Show THE BROKEN COIN 01 N A fiory of mystery and adventure sr EMERSON X L R SON bough nough TT T T i from froin the scenario b fy GRACE CUNARD cla ey wishful WiSH Fl SYNOPSIS kitty gi geay neis piper woman finds in n s shop halt half of a broken coin the mutilated inscription on which arouses lier her curiosity mil and leads her at the die order of her managing num aging editor to KO go to the prin of 0 Gietz hofTen to piece out the son story s suggested U by the inscription sa s1 she e is followed ed and on arrival in Gretz holten hofren her adventures while chasing the secret of the hie broken coin begin THIRD installment CHAPTER XI the king of Gretz hoffen you majesty does me honor it was with simple dignity that the young american girl spoke these words to the monarch in whose presence she found herself fresh from her late lale adventures we could not too much honor so charming a representative of 0 your great country my dear young lady 11 said michael do not misunderstand me your majesty resumed the young woman it is more than possible I 1 have been in ought brought before you under false pretenses I 1 am not a person of rank am indeed but a prisoner taken yonder by outlaws but for the wit vit of my servant I 1 think I 1 might have been held tor for a ransom it were large ransom would be fit for such hostage as yourself mademoiselle whatever it was it would have been paid had we but known 1 I thank you sire perhaps there will be no future need in sooth from the way nay the bandit chieftain looked on another of our party I 1 would rather think lie he would prefer him to myself as hostage whom do jou ou mean the count frederick sire again the count frederick he seems always to come into my affairs the annoyance in the kings icings face was unmistakable he has been much concerned in my own how mademoiselle 1 I must explain sire I 1 came to your country only in my professional capacity I 1 had no more urgent erland than to find the half of a certain rn missing issing coin the other half had come into my possession by chance it was my fancy what a broken coin you interest me mademoiselle I 1 felt from the first moment that eventually we would find some common ground of interest A coln coin a broken cola coin 1 I know of some such thing myself there are current stories about it see I 1 have it tor for my good friend frederick seems for somo some strange reason to have a fancy for it himself would you like then to see it billys kittys eyes fla flashed shied in I 1 eagerness above all things sire it would complete my happiness it then you shall assuredly he bowed in somewhat adipose gallantry as she extended her hand to ward the pudgy palm in which lay the object which w for her held such interest in a glance she saw the identity of the missing halt half the remaining words of the inscription they were there she was sure torture chamber treasures of the king it was plain to her these two pieces of metal joined would represent a story worth the having do you not desire it then the voice of the monarch carried a certain reproach desire it your majesty I 1 should desire nothing so much in all the world with both halves in my liand hand sire I 1 should feel that the world was mine why not gratify that wish then mademoiselle listen countered count frederick desired this very trinket for a lady he be said here is a lady who desires it for herself why should we not give it her why should we not have right as good as his bis you cannot mean it for me but yes precisely and listen my dear young lady there Is something about this broken coin which begins to annoy me count frederick isal ways referring to it for one reason or another he be has some motive which I 1 cannot divine now of late I 1 have had abundant tiou troubles bles many persons who importune me in these barlous times the people being so discontented we have matters of more importance than to trill trifle 0 with this trin trinket as I 1 say you desire it it bores me who better than yourself should own it it if you like kitty stood looking at him scarce believing what he ha said king michael went on two things interest me today my de dear a r lady first how to quiet my people the second to discover some fashion which shall keep you here in our own country interested and use tul ful I 1 am convinced of your own wisdom your own justice your own experience peri per lence ence in your land as to law and liberty and justice sometimes out of the mouth of a woman a lady of rank of experience one might learn tho the better how to carry on the duties of a state r I 1 the dip duties of the state would dispose your majesty wholly to the good of his people precisely it is as I 1 would have said it mademoiselle you americans are ex extraordinary t r kitty took from his hand band the broken hit bit of metal and regarded it thought fully 1 I thank you more than I 1 can tell your majesty majest yv said she soberly it shall be my mission to find out for your people the uncompleted message of this coln coin 11 A silver bell sounded afar in the hall announcing the approach of a servant an official of the tha palace entered and stood motionless near the door what then andreas the count frederick of fen the count sachio of Gra haffen let them enter andreas both gentlemen bowed deeply as they entered and each kissed the royal hand respectfully kitty ignored count sachio and bowed but coldly to count frederick count frederick in whose mind seemed to linger but scant remembrance of any unpleasant scenes in which he had figured smiled now and after the american fashion as he fancied held out his hand kitty could not refuse it quickly she shifted the broken bit of coin from her right hand to her left quickly but not so quickly as to escape the keen eyes of the man who faced her now count sachio you are welcome from your kingdom to ours I 1 believe you have never heard of the young american of distinction who has come among us of late you have not met kitty looked calmly at the count and made no reply pas encore votre majeste sachio in the common language used 4 xa A ai 71 the man listened respectfully and took the missive at court with strangers present not yet his face flushed deeply as he lied ah very well then it is time at the ball perhaps we shall all be present mademoiselle your invitation shall come from us duly kitty took this to be her dismissal and with deep thanks and the best curtsy she could muster bowed herself from the room after to be escorted by a grave official to her car CHAPTER XII before the ball lu in her hotel albeit something 0 of a subject of gossip as she herself could not but know kitty felt herself at least safe from any such occurrences as ot of lato late had been her lot still was missing it was the morning of the great black and white ball when kitty her gown finally in her own possession stood before the tall mirror in her rooms to give it its final proving the case on lier her dressing table now held but a few simple rings and brooches trifling things which had bad been given her or which from time to time she had purchased for herself the only thing of value which lay upon the table was something which she most wished to conceal and not to display the broken coln coin how could she make sure that it would be safe kitty swiftly conceived a plan which she fancied would afford greater safety for the cherished coin there was at hand no machinery of ceremony even had she been familiar with it tho the simplest way is the best said she to herself her lips compressed she sat at her desk and tho broken coin in a double sheet of paper upon one sheet she wrote cheso few words your majesty the young american wo ivo maaso mam sw honored with this gift asks its safekeeping for a little time she added no signature alg nature but on the envelope tho best the hotel ritz altz could furnish her she wrote a simple address for tho the king at the royal palace to bo be delivered at twelve mid night promptly in fault of better messenger kitty telephoned now to the bureau of telegraphs and asked for a rell reliable able messenger when presently lie ho came she entrusted this missive to him with express instructions that he should leave it in tho the hands of some chosen servant of the ing who would be sure to deliver it at the hour of midnight of that very day the man in in listened respectfully took tho the missive and started for the door passing he be almost ran against a gentleman in the hall and dropped his envelope as he did so your pardon exclaimed the gen aleman raising his hat and himself picked up the envelope the messenger did not notice his fingers q quickly closing upon it feeling it here and there as he presented it to the bearer relieved now of this care and satisfied that iier her plan would provide tor for the safety of this prized possession for that night at least kitty passed or on to other matters of what use after all was half this coin while the count frederick still retained the other halt half taken from her by force by violence she stood for a time hir her lingers fingers at her lips engaged in thought 1 I am going direct to count frederick himself and ask him for the other halt half of the coin he knows the king has given me his half perhaps he will relent and let me match the kings half of the Gretz hoffen coin with her to think was to act A half hour later ready robed for the street she was in iier her car and on her way to the palace of count frederick they knew her at the counts palace now or thought they knew her and so no questions were asked when she applied at the door pending the coin coming of the count who was at home as she learned she was shown to a reception room close to the entry door As she sat here she heard footsteps approaching heard voices in conversation she knew that count frederick was there but not alone kitty listened shamelessly for now indeed all was fair in war for her in case like this she heard count frederick address his companion as my lord minister Inister INT and again as janislaw Dani slaw so knew that it was none other than the prime minister of Gretz hoffen with whom he was conversing my friend she heard a hard incisive voice declare this ball tonight Is the crowning mistake of the entire year it may mean the ruin of gretz hoffen I 1 tell you count frederick revolution is in the air the people are demanding the answer to all their sufferings to their poverty their anxieties that answer if we do not use every means to change it surely will be written red but what plan do you propose my lord minister what can I 1 do one thing let me be blunt and brief have the king sober tonight I 1 shame to say eay those words but those are my words to you have our monarch whom we reverence sober tonight it if the people see him drunken it if they find him careless indifferent in times like this pout pou f revolution I 1 tell you and the answer written with the pen of blood count frederick apparently paused at this there was a hint of something suppressed in his voice when at length lie did reply my lord minister ill see the king kitty thought that now nov they clasped hands she heard the prime minister departing each giving the other formal words of courtesy now she heard frederick calling to his servants noff franko any of you rascals well you noff go at once to the apartments of the count sachio and ask him it if he will join me at once kitty still trembling in suppressed excitement waited yet longer before declaring herself she heard frederick pacing up and down in the room muttering to himself heard also after an interminable interval the footsteps of another in the hall heard frederick greet him ah sachio you are welcome indeed we have news for you my friend news that may go well with our plans command me my dear frederick 1 I ask you my dear sachio to do an easy pleasant and interesting task it is no more than to go this afternoon to win in some fashion into the presence of king michael the second our beloved monarch whom wo we both reverence and then and there by what means shall seem most expedient to induce him to drink more wine than ever ho he did in one day in his life count sachio laughed loud and long for what purpose my good frederick erl erick cl he inquired at length for a plain and definite purpose listen As you know I 1 have had my eyes on the throne of Gretz hoffen hoff en since the death of the old king that throne is rightfully mine and will be mine this land is full of discontent like your own yonder the people complain they are on the very verge of revolution at this moment this great ball tonight flie the thought of 0 its expense has enraged our people now if tonight they see our beloved monarch whom we both reverence in his usual or more than his usual state ot of intoxication then theres the match to the powder mill the revolution is begun the explosion is made it will be too late then their wrath against tho the weak michael dissipating wasti n for them will be unappeasable for the rest t 0 I 1 7 1 at the black and white ball 1 I have made my plans my own regiments will be faithful the regiments of the king are nono none too faithful the of the desert are with us ua tomorrow there will be a new king in Gretz hoffen and that king will be frederick the first kitty slipped from tho the room the hall was empty an instant later she was out of the great entry and passing to her car at her hotel once more she hurried to her room here was somewhat to be done she knew the plot now all was plain as to the intentions of frederick in regard to the kingdom of Gretz hoffen and to the monarch who held the throne your majesty she wrote in her rolling hand band now nowr the young american so much honored by your gift which is returned to your care at midnight tonight has by chance learned of a plot to injure your majesty and to injure the kingdom of Gretz hoffen as well trust her to explain when opportunity port unity shall come meantime have the word of one who is solicitous for your safety drink no wine beware once more she telephoned to the bureau of telegraphs called for a messenger and sent her simple missive to the king CHAPTER XIII A prisoner having dispatched her messages kitty gray sat alone once more in her toom room T oom there came to her mind once more the reflection that now she had not even one portion of the broken coin As to that which had gone to the king she felt fairly sure that she might regain it As to that which had been taken from her by force by count frederick she was far as ever from its possession the simplest way Is 19 the best said she once more ill go back there again 1 I was not so fortunate as to find monsieur the count at home before she explained to the attendants who met her at the door monsieur Mons leur the count has gone out but now A sudden resolution came to kittys kitrys mind even as a sudden flush came to her cheek so then I 1 will wait his coming if you please the apartments of monsieur the count the man left her and she closed the door an instant later she was at we work rk turning over the articles on the dresser peering here and there looking this way and that and unsuccessfully but meantime the attendant wh who 0 had left her anxious to be of service to his master sent out posthaste to summon count frederick to his bis return he met the count himself and yet another attendant upon the point of entering the palace the newcomer was talking to the count excitedly excellency I 1 tell you the woman is outwitting you she sent her half the coin this very morning sent it to the king by special messenger I 1 saw it 1 I felt it in the envelope I 1 am sure there is some plot afoot and I 1 brought the news as soon as possible but have searched for you long come said frederick and he hastened the more when he met the messenger advising him of kittys kitrys presence in the palace her search still uncompleted kitty heard beard footsteps approaching and turned desperately |