The Washington times., 1915-09-12
TWELFTH INSTALLMENT
Chapter Xiv.
The Sinews of War.


little Kingdoms for a time. Their
/ troops had faced each other in the
open field. Blood had been shed.
Generals had looked other generals In
the eye at no great distance. AT the
lines of contact the imperial rulers of
the two countries had been within ear
shot one of the other.
Yet they parted now. Why? The
trumpets sounded the recall, even rs
the leaders were awaiting the sum
mons for the charge. Why? At least
one ruler had been eager for the as
! sault. yet did not advance his troops.
Why? The other. vacillating as ever
or soul none the less had been upon
! the battle front itself. whether or not
his courage had been more than tenn
porary. He now retired. Why?
The answer to all these questions lay
in the hands Of the young American
girl Sundered. the two halves Of the
divided Gretzhoffen coin still pleaded
! for reunion. One lay in the hands of
another. Had either Kingdom on this
day owned them both, war would have
enSued.
+ War is wased not for sentiment, but
for gain. It demands securities. hopes
FOR material rewards. The buried treas
ures of Gretzhoifen would have offered
reward for either of these Kingdoms.
These treasures still remained in hiding.
The coin held the secrct-and the young
American woman held the coin.
Cortislaw of Grahoffen. old as he was.
none the less was In respect Of martial
nature far in advance of the weak ruler
of Gretzhoffcn. Michael had come to the
rescue not so muCn to save Count Fred
crick from danger as to save Count
Frederick for himself. He needed Fred
cricks courage. Not SO Cartisiaw who
TO
of ire. Evil was that hour for the cour-
tiers of Grahoffen. and worst Of all for
the unfortunate Sachio, who had prom,
ised so much for his sovereign and
himself and who had come so far short
of the measure of his promises.
Relieve me. my good friend Sachio,,
exclaimed Cortislaw, when at length
that crestfallen Individual was, brought
before him. Your failure to bring me
the missing half of the coin has we'll
Eigh cost me my, dignity and you your
life. l will not longer suffer such dis
apnointmcnts at your hands
Your majesty," began Sachio, but
the other raised hand
1--WE are at the brink of war now-at
any moment war may be forced on us.
whether we like It or not. | did not
;nink Michael would march, but he has
shown that under certain circumstances
he not only can. but will. Ii we delay
we lose all the advantages Of the inita-
tive. None can tell what yonder Count
Frederick will do, for at least he does
rot lack courage. And now he will be
eager for revenge against Us for the
danger in which we have placed him."
1T was a danger ehared by all those
who engaged IN the struggle for the
own hands. We brought it to the very
edge of our throne; 1t was in our coun-
try when they took it once more"
Yes, and those persons were persons
that had no more at stake than YOU
have. Count Cachio," broke in Cortis.
law with the cold wrath his officers
knew So we'll. Have they more reason
for success than you? Are they o!
greater wit than yourself? BY the
Lord, if those things be so. it's time We
had better wits about us than such a:
yours.
Cacho hung his head, but found M
speech in answer, and the King wen
Listen, now"
of his court, and held out before hin
in his palm the half coin which ha,
come into his possession. See wha
this says-.t talks of trea sure--treasure
We know that the Gretzhoffen treasur
is enormous-we know that it is con
Cealed in the torture chamber. what
eyer or wherever that may be- II Rey1n Htrn
half of the coin alone that can tell u
what we covert now. This half hu
whcts our anger, and we have nothin
to STAY that anger until We have tn
matc for It.
nov. my nohlcmen. you who pre-
tcnd to serve me and this people
once more | warn y0u-Nonder hal
coin. or your rcsiEnations---or YOU
heads. At times I am Careless--eVeI
precipitate. Eut he sure will hav.
few qualms. whatever | may do. VIII
this coin we can add a kingdom "
our own, nnd a Kingdoms treesurers
Without il there is no kingdom 70
me, and no place for any Of you, G'
then, make your rlnns, and rest ;"
longer. with mere plans. Excuses vii
not avail with CortislaW of GrahoneI
longer. What. shnll all of Nou--shn'
I-be defeated by a woman Ou
with you. and say no more to me q
failure! Failure is the same as uil
faithfIlneSs to king"
His officials left him. all in stat
bordering upon CONSERVATION, 70
they knew that this king was not on
soon forGetful of his hatred or hi
revenge. They laid their heads &c
gether, SaChio desperately. anX Xioll
sAow, and tried their best to foT@elAA