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Show : (3y EM6RSOW (iOUCfi(from Scenario by GI?AC CONARD) ; ill I ""AUTHOfc of ,,THeLAOY?eP(RATe;",JOHNftAWW,,,eTC. ! 11 1 TWELFTH INSTALLMENT , SYNOPSIS. I Kitty Gray, newspaper woman, finds In a curio I "ifc0p halt of a broken coin, the mutilated Inscription l iwi which arouses nor curiosity and leads lior, at I yjl- order of her managing editor, to co to tho prln- 1 1 cloallty of GrctzholTon to pleco out the story sur- i irStod by tho inscription. Sho la followed, and on ar- irlval In Gretzhoften her advonturos while chasing tho i gjjeret of tho broken coin beffin. ! ' CHAPTER XLVI. s : The Sinews of War. I it was touch and go between the two little kingdoms king-doms for a time. Their troops had faced each (jthor in the open field. Blood had been shed, i generals had -looked other generalB in the eye at fl9 great distance. At the lines of contact the im-Serial im-Serial rulors of the two countries had been within fcarahot one of the other. I Yet they parted now. Why? The trumpets (Vounded tho recall, even as the leaders -were awaiting the summons for the charge. "Why? At least one ruler had been eager for the assault, yet vdid not advance his troops. Why? Tho other. Vacillating as ever of soul, nono the less had i ken upon the battle front itself, whether or not hU courage had been, more than temporary. He i JW retired. Why? ) The answer to all theBe questions lay in the ijands of the young American girl. Sundered, tho fyffo halves of the divided Gretzhoffen coin still pleaded for reunion. One lay in. the hands of one mower, the other in the grasp of another. Had Either kingdom on this day owned them both, war kould have ensued. 1 Corti8law of Grahoffen, old as he "was, none the less "was in respect of martial nature far in advance ad-vance of the "weak ruler of Gretzhoffen. Michael had come to the rescue not so much to save Count Frederick from danger as to save Count Frederick for himself. He needed Frederick's courage. Not ;Jo Cortislaw, -who retired to his own city fuming Cand full of ire. Evil was that hour for the couriers cour-iers of Grahoffen, and worst of all for the unfortunate unfor-tunate Sachio, who had promised so much for his Eoveroign and himself, and who had come so far short of the measure of his promises. $ "Believe me, my good friend Sachio," exclaimed 'Cortislaw, when at length that crestfallen individual indi-vidual "was brought beforo him "Your failure to bring me the missing half of the coin has well--nigh cost me my dignity and you your life. I ' Will not longer suffer such disappointments at ;your hands," f "Your majesty," began Sachio, but the other 'raised a hand. 't "We are at the brink of war now at any mo- rnient war may be forced on us, whether we like jit or not I did not think Michael would march,- Ibut he has sbown that under certain circumstances H he not only can but will. If we delay we lose all kphe advantages of the initiative. None can tell what yonder Count Frederick will do7"for"at least he does not lack courage And now he will be eager for revenge against us for tho danger in jWhich we have placed him." "It was a danger shared by all those who en-;paged en-;paged in tho struggle for the coin," said Sachio, IjW had it in our own hands. We brought it to ;the very edge of our throne; it was in our country jWhen they took it once more." ( 'Tes, and those persons were persons that had no moro at stake than you have, Count Sachio," roko in Cortislaw, with the cold wrath his offlcers knew so well. "Have they more reason for success suc-cess than you? Are they of greater wit than yourself? By the Lord! If those things be so, tls time we had better wits about us than such as yours. J 'Sachio hung his head, but found no Bpeech in W8wer and the king went on: ft "Listen now." Ij He beckoned about him other officers of his court, and held out before him in his palm the half coin which had come Into his possession. 'See what this says it talks of treasure treasure! treas-ure! Wo know that the Gretzhoffen treasure ia enormous we know that It is concealed in the tor-,turo tor-,turo chamber, whatever or wherever that may be. Beyond that we know no more. It Is the other .half of the coin alone that can toll us what we covet now. This' half but whets our anger, and yt have nothing to stay that anger until wo have ;tho mate for it. j"Now, my noblemen, you who pretend to servo' l?lo and this people, once more I warn you yonder yon-der half coin, or your resignations or your heads." 'Hls officials left him, all In a state bordering JJpon consternation, for they knew that ,this king ,aB not one soon forgetful of his hatred or his venge. They laid their heads together, Sachio jtaperately anxious now, and tried their best to formulate some plan. All they could conclude fts that the coin had found its way back to Gretz-fcoffon Gretz-fcoffon once more In the possession of the persons ,ao so stoutly had defended it jl Meantime these were far away as timo had aliped al-iped them. The walls of Gretzhoffen sheltered Sow both Kitty Gray and Roloau. Close behind these rode King Michael at the head of his troops, 't',his side the man whose danger had called him th none less than Count Fredorick himself. I "My dear count," exclaimed Michael in his own lr.Tery pretty opinion of his prowess, "all is well jtoat ends well. Did you not note tho speed with "hich wo came to rcscuo you? Was it not all ("aagniflcent?" VJ'YeB," replied tho count. 'The wit of yonder 8irl her courage they were indocd magnificent." nm "Hor wit? Her courage?" 'M "Pardon, your majesty, but was Jt not those wlogB which brought you to our roscuc? How l,o could you have know of our stress? "It was ?te who carried the news she, I doubt not, who also carries the coin." '"The coin? What coin? Why do you speak of ltt" demanded Michael in a certain surprise. "We mvo that half coin in our own possession or at east have supposed so surely did have it but the jlher day. You have one half, havo you not, and V tho other? If either half be missing, at least m d not know where it is." "It is in Grahoffen town this minute in every jkelihood," exclaimed Count Frederick, careless H coneequonces that might ariso if his counter- WpHing were discovered. "We had a half, that IWWally is sure, in our hands in the mountain jMteht. The young woman and myself gave it in BePing of her servant, the man Roleau a Btout mT and a desperate fighter, as moro than ono jMyonder army might attest." mm "And where is he now?" Bii'That is what I cannot say," rejoined tho count ' "At tho time the danger of conflict ended I turned to And him and he was gone, as you know. We agreed that those two, Rolcau and his mistress, would meet as soon as possible. My own fear is that the young woman will take ship at any time and sail for home. With her goes the secret, for very likely Roleau would go with her." "I do not share your fears, my dear count," said he. "In my own belief the young woman will not bo so apt to leave the palace presently." "Leave tho palace?" "Yos, sho was in the charge of my people there even as I started out with the troopB. I am thinking think-ing that a palace Js a safer place than a ship for a young woman who is a stranger. In-a. atrango land a beautiful young woman." CHAPTER XLVI?. In tho Name of the Lav. As for Roleau, now object of solicitude on the part of a nobleman and even of a king, ho was experiencing further adventures of his-own. As soon as he had made his escape from the Held whero tho three had so nearly met disaster, he made such speed as he could after Kitty, who, aB he knew very well, would haBten as fast as might be to find .some hiding for herBelf and tho coin. But where was she now? That he could not guess, for ho had no means of learning that Kitty had been left in the palace of the king. Rather he supposed that Bhe would bo at the "hotel which sho had made her residence. He b'ent his own steps thither as rapidly as might bo. ' It Was the Torture Chamber the Room of Terrors! 1 He met only coldness at the office of that stately state-ly caravansary, the Ritz, where both he and his mistress, save for tho Intercession of the king, before this would have been set out in the streets bag and baggage. "Mademoiselle, the young American excellency?" ho asked of the clerk at the desk. "She is at home today?" "Wo know nothing of mademoiselle, the young American excellency," replied that worthy coldly. "Sho left no announcement of her plana when sho departed. Sho haB not returned." "Are you sure as to that?" demanded Roleau, nonplused as to what next to do. I "i am not here to make guesses on such things," rejoined the clerk. "I know nothing, and that is something." "Nothing Is enough for one of your kind to know," replied Roleau blandly. Ho might perhaps have engaged in still more truculent conversation with tho clerk, had ho not at that moment felt a hand laid upon his arm. Ho turned to face a Bergeant of gendarmes, who drew him to one side. "In tho name of the law, you aro my prisoner," said tho man. "Come with me.'' "On what charge then, monsieur?" demanded Roleau coolly. "It is my right to know something of that, l fancy." "Tho charge is murder, as you know," said tho sergeant "Tho same on which you were juBt in charge I am to warn you once more that what you say" may be used against you at the trial." "At the trial?" exclaimed Roloau.- "I thought that was all dismissed. Did we not' have the king's excuse to leave? The king himself set free my master and my mistress " "Both your employers?" grinned tho sergeant "I was servant of both, and certainly If cither went free then so should I. Is that not true?" "It is far from true," returned tho gendarme grimly; you will see how far. Murder was committed com-mitted 3'onder by someone, as you know. You saw it said that you saw It Tho law does not set such witnesses free." "The king sets freo whom ho pleases in this land," rejoined Roleau. "I shall tell my mistress of this." "Do bo," laughod the gendarme, "a rich jest enough. But first find your mistress." Roleau found this a proposition difficult of present pres-ent answer. Others of tho pollco closing in upon him, he went with them now peaceably as he might, to the tribunal where someone must answer lor tho recent crime of murder. Tho prefect greeted him grimly enough, yet with a certain exultation in his mien. It was necessary nec-essary in that country'; as in others, that a victim should bo found for the law. Perhaps in that country more than in many others it mattered little lit-tle who that victim might be. "So -we havo you again, Messer Roleau?" "And why, may I ask, your honor?" rejoined Rolcau, innocently. "I was away, truo, on business busi-ness In other lands business connected with my country's welfare Having concluded that matter I returned fast as I might, and here I am." "Criminals always come back to the scenes of their murders," asserted the prefect pompously. "Is that true? I did not know it As for me. I havo done no crime I was simply looking after my mistress' affairs in her room her excellency, the young American, who is bo high in the king's good will." "That is all vory well, very well, but it Is not enough, an you will see," rejoined the prefect "Tho king did' not sot you freo." "Only because the king has not yet heard from my mistress. Give mo leave to bring tho two together to-gether and that may bo dono and sho will set all right at once. Ask her." "I do not need to ask her. The king has set for me the task of finding yonder murderer. I must .fill that task. I have dono so now." "What myself I dm suspected of that crime! Your honor, that is Impossible. There ha3 been no proof of any crime." i "Send to the king," ho added, catching a glimpse of tho uncertainty on tho face of tho prefect. "Send to my mistress. I claim that right under the law." "I send to the king?" demanded tho prefect blustering. "Why should I? I can control tho process of the law without troubling royalty with details of that sort" "But suppose there are consequences. These are ticklish times, beliovo me, your excellency. I havo seen blood deeds done today. When a king goes to war and our king may go beforo long tho life of an officer left behind is worth no moro to him than that of a good fighting man taken with him to the front Perhaps as between your honor and myself " Tho official took counsel with his own caution for a moment "I will myself go to the palace," said he at length. "To be sure, wo cannot be too careful in w$w mKmk Convinced Count Frederick the Room Was Empty. the attaining of the ends of justice. If I cannot gain access to the king, I shall at least have mado tho attempt. If I can havo an audienco, I shall put somothing of this case before him myself. We wish not to meddle too intimately in affairs of which wo do not know. But if the king disavows you " CHAPTER XLVIII. The Chamber of Horrors, Arrived presently in the royal palace and in tho company not only of Count Frederick, but of yet other noblemen and officials, King Michael relaxed his martial front under tho warming influence ot the wine on which he so much relied. "They fled," he exclaimed again and again, boastiugly, as he referred to tho scenes which but now he had left. "They fled beforo us like sheep, my dear count With myself to lead tho army and you at my side what chance would they have? They knew they had nono, and took counsel of their wisdom for once. If they romaln in that counsel, surely they will stay behind their own walls, and not give offenso to onr country. Wo would annihilate them. A half hour more, and we would havo plundered their city today. Their treasure would have been ours!" "What treasure, your majesty?" inquired Count Frederick coldly. "Would we go to war for that?" "For what else?" smiled the king. "For liberty, justice, freedom, your majesty " "Tut! tut! whore do you get those terms? A monk speaks! But listen, did we not march to your rescue?" "Yes, your majesty, I am not unmindful and not unthankful. But still wo lack the clue which alone can make war posslblo or desirable tho clue which alono has back of it motives worthy of a king and of a people." "Well, well, what does all this mean then?" rejoined re-joined Michael, irritated. "Where do wo arrive? What is it that you ask?" "I can ask no questions and answer none, until wo havo found onco moro tho young American, your majesty." King Michaol smiled in self-satisfaction at last. "Ah, well, that is easy," Bald he. "I havo said that sho Is, or should be, here in this palace. It is true sho brought mo the news of your plight" Count Frederick waited for no change In tho royal will, but bowed himself from tho room. Inquiry In-quiry found for him presently the waiting woman in whose enro Kitty had been placed, and together they approached the room where sho had been left some hours beforo to her own devices. COSY?Gff7; 95 &r dJr They knocked, knocked again, and yet again but got no answer. The woman at length, opened the door with her own key. Her sudden exclamation convinced Count Frederick that the room was empty. ' ' "Sho Is up to her tricks," exclaimed he to himself. him-self. "Now I wonder " , , , He did not pause to ask much of the waiting woman, but hurried away down the hall, intent on certain plans of his own. He must find her, must see her at once. Ho lad no real Idea as to which course Kitty had tauten after leaving the room, but alone after a time, he walked more slowly, h'c could not say why. Something camo to his senscB, as first not recognized recog-nized a faint scent a perfume which it seemed to him he had known before the perfume of violets, faint indefinite, fragrant. Ho found himself at length in a narrow hallway from which there were no aido paBsageB. It led him deeper back into tho palaco, its trend continually contin-ually downward. ThUB finally he found himself in tho' self-same subterranean tunnel which Kitty earlier had discovered. "She was searching for the torture chamberl" said he to himse'lf, with sudden conviction. "That " Is why she camo here!" He came at length, to the groat door which, closed the passageway. Yea, in the dust before him were footprints, and In the dust on the. door itself were finger prints! Tho sllenco and socrecy of ages had been broken within 'the hour. He pushed open the door puBhcd it until it met some obstruction-r-soraethlng which lay vaguely ul Warn You the Other Half of This Coin or Your Headsl" white upon the floor. He turned downward the flare of his light started back from what he saw. She lay at his feet, unconscious, helpless dead, for all he could tell. Ho bent over her, doubt, terror ter-ror In his eyes. She stirred under his touch. Her eyes opened, looked into his. What she saw bending over her was the face of her enemy "Who is it?" she cried. "Loose me leave me! Where am I'" She caught her hands to her face now aa there came to her once more the terror of what she had seen. She dared not look about her. "Take me away'" she moaned. "Tako mo away!" Ho mado no answer for a time. "Why havo you followed mo hero?" she demanded de-manded at last, half hysterically. Ho spoke now, slowly, almost solemnly. "Why?" said he. "I do not know why. I think it must have been because you were in trouble. Perhaps you called mo perhaps that is why I came." "What do you mean? Would you taunt me now, at such a time? I have been frightened almost to tho point of death it was terrible." "Come," said Count Frederick, and placed about her an arm on whoso strength, in spite of .herself, sho was glad to lean. He was guiding her toward the door. She turned and saw again that which but now had smitten her with terror. Her nerves, weakened by tho long strain upon them, gave way once more. The flare of the candle lighted up the cavernous interior at whose entrance they stood. Count Frederick Fred-erick saw what she had Been. On the walls stood out hooks, steel arms which supported eyeless, grinning skulls old how old no ono could tell. Boyond arose rods and gratings, barbed, pointed, curved. An iron chair was in a corner, and in It sat a grinning skeleton. It was the torture chamber, the room of terrors, born of other years moro savage than these, and brought down unchanged through all the centuries! "Come," said Count Frederick, his own Toico agitated. agi-tated. "It is no time to think of any treasure now, but you yourself!" Ho caught her away swiftly Into the other passage, pas-sage, and flung the door shut behind them. In silenco he led her along the subterranean passage and up the stairs. He left her once moro alone in her own room, to compose herself as best she might, while he went on to rejoin the king. "So, then, you found her, faithful messenger?" demanded Michael. "Yes, your majesty, at length. She was but strolling about to pass tho time during your absence. ab-sence. While I know little of such matters, it seems to me that tho trials of the day have been extreme for her." King Michaol ended by asking the attendance of the young woman herself; but it was juBt at this juncture that there arrived at tho palace none less than the prefect of police, who made suppliance through several court officials for" admittance to audience with royalty. "He says," ventured tho last chamberlain, "that he comes regarding tho murder at the Ritz hotel, In which your majesty was graciously pleased to bo interested." Tea, yes my dear Count Frederic, It wai lllll Ibbbbbbb! absurd that you Bhould be mixed in that or the - a II young American. I have not had time to think of ; $ 1(11 it since then. What is all this now? Bring the t ill! IbbbbbbI man In." j H And so presently the prefect, abashed and much wjjlj H perturbed, was admitted. ? j IH "Well, well," demanded the monarch, "what Is V jlj it why do you come here?" -J j J1J rH "Foronly one reason, your majesty, began th t lliiifill prefect humbly. "We are convinced that there Is Jjil H more than chance medley in this murder. The j ill IB IH thing goes deeper than we thought at first" ,, Jjl t 1 "Have you no suspect?" ' ljjjj jH "One, your majesty, a person of no Importance, ; III I H by name Roleau." f il I H King Michael turned to Count Frederick. ' jlj I H "Roleau? The very man of whom you spoke." Inl Jbbh "How now, count?" Michael turned to the noble- Mil I !sH man who still stood near. "What think you of this jj )H matter?" 1 V i'H Count Frederick considered for a moment be- 'h(1(sH fore be replied. ff IHIS'IbB "Set him free," said he at length. "Watch him. j i S liH He will lead us to something perhaps. Be sure Ih! j that once he 1b loose ho will not beat rest for 11 ItsBH ' iliH "An excellent idea!" said Michaol. " h )H Michael turned now to the matters closer to his ; !l cH heart the welfare of tho young American, whom $ j jh he had not seen since his return to the palace. Fin I'LH Even now she waited for admission to his pre a- , Ih' M ence, and he had her summoned at onco. IuIHibH "What! mademoiselle," cried Michael, "you are f riiilliLBH pale. You have -not yet fully recovered you have 1 IlllS Lbh been 'ill?" ' lrllBsl "Yes, your majesty," replied-Kitty, smiling some- ' JHIIHIbsbI -what wanly. He now noticed that the serving j u 'l H woman at her side carried her wraps, and that she i fill JLBH herself appeared ready for the street jj jlj "What! you would leave us?" exclaimed he. 1L ijliilHsH "What does this mean?" 4 1 i I isl "Your majesty," said Kitty, "graciously allow $ 1 I I lafl me my absence for the time. I muBt return to f& j j'j my hotel." f 1 i iH It was with deep relief that finally Kitty found j !J! dH herself once rdore freed of the royal presence and I (lilj the royal palace. Sho sped, fast as might be, back "' 1 'Jj h to her hotel. MiilS Jbbh Count Frederick excused himself but a moment i1U Lsl later. To the king he announced his intention of 'jnjj l returning to his own home. Instead, ho made his ' j ttllj was also to the Ritz hotel. i(Sj ijH The clerk at the hotel was more deferential to j m qH tho nobleman that he had been to tho nobleman's , H iH servant a trifle earlier. j, Ml rH "Her excellency, the young American? But now j 1H she 'came she may bo in her room we Bhall see. , ,h H Shall she join you in the parlors, Monsieur Is ' i jljjjj H Comte?" j .. f;il!-H "In tho parlors on the floor above," replied Count " V i ll'.H Fredorick, rather vaguely, and passed up the broad "" ' II S rsLa stair. But he had certain plans of his own which illlpsl did not include a public audienco with the young jl jj . jH American. Instead, he passed boldly down the jj j 3H hall. Before the door at which he would have t'JJj HH announced bliriself, he paused. He could not well IHilfiH escape detection If he turned back, for the voices (H jj j of others came to him down the hall. And in the '(i!tsl room beyond the door he heard another voiqe & t ' I bh apparently she was using the telephone. Yes. It fblH was sho. He waited for an Instant, and found Jj IfiH himself without Intention in possession of what " Inifl she Bald. I. j' Kitty at the time, in fact, was telephoning to jft ILtH the headquarters of police asking for knowledge rH of her servant Roleau. Her voice went on now i : Np M rapid, staccato. 1 SbLbi "Monsieur, he was freed, Rolcau yes, yes 'Jjj H what then? On probation? yes, I know. He 'NiLI wub here he was followed to the hotel he was ' I, H followed to tho rendezvouz of the apaches yes, yes i:H,1sbb1 by whom? why? He is there now perhaps? ;i 1 Ah, bah! what manner of officers are you? What llljsl is your plan In all this to havo him killed by ,i jrH thieves in turn?" i IVH Sount Frederick paused to hear no more, bub i j fi 1 flushing guiltily over his eavesdropping retraced Jj H his steps down tho hall and sought more decorous !'L H means of meeting tho young woman whom he IH wished to see. But even aB ho did so he reflected )-i I.b that from the detached exclamations he had heard 'liiH surely she was planning yet other adventures. If i! irl Roleau had been here If he had been followed ijjlcH away by the police toward the thieves' headquar- IlPBBH ters surely this undaunted girl would In turn do Pssa what she could to rescue him. If so, once mora, 1 1 't', sho herself would need assistance. liiPPiaBi Count Frederick stepped to one side in the hotel ,j , I' H lobby and bided his time. It was as he thought btthlH Before long Kitty hastened through tho lobby and H jH out toward the street ! !?lsBa It was now a curious train that of these persons jj) Rj H engaged In tho search for the mysterious coin. 'Mb H Roleau had Indeed found an occupant in the room JOi'i of his mistress when he hastened thither the mo j M ment he was released from custody. That occu- wj jjH pant, however, waB not his mistress, but another Jj i none less than a member ol the apache band ttftH who had held her apartments under such close i ikjH espionage. Roleau, hiding himself, waited for the . !,d appearance of this lntrudei' followed him out from itHpBsmmml the hall into the street This had beon but the fl I'I&bbbbI moment before Kitty'B return. The prefect had '"bbbbbI ordered Roleau'a discharge by telephone from the f Msssssl palaco, almost as sho was leaving, and both she II imI and Rolcau had hastened to the hotel. I lsmmmml Now, as Kitty emerged, followed by Count Fred- II ILsI erick, yet another one of Blako's underworld band !I Insssfl stepped out from his hiding and followed Count - $ KLbbbi Frederick himself. And all of these, each was in 11 PbbbbbI pursuit of tho coveted Gretzhoffen coin. , ml ?R As for Roleau, his man made rapid progress, and '1 1 pIibbbbbI it was not long before he had trailed him to the ill iiil rendezvouz of tho band which he himself previously 'fj psbbbbI had learned. Undaunted, he would hare purBUcd fill bbbbbI the fugitive to tho Inner chamber of tho rendezvous lliiBBBBBl had not he heard a sound which caused him to , 1!h0bbbbb! pause. Jj f j It was at this time that Blake, leader of tho ilsBBBBl band of thieves, chanced to return to tho ren- 18 IHbbbbbI dczvouz. He had passed part way Into the sub- ulU 1!PbbbbbbbbbI terranean paBBage when he looked on ahead just ! ll lbsbbbI in time to see one of his men emerge from the HjlhBBBl central room and make a spring at an intruder inH an intruder whom he himself at once recognized '. njP M as the man who at this very scene earlier ' I u had given him so desperate a battle who later S lr 1 bbbbbbbbbI had given him into the hands of the law. , fjlljMI Thinking only of revenge now, forgetting the ' ffl H coin, the renegade leader whipped out his revolver I IfJ and fired point blank at Roleau. illfeBBBBBi (TO BE CONTINUED.). ill IIbbbbbI |