1Z

Tm Broken Coin A Story of" Mystery and Adventure gr EMERSON HOUGH M From flie Scenario by GRACE CUNARD

,f b SL“!f^G2f !?!i or - to *«> ‘o"u>« prt»r:p«lltj of OrrUhoffvD lo pl«* oul I!.. Ilorr •unrated by the InacrTpUon. She la llowed. and on arrival In Greuh iB. n rjfjgsrjr&gr- i - ELEVENTH INSTALLMENT CHAPTER XXXIX. Tha Vlrtua of Naccaaity. “Ha U Mltea!" cried Kitty Gray, as aha stood, still uncertain as to the result of Count Frederick's desperate leap toward the movlnc train. "I cannot look!” Bat presently she did look—both she and Rolean passing not forward on the train bat to the rear l>f the car which they occupied. Atnased. they saw Count Frederick struggling to his feet. "Now. Roleau." she cried, “we must be quick! If the count has taken this desperate chance It was for some dcsT '*rate purpose back of It He knows about the eoln—we must get It before he does, and that means at once." “How shall that be -*jce. excellency ? - said Roleau. puxxled for Just a

moment

"I hare It!" said Kitty, as they hurried deeper Into the car that they might not be seen by Count Frederick. “Walt I will send a message to him —we wiU ask him to walk into our

parlor."

She seated herself for a moment end hastily wrote a few lines on a page of bar note book, smiling as she did

ao.

Tlens!" the laughed. “I am now a leader In Grahoffea diplomacy. Does not my writing seem formal*" “Ws send It forward by the guard T* - "Yes. Roleau. get hiir quick—give him this money—we will wait here in the drawing room near to the front door of our car. The guard must not tell him who we are ” But even aa they waited. Intent on the success' of thla somewhat transparent ruse. Kitty heard the step of the guard behind her. and turned. Yc*. Bartel of Grahoffen was with him. a puxxled expression on his face, the note etitl In his hand. “It was this lady sent me. monsieur, explained the guard, and. witnessing the stiff surprise of all concerned, was wining enough to step aside and leave < xplanation to others. “Indeed." eald Bartel—and himself would have been equally glad to escape. for there was no one in the world whom he less expected or leas desired to see than this young American who now faced him smiling. "You here?—How can if be possible, mademoiselle?" said he. "Did you fall from the sky?" As he spoke any shrewd pickpocket would have known in which pocket he had concealed the coin: for unconsciously his hand dropped over It. “Others also!" smiled Kitty Gray, and pointed through the rear window of the car to the Cat on which Count Frederick stood. He even now was turning to pass forward Into the train. An exclamation passed from Bartel a lips. - Heaven protect us." said he. “the thing la bewitched!" Hs turned and disappeared once more in the forward part of the train For a moment Kitty thought of following him. but concluded that he would make no attempt to conceal the cola. Since he was ao nearly at his destination be would continue to keep It on bis person. Therefore she turned to the rear of the car. "Monsieur le Comte Frederick!" she exclaimed now. greeting the tall figure which approached her. “Yoa come un announced." Count Frederick gaxed at her for a moment In some what open admiration "Listen." sa-d he at length. "S\hy should we make any three-cornered tight of this sf a moment such as this, when so much la at stake* Why should we not unite againat yonder man. a common enemy, who ha. what we both desire? Beyond belief »« are luck, ihat we are both here alive. Yonder man has the coin—I know thst as wen as you do- It. half an hour be «1U be free. Once In Grahoffen »»n the coin, he may wave farewell to u* and all our bopea. Come, mademoiselle. shall we be cnetri.-s or allies. You are wise enough to see »hat 1 "Tee! And 1 suppose 7®“ 10 ^ portsman enough to P 1 *-' ,a * r us at least You have not always

time to talk Well. then, will y» tlnue to fight fslr If I join ,-ou a against Grahjffen In this ease*"

‘ £ ts agreed." said Count Frederick. > e*^ And let foriune later determine belwe v us as to which of us ulU-

®*iely 1*11 own the coin.

beT*

“He passed forward but now." eald

Kitty

They turned once more to aeek the ffuard. Once more be led them forward. TTils time they all took cealment back of a door which Bartel must pass as be left the train. Nervous, eager to be off the train and Into safety aa soon as might be. Bartel was early In hurrying his lugpge to the door, and himself followed even before the train waa coming Its stop at Grahoffen town, passed by the place of concealment of the three conspirators, and hearing some slight sound turned to see the face of Count Trederick staring straight at him—to feel at the same time the iron arm of Roleau cast ebout his neck. The sinewy fingers of Count Frederick supplemented the assault cf his man. and between these two Bartel was helpless. lie felt a hand rilling his pockets, but aa for himself could make no outcry. Just as the train slowed up at the entrance into the yards, they flung him to the floor, where he lay limp. "I have It" cried Count Frederick, and held up the Cre.zhoffen half coin before Kitty’s eyes. He placed It then In bis own pccket "Why not give It to Roleat Impartial third party?" asked Kitty

demurely.

Count Frederick caught the challenge and responded to It. "Very well," said he. "Rol-«au himself shall be the lord high keeper of the coin until further orders. But look

yonder."

At be handed Roieau the cola, he nodded now to the window, behind which could be seen the ranked soldiery of Grahoffen. filling the space of the station platform. Apparently they had been summoned to receive the agent of the king. Tbey passed back awlftly tt of the train, and aa It came to a atop all three of them dropped off on the farther side. While the off! the soldiery vrere searching the train the fugitives were making their way off to the mountain aide where there seemed at least some slight chance of escape from discovery. CHAPTER XL. The Escape. The grind of the wheels under the brakes b_d hardly ceased when a high official of the court of Grahoffen sprang aboard the train, looking this way and that expectantly, peering through the windows and dcora nl coach after coach. But he did not find the man he sought Hurrying through the last car of the train, at last be half-stumbled over the limp form cf Bartel lying on the floor where Roarm had flung him. neck and

crop.

“Quick here!" be called out "Here's murder—but by whom? Where have they got to? After them, men!" But n >w some sort of answer to their questioning came In a shout from the station platform. Someone was pointing beyond the train up the mountainside. The official sprang forward. "After them, men! Tbey must hare done this." cried be. "They hsve what /. band of mounted men an Instant later rode out of the station In full pursuit of the fugitives. Tbey raced down the road, toward a bridge which spanned the stream ahead. "Look yonder, excellency! claimed Roleau at length, as he turned and faced down the slope to gave ihcse pursuers. "They will cut us on ahead Look—they are riding for the bridge." He looked this way and that, as the three paustd uncertain At last tats eyes fell upon a vast bowlder that lay near by the edge of the ridge upon which they stood. He cast a swift glance below, lining up the course of the bowtder straight down to the bridge below. Bracing blwaclf. be threw bis shoulders against the bowl der. exercising every ounce of bis own prodigious strength. The advancing soldiery heard the roar of the coming stone, saw how Irv mlr.eet was the danger from It. but some of the rider, were already at the bridge Itself as It struck It rcashed through the timbers as U they had been straw What had been the bridge was a ruin Horses, riders all wore carried down Into the

gone lace waa over the myat< The prefect over the result! knew that for i under the king' In the administration of bis office and felt that It was time to make some example, tn produce some proof of hls own vigilance "You. Anselm, you Du Brock." ordered two of his moat trusted m« go out—find these people—we moat have them In our own handa. Turn night Into day and day Into night an til you have them once more. The girl Is with them—be anre of that— find her and you will find Roleau. the answer to ail tbe^e riddies " These members of his staff, thus adjured, made their way ont, none too happy at the task assigned them, for tbey knew well enough that now they cope with active brains and active bodies. Learning that the escape of the accused had been made by the railway train, for a time th»y hung about the station in search of further newi The/ spent some hoars there—

hold women. Kitty was shown room of her own. where she might the better arrange her apparel and dispose herself for rest. She did no*, know anything of Sacblo's presence In the palace—Indeed. Michael himself had not been aware of that: but that crafty Individual, readily enough learning what was meant by all this excitement, himself sped away from the pal ice even before the guard

waa out.

On the mountain aide where they had been left. Count Frederick and Rolean, once master and man. partners elbow to elbow In a common cause, lay and looked down. As they looked they aaw the advance of the troop* below them haltL Why was this? “Surely.” chuckled Rolean unconcerned. "we hare beaten their whole army, the two of us! Are they no

now." cried Kitty's com pan b. - once more as they saw the arrested "On ahead there . „ better place—w* may yet

Khr below the*

braver than that, these men of Gra-

hoffen!"

"Something has happened below there." rejoined Count Frederick. "We could not bold out against their forces, and It Is not fear that has halted

A Band of Mounted Man an InaUnt Lattr Rode Out In Full Pursuit,

hat departed just too soon to welcome the return of one of the fugitives they sought—none less than Kitty Gray

herself!

Safe from Irr mediate pursuit. Kitty paused tor a little rest and a little food. What should she do? For a time she was undecided, but presently her resolution was made “I will try it," said she to herself. *T will go to the palace direct. I will see if I con get access to the king!" And thither, forsooth, ahe did turn

her way

Rank by rank of the guard she passed by this way or that, wheedling them, threatening them, bribing them, until ahe fouud herself within the doors of the palace "Mademoiselle, again!" exclaimed King Michael. "Welcome, then.'* HU mat tied face did Indeed exp.-ess gratification at seeing her once more. Kitty first made apology for her disordered apparel. “I ask your ma

They turned In the other directing, gating across the edg- of the plain along the upper Uretzhoffen roadway. A clond of dust waa advancing swiftly. “WLo goes there, master Roleau. Are they men of thU king-

dom or of our own ?"

The eyes of Count Frederick kindled at the sight. "By the Lord!" said he. "tha girl has won! Now they are coming—it is police doty for neither of theae. but army against army! WIU It be war, or peacer* In the event. It proved to be peace The counsel of Count Fachio pre vailed. CortUlaw's Inborn prudence held back his hand evru now. angered

thla fallwe tu secure pos

King Cortitlaw Counts His Dead.

of it at least Precisely aa much could be said for Grahoffen. The old king. CortUUw. waa shaking In hls wrath and humiliation that be had but half

Jelly's pardon." said she. "for my session of the coveted coin on which plight. 1 am sure of my welcome only I he counted ao surely to mend his

because of tbe news I bring—I am from the front—the war!" "The front--the war- mademoiselle, what do yon mean? What war? We are not at war!" But even as he apv^ke the blood shrank back from hU face. "There U war. >cor majesty. If 1 may say It." rrjolned the young girl Yonder at the edge of the nrutral lands, this side nf Grahoffen. men are fighting Their armv U out—they have "Our people?—Who are our peo-

ple?"

a friend of your majesty another of my own." 'Moaning 1“ 'None less than Count Frederick of Uretzboffcn Is there besieged at a lit tie pass In tha mountains. With him la Roleau. my servant, whom you do net know. Homemen were all about them when I left They were holding the little pass gs boat they could 'But wbat canard all this-why r* they besieged T''

waning fortunes. Hr sent forward a band of trumpeters with a wbltr Rag for a parley. Tbey met the advancing force# of King Michael. There were explanations, apologies Within an hour after tbe dust cloud first had been discovered. Count Frederick was shaking the hand of hta own monarch and making such explanations as be might of this scene of turbulence. "There were two ot us cnly. your majesty.'' said he. laughiag. and pointing up the mountain side to the steep ridge they had left "Two. besido the young woman." "Yea, yea—she came—ahe brought the news. You owe your safety to her.

aa usual."

The pourparler at length ended, the two bodies of ermed ui> n saluted, each dipping Its banner to the other. And ao. with much sounding of trumpets, each turned back In Ita own direction. The leader* of each army turned back as well to problems of their own. Tb< coin wav now u Orel

CHAPTER XLII. The Torture Chamber As for the young American herself, she had remained theae hours alone In the palace of tbe king. The palace, as she now reflected, was more nearly deserted than ever she had seen it. The household staff disorganized. Fright bad canght hold of all. The most conflicting rumors went this way and that. "I wonder." said Kitty Gray to herilf after a time, aa she sal alom wonder!" Now. what she wondered had t with certain questions which ahe long had had In her own m'nd. “‘Crucial! cam’—did 'cam' mean camera'—'chamber' — torture cham-

ber!"'

If so. where was that torture chamber? Was It under tbe battlements yonder. or here In the paluce Itself? Where had the old king concealed hls

weal in?

Bbe rang tbe bell and summoned once more the woman of the palace who thus far had cared for her at the king's behest. Margot." said she. "talk to me. I have traveled far and am weary. 1 am distressed—nervous perhaps. Talk to all distressed, excellency." said the woman. "We know not what there may be yonder. Perhaps this ■nt the two kingdoms may be at war. But wbat car. I do to make your excellency more comfortable?'' She waa willing enongb to curry favor with a favorite of tbe king. "Tell me Mtrgot.” demanded Kitty Cray, "about thla country here. 1 am a atranger from a far country, and I know very Uttl- of this land and of ita customs Is It so old land, this of Cretzhoffen. Margot?" ‘More immemorial!}' old. your excellency. than most people have ever dreamed of. The first k.ngs of Orel* hoffen date back ao fit In history that almost they merge Into myths. Tbe oldest kingdoms of Europe are not so old as this little one." 'Does the history of this country date back so far as the middle ages?" "Oh. easily. We are very old." smiled Margot. "Those also were times of war and bloodshed, were they not? Why. Margot In those days they tortured prlsonere. did they not?" 'Not only prisoners, excellency, but many others. If a king wtshrd news or money, tf aa official wished confes lion of a crime—If a bishop desired confession of fcl'h from a heretic—the torture chamber was tbe place to get such results." "But not here. Margot—surely not

here?"

"These very walla aaw K. egcellenrv "Hut that w as long ago—those places | were all wiped oul aud forgottru ages j

since."

"Destroyed? Indeed, not. Do not j the proplo of this country always pre- j serve their monuments, their museums ! of weapons, their chambers of horrors? Do they no* take a certain pride tc that? Mouarvhs even of today know the secrets of the old torture chambers In this land, and perhaps in many

another."

“I could not have believed It! And so thcrt* was such a place here. In this

palace?"

"Surely. 1 can give warrant for every word 1 have told you. excellence Tbo tradition L that tho old torture chamber of Uretzhoffen waa over yonder—under the corner tower of the palace—w here tte embattlements ran j There is a corridor w hlch leads

in below. Into the vaults.

I would not go ther.- for nil the world. Few of us know the way. indeed—I have never been there. We folk of liretzhcSeii palace—we are wise enough not to ask too many ruesttona or to learn too many truths. Besides! ! they l Should die w .th terror to think of servo

whst spirits must haunt such i

"Would you take me yonder. Margot r asked Kitty. The woman crossed herself devontl) "Not on my life!" said she. "Never in the world! It It be trae that tbe chambers are there, let others prove the truth. I do not know." "It waa but a fancy." said Kitty, turning to her couch and feigning weariness. “I will call you. Margot." Kitty listened until her footfalls had quite died away: then, swiftly, she ea gaged herself upon tbe errand which all this time she had been planning. She stole from her own apanments into the hall, passed along It ti ward tbe farther corner where stood the tower, until she came to another stair. Arrived upon this floor, she found herself unnoticed—that part of the palace was descend Trurtlng only to a general stnse of direction, she passed on and down —finding her own way through the labyrinth of passages, until at length she bad reached the subterranean vaults which lay beneath the main edifice of tbe palace building. About her now lay dampneta. alienee. Tbe gloom of It all weighed heavily upon even her atout aoul. used aa she was by tbis time to terrors But still she pushed on. the little candle which she bad brought with her lighting the gloom at least faintly. She could not tell now where ahe waa Only there came to her the vague conviction that If there were secrets In the palace this was the way to find them. Therefore she followed such passageways as opened from time to time ahead. There were walla of rock now on ich aide of her. whether of heavy masonry or bou granite she could not tell, her light flickered so faintly on them. Bat at length she found her self at the end of the winding pass a,”way. A heavy door stood before

her.

Kitty flashed her light this way and that to ate If ahe could find trace of any other visitors. The dual of the floor lay unbroken Dust. fine, impalpable lay on the great metal latcbet of the door iuelf. There was a lock.

yonder

"Yonder at th# Edge ot th# Neutral

Lands, Man Art Fighting!"

yes. a vast and cumbersome affair of Iron She tried It. It did not yield Where then was the key. if there waa

one?

With no special plan, she cast b«r light here and there slung the wall. She found at last, near to the Jamb of the heavy dour, an Iron prong project- ] tng from tbe wall, on It a vast and j

rusty bit of Iron—the key.

With all her strength ahe twisted the great key. At length ahe felt the lock turn, yield. One moment aht. 1

halted

Bob Noyes was as brave ^s on* could desire when he had to fact actual danger, but when It came to proposing to one little blue-eyed girl with whom he was madly in love, why Bob simply hacked away from her fathers front door and rushed to tbe nearest telepbeee pay station to make hls confession over the wire. Alma's voice at the other end was soft, and hesitating and cntrandngly sweet: but the hesitation was maddening to Bob Noyes. "Tell me now!" he urged Impa-

tiently.

"I—I couldn't!" ahe pleaded. "IT1 write you a little note be'ore I go to bed—honest I will. Bob." "I wish you could tell me now and put me out of my misery." he urged. "Ill tell you what 111 do. Bob. IT! let you know before you ever open the note. If H'a good news there will be a blue seal on the flap of the envelope—and If It's—not good news, why there will be a green seal. So you will know aa soon as you receive tbe

letter."

With that arrangement Bob had to be contented. Would he be confronted by a blue seal or a fatal green one? AU the evening the query bauuted him. Morning brought new hope. He sat down at breakfast and looked nervously at the letters neatly piled beside hls plate Ah. here was the letter. He turned It over.

Green!

"Turned down, by Jove!" he muttered. thrusting the unopened letter In hla breast pocket and pushing aside bis plate. "A enp of strong coffee. Dunn, and nothing else," he

ordered.

"Not a chop—or a bit of fruit, sir?" protested the servant. "Nothing." At nine o'clock that evening Alma Ray heard with a shock of dismay that Bob Noyes had sailed for Bermuda that afternoon. r "He wasn't in earnest after all." she said with a pale smile as see danced the evening away. In Bermuda Bob Noyes bated golf and bridge and spent hls sparo time glowering at the unopened letter with the fatal green seal on the flap. "Faithless, after all." he groaned one day as he strolled along a snowy beach. "If a pair of blue eye* ever said—" be shook hls head fiercely. At that moment he came face to face with Alma Ray's brother Jack, who was staring at him with maliciously amused eyes. "You're looking seedy. Boh." said Jack, after they had shaken hands _*] "Ho reason why I should." defended the other. "I'm fit as a fiddle— having no end of a good time. Barprised to see you here at this season " "Govemor had a poor spell—1 waa detailed to escort him down bare: he's over on the links now. grinning like a Cheshire cat and having no a good time. Foxy ta my dad's middle name!" laughed Jack. "Er-family all well?" asked Bob. "I told you dad was ailing." returned Jack with a surprised look. "Y'es. Mrs. Ray and your sister?" "Oh. yea" Jack dropped the subject In an exasperating way that nettled Bob Noyes What waa the mat with the boy? Did he know of Bob's disappointment—did he. perhaps. know that Alma waa engaged to some other man? 'Tm going over to see how dad's getting along." a-Id Jack. "Come?" "Not now—111 be over later.' waa Bob's reply, and he waa thankful when be waa alone. Who could Imagine I'd ever be ao weak-kneed just because a little girl refused to marry me? By Jove. 1 won't! Ill go back tomorrow"' He whirled around to retrace his steps and almost ran Into Alraa Ray. small and dainty, her lovely face as white as her frock. "Bob!" she cried sharply. "Why did yoa go away?" "Alma!" be was weak with surPrtse- "Why—why. I got your letter that morning—the green .val. yo* know!" he stammered. “Well, what of It?" ahe asked Impatiently "What of It* Why. 1 saw tho green seal and I kn«'w!~ She regarded him closely. Then: Did ycu road the letter T' she asked calmly. "No—It wasn't necessary. 1 have It here." He held It toward her. the green seal unbroken. "Read It." she commanded, and reluctantly he obeyed. He lifted a bewildered face, blissfully happy with tbe cieesagr read in tbe letter, still perplexed over tbe green seal "But. darling, bow was I to know?" he naked holding her In bis arms. "You said a blue seal would mean >ee

• green

ind 1

'Stupid'" ■tarry eyes 1 was all o 1 had to u

she r

"let

and then threw her weight j B againat the door. It swung open, silently She found herself within jHad anyone, whether friend or foe. , been near to Kitty Gray at that time. they would have beard her soddon I scream of mortal terror would have I seen her tall and crump.A la a limp I r'SJ