The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-12-24
TWENTY-SECOND INSTALL
MENT
CHAPTER LxxvI.
The Treasure.

Deep within that chamber of horrors
which before now had smitten the
souls of both with terror, two persons
were bending over in the light of the
candles, which gave a faint illumina-
ton.
1T is here said Count Frederick,
glancing at the little compass which
he had brought with him. 1.-THE north
east lies there-it is yonder, where
sists yonder skeleton in the iron chair!
That was the last guard of the king"
What shall we do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. II dare not"
Nonsensei my dear. Fear?-why
should we feel fear? Yonder friend of
ours has kept the place well and safe
ly-seated there in his iron chair
waiting so long-for us!"
Kitty Gray, pale and disturbed, still
feeling woman's terror at these grim
scenes about her, spoke with solemn
ty in her tones. "He was waiting for
liberty and Justice, Sir Frederick"
said she. "He shall have them. We
will give all these Christian burial
shall we not?"
Whatever you wish shall be DONE"
said Count Frederick. Eyes, we will
take all these poor victims away to
their last rest and let them lie in
peace. l shall seal up this cavern
here"
But come" he said; and so laid a
hand on the grinning guest in the iron
chair. The bony frame was confined
upright by metal bands which support
ed it. He found the ancient chair
heavy to move. but applying his great
strength; at length, gently as he could,
he shifted it to one side. On the floor
of the chamber, formerly beneath the
iron chair, there showed diEly in the
dust the outline of steel plate, an
iron ring welded to its center. Count |
Frederick pointed. This is the place"
said he, with conviction. 1T was |
guarded well. See here-I doubt not |
this is the lid which covers what is be-
low"
Yet even his strength failed to re-
move the covering. He found at last
part of an old bar, pushed it through |
the ring and put his strength to it. A
faint dust arose, the lid yielded slowly,
and at last fell back with a clang upon
the rocky floor. At the edge of this
newly made aperture there showed
the edge of another plate, close fit
ting.
1T runs farther" exclaimed Count
Frederick. "See-look what is be-
low!"
Kitty, overcoming her terror, bent
forward with him to gaze down. Eyes.
it is here" said she. But look how
much there Isl"
Softly" said her companion. Let
us open this cavern more widely. Here
is the grave of giant treasure-I had
not dreamed what really it was"
Carefully he pushed in and under
the edge of the bar, removing plate
after plate of that which had been the
covering of the treasure place. Below
this, they saw a cavity filled with 6
steel receptacles. Each was locked,
and banded, tight against all
intrusion
What is here?' said Count Fred t
erick. "Are we baff1ed even at the I
Iast?'
Kitty Gray cast the rays of her e
light here and there about her in the
cavernous interior. BY chance her c
eyes rested-indeed were drawn, fas- f
cinated. to the skeleton which sat n
bent forward in the iron chair. A dull @
CLEAN of something like metal caught
Ter eye q
Look" said she. and pointed. There, a
astened by metal band to the wrist
vas key-it was half hidden be- q
Look" said Count Frederick, and =,
leld it up before her Cunning :,
nough was the man who hid this n
reasure, and yet he left it plain for -
hose he meant to find it."
He stopped and tried the KEY in the !.
ock of the central chest of those =
yhich lay below. The next moment | ~
e had flung back the lid. -
Their eyes rested upon what would i.
ave made glad the heart of any buc- ', y
aneer. Gold, countless pieces OF u
old! W
It was the lost treasure of the king! "
They stood, awed, spellbound and ne
'oked down at what they saw. n
But look yonder." said Kitty, pluck IN
lg at his slceve-her hand had an
rasped 1t comfortably for many mo-
ents now, for she took comfort in I'M
le touch even of his clothing, the KIN
-esence Of the bulk of his body near va
sr. Look, Sir Frederick" said she, ha
What is that in this chest below" Re
He bent over, casting down the CHI
cams OF his little light. What he X
" was Z long package OF folded to