The Washington times., 1915-07-12
THE BROKEN COIN
BY EMERSON HOUGH.

purpose And how long she might thus
remain mono could tell.
Shes at alone. helpless. unanswered in
spite Of her pounding on the door, her
weary-until the shades Of night came.
She turned on the full battery Of tho
electric lights, but found the illuminA-
ton did 81 not astrset from tns her g%n TSn
Sor She az ser esSsn SsSn Ths
great black and white ball was now in
progress at tho winter palace across
the city. She was not there. Her
fortunes lay in the hands Of others.
She was O prisoner. What could sne
She went to the window and looked
out into the night. All the court was
dark-save ono window directly below
her on the opposite sde. fifteen feet
esSw sep EVEN ss' sss looked os
at 1t she saw q face thrust out-a
face upturned toward her.
"Roleau" she exclaimed. Can 1t be
possible2" ''' D..
Each now revealed to the other by
the strong lights OF tho room shining
might be called at such a distance.
"Rolcau' help me" CITY Extended tended
er here-they have locked me in-there
10 no way out. Help mel"
Roleaus own presence in the palace
she did not at tho moment undertake
to explain, As matter Of fact, no
had but that day como in from tho
camp OF tho banditti where he had
been retained. Not finding his bono
factress at tho hotel he had for reasons
OF his own decided to search the pai-
mitted as usual-for the servants or
Count Frederick had known nothing
OF these main events OF the last few
days. and so still supposed him OF the
household force-Roleau had used his
acquaintance with the palace to make
search from room to room. He knew
for 30 one OF the servants had told
h!m-that the young woman was some
where In this wing OF the apartmenr.
Wandering As best he could and suli sulii
found himself IN this little room aoross
the court from her. When she turned
on the light he moro than half suspeor-
ed that at last he had located her.
and COW her standing outlined in the
! brilliant lghts.
Wait" he cried. Il will show YOU"
An iron grating. with the stairs OF 9
, OF Roleau's window, He came out upor
this. braced his legs across. and bach
rnder the rail. and held out his might,
arms.
| One instant OF hesitation. and Kit,
+ Gray would have lacked the courage
But she left 1t too late to hesitate
Dreading that which lay ahead less thar
that which was behind. without an In
stant's pondering she aprang out ant
down.
she felt the fiutter Of her drapery a
she fell wondering for an instant Jus
| vaguely whether she had sprung ov
! far enough, then suddenly felt the grtI
| Of two Iron hands at her waist. 6h'
swnyed down. horself OF comfortable
weight enough, but the giant hands ant
arms that held her gavs down bu
enough to ease the impact Of her fall
An instant later she was on the irol
grating and into the window, and Ro
leau, Caunt. unshavon. smiling. he
friend and rescuer. had led her to tn
door.
Come" ha said. and without paus
Ing for any discussion. he hurried out
she following. A moment. later the;
were. In the open eir-she walkinl
slowly and demurely. he following re
thom could havo guessed thoir late ex
perlence.
ut Is lnto. Roleau," whispered Kit
back TO him, "It 10 eleven o. o'olock, IN
king goes to the great ball at midnight
Hurry, I must be thore. Quick"
u But they caught taxi a few mo
mcnts later as they turned tho neares
corner, and soon Kitty wea at tho Ritz
Luckily for her she knew hor gown
nood no trying or fitting, A maid O
tho hotel helped hor into Il. At quar-
te, before twolve hor car left at to
speed for tho winter palace. where tn
Rrcat ball OF the king oven then was /
proRroea.