MM

CAP* MAY OOUWTY !

8, SkA ISLE CITY, H. 3.

kroken Coin

MERSON HOUGH

m the Scenario by Grace Canard

i*

iystery and Adventure

i hi that klngdc

rtf tette-'. . wt,

, "ther* la

■e hack of the • water front.”

> at once!'

» clatter of

direction;

i Of the GretthoSen led. They awept __ . rallrlnc their The leader of the ad for the cotai; Inatead he I fhi llaah d 1 hnrry toward

■ "He li at the r their fall attark." I r for the rcrerrea.l

a aara. C^oee to his own thin I ma. «»< fy»derick eat. from] He anamiinr the work of a bat I tAm eocaewhere hack of the] of the Orabolfen troopa. |

tax min on hi* own VO* hhWcr eomewhere

1 tell whore, althourb he i Use beyond with the

lOBBd It. marked II by| 1 i from a acrecn of Mbae laahed to the I

me. Produced by the uwctwruie KJOmpmKf. ployed into action Is reclmental front, the leader cheerln* his men on the charxe. They met the adrandnx Infantry of GraboBen. many of them with their rides unloaded, depending upon the bayonet—met them, a rode then down. The line of aaaai onsuapectlnx this new resistance, colled and turned. Kitty had pressed forward behind the column which now pushed back the si ranee of the enemy. The plan of Count Frederick was completed. But as to Count Frederick. where was he? She found him at last, surrounded by a little croup of his men. who supported him as he

lay.

"What do you here, mademoiselle?" said he. "Retire at Once. This Is no place for you." "You are alive! You wlU recover!" Kitty Gray was on her knees beside

him.

Frederick essayed to rise, but fen back for a moment. “Give me a moment’s time," said ho. "I am not hurt. The shell came close, but my horse saved me. I suppose. I am but allxbtly wounded. 1 think It was the shock . of the explosion. 1 was dated for sn Instant. Where are my men? Come, let me up!" “Your men are on ahead. Count Frederick." replied Kitty Gray; "too far for yon to catch them up now. Come, you must rest. Come with

But now—and her woman’s heart admiring ever the strong and resolute. rejoiced to see U—Count Frederick’s gate was turned not to her but toward the front where the Ochtlng

lay.

“My men." said he. "Look at them— the royal reserves! Who brought them on? We have won! They are broken. The battle Is ours, after all!" CHAPTER Ul. Roleau. the Spy. In all these rapid events of the last few hours Roleau had been left quite to his own resources. His mistress had slipped away from him without his knowledge. Count Frederick was gone, he knew not where. He guessed rather than knew that each of them might he seeking the other. That meant, according to his reasoning, that they must be at or near the royal palace, it waa thither Roleau at length turned his own footsteps Discovered at last through the notice attracted by his lack of uniform, he was halted by an officer, who brought him forthwith to the commander of the army, none leas than Sachlo, who sat close tc the king, watching the progress of the battle. "General." said the officer to Sachlo. "here la a man who waa trying to' get through our lines. What shall we : do with him? We think perhaps he j la a epy." "So. follow, you ore here again?” he said, grimly. "I know yru. _ well enough. We have met more than once before now. I recall you at my lodging, and elsewhere. What do you Where Is the. your mistress, the young American?" Yonder somewhere, excellency." said Roleau. pointing toward the pal-

all the coin—and even I counterfeit, their half, the true half though It be. Is no more thmn half. They cannot read the riddle of their own treasure, and yet we know It! Who. then, has won tM* battle? Rich os are needful for any king. Without the secret which we ourselves hold, what may they hope? No. not all la yet lost, your majesty!’ The old king turned upon him his burning eye. "Count Sachlo." said he, “you have disappointed and again regarding yonder coin; yet after all. of all my noblemen, you have been the most successful, for surely you brought to us the secret That Is true. At one time we had all the coin. Long we hat e bad half the coin. Today we held It all session. \nd we still hold It Bring me the coin. 1 want to examine both halves once more with my "It Is well.'your majesty. I will go get both halves, we will compare

them."

Count Sachlo hastened to the room where on hit return from the battlefield he had changed his dnsty apparel. His tunic and trousers lay where he had left them. Evidently his orderly • sd fled. Count Sachlo took up the trout . and thrust a hand Into a pocket. He knew where he had kept the coin. In hla little leather folding portemonnale. But he withdrew hls band and looked at U curiously. The blank look on hla face remained aa he felt quickly In other pockets of the same gar is be scardhod nervously through every pocket of the tunic which he had discarded. When Count Sachlo returned king bo was in deep pallor; conster atlon sat on hls face. "Well, well, Sachlo!' demanded m»t monarch, testily. "You have on your face cow the same look which I have learned to know. But surely you have ot failed. Come, let mo see It-" “I cannot, your majesty. It is

one!"

"Gone? Yet you had It?" "Yea. your majesty. Both halves—I had them both. You yourself gave them 1c my keeping on the field. 1 waa responalble for them, that U tree. But. see here where I hid them—everything is empty now. They have been taken away by someone. And rbo could have known of It?" A alienee fell upon the group. "Stay!" added Sachlo a little later— "there was a nun. a pr^oncr. who waa brought to me Just before our retreat began—the man named Roleau. ” “Find that man!" said Cortlalaw. coldly, returning a savage eye upon Sachlo. The prisoners taken by the Grahof-

have It could <

rivaling methods <

■ he othi

Jeher empires f loped aa best r the service Erfare. Each fv-'raft. each

Its miniature navy. Us a Pull details of an t

It was night when h< the wharves along the G bor tract- ».t ‘heir a dim gray bulks of the few belonging to Cortlslaw. . docks signs of activity a A yacht, a long, e thoroughbred in all i fully equipped and i manned and officered. J ready to set out. F it closely. It bore t

“Good morrow, sir,” said Roleau to the. captain of the yacht, before whom he presented hlmsAf a little late see you are setting out. Would you take a passenger, one as anxious aa yourself to leave tils place?" The captain looked at this Intruder ir a moment with none too “much

favor.

"This boat la not for charter," said »- "We are leaving. It Is tree, but o offer no passage for the public.' "Nor am I under charter for the public," rejoined Roleau calmly. In high service. None the lees. I ready to pay for transportation from this place. I am careless where yon may be Bailing. Ask me no many questions, and I will nit Inquire of you. my dear captain, why you are now sailing with the king's yacht.' This boll chance thrust went be Roleau suspected now that the capsalUng under orders of hls own and for reasons of hls own. The man hesitated now. “Well, then." said he. at length, "we have room, that la tree. But a

“Cell me no refugee!" said Roleau firmly- “I tell you. I am on buslm of Importance, and care little where you go. save only that you take henoo. I can pay.” By this time Roleau waa aboard. The captain neither welcomed him nor repulsed him. Ho only shrugged hls shoulders, and accepted some coins which Roleau placed In hls

hand.

CHAPTER LIV. By Air and Watsr. Rolean wakened at dawn, ripple of water waa In his ears, yacht waa under way. Soon It out of earshot of all that went forward at the wharves. None aboard might know what meant the little group ot men who hurried here and

IK

In himself, bold lra.1I. Slbelt S(-!f-»«-klng exult.-.1 at what » lbs quick success of - He held on. dt- * the aye of Cortlslaw himsoldier he now i rour m.jesty." S broken their ^^Khiug but

■at Frederick. *0 arma Ho I distant-*—and

Ths Army of OreUhoffsn In Action.

fen men. more by ebaned than plan In their own tempestuous retreat, had been grouped under loose guard In the rear compound of the Grahoficti palace. It was with them that Roleau had been confined. Thither Count Sachlo now turned bis steps. HsstUy he Inquired of thL officer and that, of

this prisoner snd that.

Once more the spy Roleau had ee-

’Take him away, nontenant, and keep him safe until I call for him." It was thus that Kok-au remained for a time unobserved, but waa ultimately caught In the general rout of King Cortislaw’a armies. It was night when finally the rout ended under the walls of Crahofien Itself. Cortlslaw waa an old man when he had started out that day. Since snoruhc had aged yet a dos*n years. Nothing waa left to him! The end of hls life's dream was r.t hand. upon all things!" esclalmed old Cortlslaw. at last, sweeping a level glance under hls bushy gray brows at hls courtiers. "Once more they have proved too much »or us. It was my remaining chance." one dared raise a voice against the wrath of the broken king. After a

he went on:

hat use. then. Count Sachlo. was

their cola, after all? Wo had It, and before.

we lost" | Resolved at last, he slipped away beCouct Frederick told roe. your ma- yoai hu » nJ o5 lhrou , h

the Clt}. IK-1 to the westward toward

CHAPTER LIU. By Land and Sea.

In the confusion which followed the

retreat of the GraboBen troops upon their own capital. Roleau found himself swept away from the officer who

first had taken hla In charge. Roleau. not unused to scenes of vio-

lence, bad himself well In hand, and now studied bis situation calmly, ftud Ing It somewhat to,hlt own advantage. He may that ho trow had better opportunity for escape than at any time

Jesty." began Sachlo. "that v

was only a counterfeit. Ur said the plain which lay between the t =»'• “ 1° king of GretshoBen ; cities, but to the ea.1 where Uy I

I tar l

the

i a barren peninsula, it which swept the blue Ingdom. therefore, might ive s seaport aa good as Itbougb that of 'Toubof

there along the water front, giving this order and that. "In the king’s name!" one man

cried.

It ws», Indeed. In the king’s name, for now, shallow though was hls disguise. none less than Cortlslaw had Joinad Sachlo In this last pursuit of the evasive coins Hurriod Inquiry had convinced Sachlo that Roleau had made hls escape lu this direction. As for Cortlslaw. he ragod. "It Is nothing, your msjeety." re joined the dauntless Count Sachlo ’’All Is not ended till all Is done. We shall not lot them evade us Come, we have craft of our own. Here are some of our fast boats. Would your majesty dare the submarine T~ "I dare anything that another man dare.” rejoined Cortlslaw savagely •Quick, than—order the first boat ready." Now In truth the nobleman and hls sovereign were to embark In a novel undertaking. The long, slim fishnosed craft, with lu upright perl scope, receiv'd them They heard Unhatch closed firm above them, hoard the singing of the sir pumps and saw the gray oj-aque wall of the water, not below them, but mound them, above them, as at length the craft, obedient to the command of Its officer, slid out from its slip Into thu harbor and head ed forward after what had seen pointed out to ft as lu prey. Part of the time submerged, most of the time just breaking the surlaiv wtlh the deck, they sped on. Wh-r J length, w-fth hatches open and access gt»en to the deck, they sped on. unsubmrrged. close upon their quarry, none of them at first beard the curious bumming whku came on from the rear, none for the moment eaw the vast shape which ap pros chad from behind them and aUn«

sailing like some

It was Count Sachlo at length turned, hls attention arretted by the familiar sound of an air craft motor. "Look! your majesty." said he. turn-

ing and pointing.

A sudden exclamation came from

the lips of Cortlslaw.

"It is from GreuhoBen!" be said. “Our own air craft are not mobilised. I wonder who planned that raid. You told me Count Frederick was killed— that you saw It with your own eyes. That cannot be. King Michael, weak he Is. never would be afoot—never would be have had bis air craft moving at this hour. They have been above our city—It U a mercy If they fiave not dropped bombs upon our

shipping."

"Look!” said Sachlo. He Indicated now the codrse of the pursuing air craft, which, far from following them directly, now swept aside In a great

tangent.

"They are bound also for the yacht!’ aald Sachlo. "It Is not us. but yonder boat they are pursuing. What does It Sorely they can have marked us under water or above—they see us now. If they have eyee. But now they evade us and pursue the host which we pursue. What does It mean' who Is In command?" Slow enough would even keen-witted Count Sachlo have been to gui real answer to bis own question. It was hls enemy who was of this pursuing air craft—Count Frederick. not killed, but In fur of hla powers once more. It had been Frederick’s plan to is ten across the neutral lands and over GraboBen Itself In a foray of scouting snd discovery. He wished whether the forces of the enemy would rally or whether they were to He utterly broken, accepting their defeat. And at the last Instant, when he had stepped Into the seat of the air craft, he had been followed by one who would not accept denial from him— the young American. Thus they had swept across the broad plain, acroes the city of GraboBen Itself, and along the water front—and now far dowi the great arm of the sea which thrust ap from the south. The aeroplane for a time fell oB from the direct course held hy the submarine. Ahead of the wind and driven at top speed by Us own tremendous engines, it advanced In vast sweeps snd swoops, at a speed incalculably

fast

’Your majesty," said Count Bat-hlo at length, laying down the glasses with which he had been examining tho .ship of the air which passed shove them. "I was wrong! At first 1 thought some leader of their aviation corps bad developed this raid today, but It Is not so. 1 told you that Count Frederick waa dead. Uy eyes must have deceived me. It la he. yonder! He himself Is guiding this pursuit With hint there is another—a woman, your majesty! It is none less than the young American, who has been the most dangerous enemy we yet have met. They two—for what reason 1 am not Informed—are aloft together. Their purpose 1 can only guees" The rage of Cortlslaw now was such • left him silent “Your majesty." said Count Sachlo I last, “it mum be as your majesty ■aeons. But It is by sinking yonder craft, not by saving IL that he can moat hurt ua. Y'es. I am convinced, yonder Is the coin. How they know It bow they guess IL I do not know More than once It would seem to me that Intuition rather than knowledge has guided them tn their plans I say that yonder coin Is bewitched snd always fights for UretxhoB'U and not ir ns.“ Tho rhasc went on. and now under irh curious relations as left the three vessels ot the surface, of the subsurfare and of tho air. drifting along, none taking tho offensive. Hut though tho giant sir craft followed dose, seeming ever to hold the yacht at lla mercy. It made no offenalve movement: it eedited rather to ,holler than to menace the fleeing easel which stoamrl on so gaUautlv knd In the rear of both, helpleaa. Impotent. with speed and naught hut <1 at lla disposal, came the tubIne ot Cortlslmw and hls nobleThus neither of the three could

The Army of Grahoffan Retreating,

bird.

For l-.s had been right—a ts aloft, yonder with tho ■ air craft

ild Count Fred- rick, turning -urn pan km at hla aide and so that hls vole* coold ha

beard above the loud drone of the engines. "What have we gained? What do we know?" "Look!" aald she “Look at them below us yonder. They want whst we want. They pursue whst we pursue? Why? Believe me. they know that the coin is on ahead. If they know it. why shouldn’t we? Monsieur le comte. your ride this morning was an Inspiration. The accident of following what might have been the wake of a fish, but was the flash of a submarine—the accident of seeing yonder cloud of smoke ahead—that was fate fighting with ns. Believe me. Roleau Is yonder on that boat! Believe me. he has the coin. Fate Is fighting with ns at last. I say. The end of all onr troubles Is at hand.” As they swept forward, now near. jw dropping off from the course of the speeding yacht, always Kitty turned her glass upon the decks of the water craft. At length she exclaimed: "It is he! I see him. He is there, standing looking back. He has no glass. He cannot recognize us now. But It Is he. Ah! trust yonder faithful soul not to be traveling in vain. I am sure, as though I saw IL that he has the coin with him there. I am sure, as though 1 saw him. that ft Is Count Sachlo himself In yonder submarine pursuing him. Come! Literally. we must fly.” And fly they did. Moment after moment. hour after hour, until at length the smoke above Gretxhoflen harbor thickened, until the towers ot the cathedrals and the palace appeared, nntll the shipping grew more dlstlncL cntll the long green slope of the coast fortifications showed to the- eyes of Count Frederick, high above the level of the sea • We will make It safely, mademoiselle." said Count Frederick, at last. "For some reason the submarine does not attack. I do not know why. The three ot ns soon will be within reach of otir own guns. I wonThe wonder of Count Frederick was not 111 placed. In s few moments they heard the dull report of a 30-centi-meter piers of one of the coast bat I crips—saw the white clbud of smoke burst from the tfmplacement in front of ths disappearing gun. On ahead they saw the white splash of the shell across the bows of the advancing yacht ’What do they mean?" exclaimed Count Frederick. "Ah. I see The yatch carries the ensign of the royal navy of Grahoffen! It Is armed. Our gunners take ft for an enemy. Now heaven send them bad aim for once!" A shot, snd yqf another followed, bracketing the yacht between the ranges Count Frederick held hi* breath for what he knew would come Come It did. The yacht, struck full by the Impact of a heavy shell, reeled, careened, half broke apart and began ' settlo by the head. It Is too bad!" exclaimed Count Frederick; "sunk by our own men' Yonder yacht waa coming to our harbor for protection, carrying our own man—carrying our own fortune—the Gretzhoffen coin! And now all Is

«!'•

He turned the prow of the air craft full toward the settling yacht The wake of the submarine was no longer

visible.

Then, what th* men of lb* Gretxhoffen batteries saw sbat the men the submarine might have seen bad their periscope then been above the surface—wa* the swift volplane of the air craft which they so long had followed. It swept down now like a giant bird, at a keen angla. aa though Itself would dip Into the sea. Ilelow It there swept the great anchor rope. Its end whipping white here and there on the tops of ths waves "Ahoy. Roleau!" cried the vole* of Count Frederick eau looked up at this summons the clouds, and saw above the rail of the air craft he so long had noted In wonder two fares that he and loved' A great sob shook hls giant chest Even hi* callous soul was affected. Out of the very deep come--hls master and bis -to save him. when he thought all was lost! He lifted up his The whipping rope coded and turned, twisted this way and that But the steady band at the rudder of the air craft guided It straight onward,

downward.

Roleau reached out. made a swift grasp, felt himself swept free, off hifeet An Instant later, hand ovv: band be began hls ascent from what had been tbs extreme*! peril of hlr

life.

I

*T»

r

i™

A DOUBLE IDENTITY j :j: By AUGUSTUS G. SHERWIN. g Whatever was stirring—or wouldn't stir—In the mind ot the man dubbed "Johnson." he kept along with hls work, acting In a dense automatic fashion. Always a question In hls thoughts ss to hls environment, ths circumstances, hls companions! Always a dim picture of some far past where he had been quite anotheP Individual—or waa It a dream? He was "Johnson." for those In th* boarding boose called him that. Ha was listed ss "Johnson” at the plant In the midst of occupation s sudden spur of awakening thought would halt him In the work he was at Hls mind went groping, but not far. He would shake bis head dubiously snd resume the dreary treadmill of accepted routine. One evening when he arrived at the old boarding house, the landlady called him Into her own living rooms. There sat two little children—a girl ot four, and a lad of six. "Your dead brother's children." Introduced the landlady bluntly. "My—dead—brother's children!" murmured Johnson mechanically. "Oh, yes. yes. Yes. Indeed!" You see. they are without s home or relative, except you. He died In Macon, fifty miles sway, snd told th* neighbors you would care for them. You look troubled, air, and confused, I will harbor the dear little ones until you get your bearings and decide what you will do with them." nodded Johnson In a lost dreary way. ■’Thanks." The puzzle of existence was now humbly accepted by him. He kept on working at the plant. He shut out lb* strange dreams that came Into hls mind. Evenings he would sit with tb* children and amuse them. Hls iff* became work and they—that only. AH this time Mrs. Alice Messlnger. lady residing In s fashionable quarter ot the big city, was mourning her life away over the strange Inexplicable disappearance of her husband. Arnold Mosslnger. He had been a good husband, but >t good to hlmaelf. Left a fortune, he had married a woman be loved and who returned the affection, but he had aerioua fault—he was a convivialIsL always that, and fast degenerating ! Into a confirmed Inebriate. Mrs. Messlnger sat in tears In her elegant drawing room. With her was the family doctor and the family law-

er.

“No trace, madam. 1 am grieved tn ay." the latter was remarking. "1 sar foul play." V T do not countenance thgl^ dect- V slon." demurred the doctor. "As i have v often told Mr. Messlnger. be was slowly undermining brain and nerves by of stimulants and narcotics. I believe these have overcome him. casting a cloud over hls brain, snd. while thus temporarily deranged, be has wandered sway to s distance." Oh. try. try to find him.’’ sobbed"' Mrs. Messlnger. Rewards were offered In the ne-rspo-pers. but no trace discovered as to the whereabouts or fate of the missing man. Then one day Mrm. Messlnger. gazing Hstlesaly from a window, uttered a scream as she saw a m.n come up the front steps. Then her eager loyal heart dlsd down within her, for then she saw that the person she had ml*taken for her husband waa quite another person. She went to the door and opened It. "Mrs. Messlnger?" questioned the visitor, a shlfty-eyed. coarse looking man. Then, as she nodded assenL he added: ”1 am wearing your husband's clothes, as I believe you perceive. 1 saw your advertisement. I have not come for the reward. On the contrary. I ask you to deliver me up to Justice." "But—my husband!" cried the lady. "He la—’’ "Alive, madam." "Oh. take me to him. bring him here'" pleaded the distracted wife. "When I have told my cruel, wicked story, madam." insisted this strange visitor 'Listen, madam; my name Is Johnson I tried to find bontwt work. I failed. I came across your husband In a hopeless condition. 1 drugged hls drink. I led him to the wretched quarters where I lived, appropriated hla clothes and what money they contained—and eloped.” "*"here Is be? oh. tell me quickly!" begged the anxious lady. "I will. In a moment. When I absconded, I supposed your husband would wake up in the morning, realise that he had received a good lesson and go his way The strong drug I used, along with the drink, must hav* turned bis brain, for yesterday 1 sneaked bock to the old tenement house to find that he had taken my place aa If he had been Mr Johnson all bis life. Madam,” and the man's voice bruSe | found something else. A Jioor dead brother of mine bad sent two little t(*a to me. tour husband, loving them, caring for them, shows the good man he is Come, and I wUI lake you to your Inst husband.’ It was a swift automobile that took Mrs M east tiger, the real Johnson and the doctor and the lawyer lu quest of the real Areola Meaalnger Bcterce and medical skill Boon restored the clouded mind to its normal funrtlcSM. .he lonely home greeted the two little children lovingly Johnson warn found decant employment, and Arnold ulngetf waa a changed and a better

tOvprrishi ttu by t

V