The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-31
CHAPTER XVII.
The Counterfeit Coin.

The Counterfeit Colin.
Count Frederick finally aroused
himself from the apathy Of inaction
in which Kitty's sudden disappearance
had left him. Now he learned that
the message from the king asked his
attendance at the palace as soon as
might be. The king had, it seemed, a
communication which he desired to
make to Count Frederick at once.
"Confound his royal highness!" ex-
claimed Frederick to himself. II never
leave him but he asks me back at
once. He is always in some trouble,
and am ill-disposed now to be nurse
to any king. for have affairs of my
own to trouble me sufficiently"
Nevertheless, grumbling, he went
his way to the palace, for the royal
will was something not yet at least to
be set aside
Good! Count Frederick" Michael
greeted him. 81 asked your return be-
cause of a sudden thought that had
come to my mind"
"As to what, your majesty? Did 1t
come to you alone, unassisted?"
The king was too much preoccupied
to concern himself with sarcasm.
Eyes, assuredly. 1t is regarding the
coin"
THE coin! thought your majesty
cared little for it-so little that you
gave it away unasked to one who is
not even of our country-a stranger
the young American"
Precisely. That Is true. And had
cause for my act. But, see you, one
does not make gifts unrequited. Now
the young American has disappeared,
and so has the coin. Perhaps, rather
/ should reverse that, and say that the
coin has disappeared and with 1t the
young American. At least, that is to
say-they both are gone. So ! sent
for you, my dear Frederick, to ask you
to find the coin for me-"
That seems simple, your majesty!
Even though do not know where the
young girl Is"
THAT is why ask you, my dear
count"
agreed then, your majesty. or
what use is a servant Of the king II
he cannot do the kings will? ac'
cept your errand. l will soon return
to you the coin-at least, l hope So
After all, perhaps it has no such value
as you seem to Think am sure 1t has
less value for you than other things
that we might MENTION
Count Frederick did not add aloud
what was in his own mind-the truth
that the coin had more value fol
him than he at any time before now
had believed.
Presently he excused himself from
the royal presence and departed tc
, put into effect a little plan of his own
: which he fancied might blunt botf
J horns of this dilemma into which the
naiyete of King Michael so suddenly
: had placed him.
, AS luck would have 1t, there hat
been thrown into his hands the kings
half of the coin.
| Count Frederick thought for mo
, ment before he made a plan. TheI
, he made a hurried journey to Ger
tain silversmith in whose skill he hat
much confidence.
5 Make me-" he said as he laid upol
= the counter his piece of the COIN
replica of this-absolutely line TO
t line, so that l myself cannot tell tn
two apart. Do you hear me? Can
e be done?"
t Yves, excellency," said the workman
sit can be done-so nicely that | my
8 self scarcely could tell them apart"
il Then quick with it," said Coun
d Frederick. How. soon?"
by tomorrow, excellency, l promis
r you a duplicate"
o 1t was therefore on the MORO
# that Count Frederick was able ono
II more to visit the royal palace with
a mind more at peace with circun
1t stances. With him he carried whi
fl was apparently the kings half of tn
d coin which he had given to the youn
is American so carelessly, and whic
d. now at once he coveted again-sint
the young American herself was gon
W 80 soon!" exclaimed Michael. "Yc
II are the acme of punctiliousness al
~ efficiency, my dear count. You al
indeed a man of results Go now
Ii. nv cabinet again and help yourself
of such Jewels as you fancy"
a mo more, your majesty, l thai
IS YOU. If | have been of service l a
I'd pleased. Jewels are not for me. TIL
-~T~~~-~~-~~~~~~~~~o~~~~~~-"~