The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-12-17

attendance at the palace as soon %
might be. The klng had. Il seenod .
communication which he desired 70
make TO Count Frederick at once.
'Confound his royal %highnoFsi" ~.
claimed Frederick to himself - Rever
leave him but he asks me bach NJ
once. He is always In some trcBblh
and { am l%ll.disposed now 10 BE- nuIpt
TO any king, for ! have AFFAIRS q ny
uwn 10 trouble me sufficiently
Nevertheless. grumbling, he vent
his way to the palace. for the royal
VIII was something o yet az leati a.
be set aside.
Coed, Count Frederick" Mithati
greeted him. u asked your rctarn b.
nause Of a sudden thought that bad
come 10 my mind"
"As TO what, your majesty? nid 81
come 10 you alone, unassisted?'
The king was too much proocCuTitd
TO concern himself with sarcasm.
"Yes. assuredly. It is regarding the
coin"
Tho coin! ! thought your majesty
cared little for it--so little that yoG
gave It away unasked to one who t.
not even Of our country--a stringor--
the young American"
Precisely. That Is true. And had
cause for my act. But, see you. .
does not make gifts u|nrequited. Nov
the young American has disappeared,
and 30 has the coin. Perhaps. rather,
should reverse that, and say that The
coin has disappeared and with u tbe
young American. AZ least, that II 10
spy-they both are gone. SO semi
for you, my dear Frederick, 70 ten me
Nhat to do"
The nobleman stood for a moment
out half %concealing his real feelings
gauging the man before him, this ini
tation OF a king.
She was a most charming Young
person" began the king, trying 70
conceal his o%n thoughts. 10 you
not think such hair as hers Is rarcT
Rare, indeed, your majesty she is
In all things rare suddenly *
claimed the count
And where is she gone
II DC not know have no idea"
But you can find her-you certainly
can bring her back"
Il hope e, your majesty hope II
very much. But then, as to the cUiDf'
he added, somewhat maliciously-i0r
he knew well enough where sat the
wind in royal quarters.
"Oh. yes, about the coin. Wen. !
was only going 10 ask you to Ind II
for me-
THAT seems simple. your majesty
Even though do not know whore the
young girl u.s."
That is Why | ask you, r. t,aT
count"
Agreed then your majesty OF
what use is a servant OF the k.ne n
he cnnnot do the kings will? } &C
ccpt your errand will soon TCturn
to you the coin-at least, ! hope SO.
After all, perhaps Il has no such value
as you seem to think-l am sure il has
less value for YOU than other things
that We might mention
Count Frederick did not add aloud
what was in his own mind-tha Truth
that The coin had more yalgc fnr
him than he at any time before ros
had believed.
Presently he excused himself from
the royal presence aud departed TO
put into effect a little plan Of his own
which he ranciod might blunt io'h
horns OF this dilemma INTO which tie
uaivcte OF King Michael So suddenly
had placed him
As luck would have It, there had
been thrown into his hands Tie hing 3
half OF tile coin,
Count Frederick thought for . no.
ment before he made a plan. Then
he made a hurried journey to a Ger
tain silversmith in whose skill he had
much confidence.
Make me- he said as he laid upon
the counter his piece OF the coin-"a
replica OF this-absolutely. line for
line, 30 that ] myself cannot tell the
two apart. Do YOU hear me? Can II
be- doue?'
Yes, exoelloncy." said the workman,
Z. can be donc-so nicely that ] my
. self scarcely could tell them apart
. "Th,n quick with IT," SAID Count
/, Trcdori,k. How soon?'
: 'Iy tomorrow. Cxccllency, ] promise
? YOU n duplicate"
= II was therefore on the morrow
mat Count Frederick Vas able once
7. more TO visit the royal palace with a
! mind more at peace with circum'
stances. with him he carried what
vas apparently the kings half Of the
! ,oin which he had given to the young
American so carelessly. and which
now at once be coveted again-sinct
8 he young American herself was gone
80 soon!" exclaimed Michael You
I are the acme o. punctiliousness anc
E efficiency. my dear count. You ART
indeed Il man OF results. Go now &c
/. my cabinet again and help yourself e
n Hss.l. F....N. IA. ..a FD.-.s %