show them all the reading of a riddle which has puzzled both these kingdoms for so long." Had Kitty, remained a moment or so longer she might have seen what the conspirators themselves, anxious as they were, did not see The face of a strange man peered in at the window of the room which they occupied He too, couJd see now all that Kitty had seen, although he had not been noticed by the latter at the time of ner departure. The grand salon by this time was well cleared, and Kitty made her way rapidly toward the main exit Suddenly she found herself face to face with a little group made up of the king and notables of his court Thej', too, for a time had been absent from the grand Falon apparently for a certain purpose. King Michael now did not lack tho stimulus of wine "Our fair young American again'" he exclaimed, as he came. "What, mademoiselle made-moiselle has not even yet departed?" "It is my fault your majesty," said Count Frederick. Fred-erick. "I promised to secure for her a car, but for the time I lost sight of her The confusion has been so great that it has been difficult to find service of the usual sort." An attendant of tho palace escorted her to her car willing enough to conclude the events of the day "Tomorrow," said she to herself, as at length she composed herself for a brief slumber "tomorrow "tomor-row I must be at tho hunting lodge of Count Sachio once more!' CHAPTER XVI. Another Seeks- the Coin. Debarred by his own station In life from participating par-ticipating in any such function as tho state ball, the faithful Roleau had contented himself as best might be by remaining at the hotel until tho return re-turn of his mistresB. By morning, as soon as he got word of her presence in her apartments, he sent word that he was in readiness to be at her commands. "Roleau," she said to him when they met, "listen. We have still moro to do There is still another journey across the desert." "Whither, excellenza?" inquired Roleau. "To the hunting lodgo of the Count Sachio the same place where you and I took the part of two horse thieves, Roleau!" A few moments later the two, once more provided pro-vided with a speedy motor car, were on their way down the avenues of the capital. "I think It might be well to drive past the two palaces," said Kitty Gray. "We might pick up some news thero. First, let us go to the palace of Count Frederick perhaps he 1b not out this early." But, early though it was, Count Frederick was astir was indeed ready for the street apparently, as was also his guest, Count Sachio. Even as Kitty's Kit-ty's car swept by tho palace front they saw the count and Sachio step into their own car, which waited for them at the curb. "Quick!" said Kitty, sinking back deeper in the seat that she might not bo observed. "Drive around the block. Don't let them see mo." She motioned also to Roleau to conceal himself as best he might Tholr own car, Bwinging around tho corner, gave way for the vehicle of Count Frederick, Freder-ick, which sped on down the stroot Once more, still undaunted, Kitty directed her, own car to pass around the block and atop in front 1 1 fjf I of Count Frederick's palace. This- wan done In the RillCi 1 nick of time; for now, as they passed at loerBPll I speed, In order to have time for such examlnatlon'Bnr I as they cared to make of the exterior, they saw a ML 11 I man in some sort of official uniform walking .frjm HS I the front down the driveway for the side entrance KB I of the great building. HI r I "Stop," cried Kitty to Roleau "I know that Hi IB 1 man that is the friend of Sachio! I Baw the two 11'ftfl I of them together last night It was to him Sachio K B 1 showed the coin. I heard him tell this man where HE I tho missing half was. Roleau, that man has goae mM I to get Count Frederick's half of the coin!" ' . WdM I "Certainly, excellenza," said the stolid Rolei KS 1 "Count Sachio also means to put this and thatTtoi Hj.t I gether, does he not? What can we do? Is your Wm I excellency game to try one more entrance Into K(!kI H Count Frederick's house?" ' Vml I "Yes," said Kitty. "Come let us see if we can 811 I trace where that man Ib going." Kill H Once more these two presented themselves at I the door of Count Frederick's abode, and were ad- fyl I mitted without question. IhBI Tho two passed without detention through 'the WW, main hall to the passage way which Kitty knew ffif 11 I so well. They followed down this narrow hall, mM H suspecting that the destination of the man whom 1 I they had seen about to enter was none loss than W- 'r H Count Frederick's little bedchamber. Hrfl I Their suspicion was correct Even as they ap- MkIh proached they heard someone in the room 'who ttjl I had arrived before themselves. Roleau, followed K'V I closely by Kitty, stepped up to the door peered Br! I in, and gave one mighty bound. fjIS I In the powerful hands of Roleau, the stranger, BUHI I taken by surprise, was helpless. Roleau clapped a WlLI hand over his mouth, another to his throat, and (! held him until he himself made the sign of submis- Hli I slon. "Silence!" hissed Roleau. "Don't move Bm I one word of alarm and I will end you!" RUl I "What are you doing here?" demanded Kitty vlr- jKfjf I tuously "what do you seek tell me!" MfM I The man, gone sullen now, looked from one to1jji M the other, and knowing well enough what fa(ilur0ffi!jl would mean for him, refused to Bpeak. "WellMBl I whatever it was," said he at length, "I "aveujirajfi found it At least, you came too soon." I ( 1!1 I "I will tell you, excellenza," said Roleaipli ! yli H length. "It will do us no special good to have ji n' jjj IB I join yonder party of which ,we know. I wii jl ' IhmJ I him up, If your excellency will allow me." p'j ti :jlj Accordingly he did bind the irate official of ijj 1 Hli I haffen neck and crop. i I 111! "Quick!" said Kitty. Stealing away silently'' jit I left the door locked and took with them thafe j . , j j I CHAPTER XVII. fc iir4; 1 I At Count Sachlo's Lodge. 1tyr cj ill I Such speed did Roleau manage to get out cf hisLl in own car that Kitty and he arrived at the hunting! j jjl H lodge of Coun Sachio well in advance of all ohersK B I bound thither that eventful morning. j K jl I Kitty and Roleau moved about very much as theyp jfi M pleased after their entry. It pleased them best to ! hide themselves in a small room adjacent to the R J If I main hall where they fancied the main events of ll jl I the day would perhaps find enactment. A, door v j I and window made connection between thesp two gj j . B rooms, and behind the curtains In the smaller, room i they fancied they could be sufficiently concealfidifty " j H But there were others who had an interf , 'f (' i H the events to occur in the hunting lodge of J f ' ' Sachio that morning. The tangled skein oj . j. H mysterious coin was expanding, drawing U.jJ.fi 'I others. Hardly had Kitty and Roleau se( i ' H themselves before they heard footfalls unde j a ' j H window of the gallery which ran along that s jjii k H the chalet They wondered who might be tl !j I thor and what his purpose !j X I It was somewhat later before they hear i i H mingling of voices and the sound of footfalls, )( t H announced the arrival of another party in the !ifc',c H room. rrnBj ' "Rudolph!" exclaimed Count Sachio. "Wh)cu( j he not come? What has gone wrong?" $ i jH But none could explain to him why Rudolph ha( H not arrived nor at the time did either Kitty oK H Roleau know who or what Rudolph might be RlW H though, as a matter of fact, it was he whom theyBj M themselves had left tied hand and foot in CountWi H Frederick's palace. Nor could any of these nrcll H ent know that before this time Count Fredericnfflj' j H himself, returning to his palace, had found yomlenE, JH intruder, bound and left helpless, in his own Prl-ljl H vate apartment. The man had made such excusesWl as he could by declaring that he had been robbedlj jJ and thrown in the room by a rufllan, assisted by &WL beautiful woman. And Count Frederick, finding oajfljj the floor of his own apartment a tiny handkerchief,' 'jjj M had needed scarce more than one guess as to who Jjt H that young woman had been. j Jtiu H But as to all these side scenes which hadlhfij,, ; H enacted, Count Sachio was altogether ignorantri t H Wherefore he now walked up and down, now ex. j claiming his own doubts. His irritation was ob- f M vious enough to Kitty as she peered through the If H veiled curtain and strained her ears to learn what 3 H he was saying. J H Even as she stood intent on what was going orvL JM in the main room, Roleau close at her side, alBo abwjjj H sorbed the author of the stealthy footfalls on fM$ gallery below the window crept silently up Rtfl H looked in upon them as they watched a spy i wllli H those who In turn spied upon others. h,A f$li 1 "So, she Is not alone!" he whispered to hiij R jj j!' H "TUat man with her will make a different pr( 'm H tion. Between them, they will take away u j,,j$j H Count Sachio what 1 want for myself!" ( ft Mw H Ho slipped in now from the gallery, through u 5ftJ H open window. Stealthy as a cat, he crept up , tf ijfjJ M by inch upon the two watchers. j ' Ky M "I tell you," cried out Count Sachio, crashing Kir Ji M fist down upon the table, "there is no such t'Jffi'jr M JA as explaining a thing liko this! This failurej? j) l ; H never be justified. I sent Rudolph to get thrTcoMJp 'jH he knew whero it was he was not suspected hlfcj H anyone I told him precisely what to do. Has hS 1 H done it? No. And hero we wait. It is BometbinMK 'H 1 shall not forget." fj H These loud words caught Kitty's attention. SheJ i H pressed forward eagerly, her figure still half shroud1 i H ed. Her own senses, Btrained as they were to catcji j l what was going on In tho main room, were lclf')j ' 'H regardful of what was going on immediately abqutiy IH her. id jM The silent man who had spied upon them crwj 'I JH inch by inch toward them. Slowly, deHbenr ?lj jH ho raised his right hand above tho unsuspe 'fjj-'f f girl. In that hand he held poised a murderous! jl n l Ins blade. !j , If, fH (To Be Continued.) ' ' I ')! f ,H i I M |