The Washington times., 1915-10-26
THE BROKEN COIN
By EMERSON HoUGH.

, miliar as II was to them. They, knew
that this man would kill unless he
found that which he sought-the cap
tive but now rescued from the doom
Of fire.
him. and a right lusty contest direct
ly arose between these two factions
or tribes. whichever they may have
been. AS for Frederick himself. he
had not time for matters Of this sort
He hurried to hut after hut, tore
aside roof after roof. wall after wall.
hunting for the woman whom above
all things he most desired to see. He
did not find her. His questions brought
no response.
Drawn by n horsible suspicion Of
the meaning Of this fire built at the
brink OF the pit. he hurried thither to
join the group Of lingerers there, and
| now by mere chance found conhrma-
ton-and found hope as we'll
He saw the print of a small boot
heel In the sand. other footmarks Just
beyond-it was a trail. Yes, yes. she
| had been here. But the footprints
ceased. The trail ended as though
| Inc maker of IL had flown up into the
air. Beyond. the imprint Of large an j
misshapen feet still led.
! Count Frederick now turned saw
4 sgely upon these gibbering creatures
about him. and the meaning of his de =
mand was perfectly apparent to them.
threatening to throw them into the
hre which they had prepared for an
| other. he got from them shrieks of
protest. much shaking of the head in
denial. and much pointing on toward
| the Forest which lay ahead. Some
came to him and showed him the two
lines or footprints the one line con-
tinuing on. ami pointed to the forest,
follow.
With a new terror in his heart. vet
feeling a conviction that Kitty GRAY
still lived. he did not pause to wreak
present vengeance upon these crea
lures. but hurried on along the broke on
trail
The dogiike craft Of one or two q,
his own band OF savages aided him
now. Not stacking speed, they pointed
out where the trail ran. Now and
again Count Frederick could see or
the earth the imprint of the woman's
feet where for a time she had rest ed
! brink OF the abyss before which Kilt,
Gray so recently had stood. he saw
the double imprint again-where boti
captive and captor had stood and looked
The trail led on. and down, whittier
none could guess. Frederick of Gretz.
| hoifen did not stop to guess, but plung.
ed forward impulsively. Whoever OF
whatever might be this creature which
had carried her off. here at least was
his lair.
| The dusty floors of the cavern. III
bv the flare OF such torches as they
| FOUND ready for such work. still re-
| tained the record. Captor and captive
| mad walked here. Deeper and deeper
| into the caverns under the hill they
followed the trail. until at length the
distracted eyes of Count Frederick saw
on ahead something to give him pause
| He saw kitty Gray standing, alive, ap-
parently unhurt. in a vast apartment,
OF these hubterraneann vaults, Beyond
| the floor seemed to break off-to what
| depth he could not guess. No egress al
| either extremity OF the subterranean
| chamber could be seen from where he
stood. The trail led thither. to where
she stood-to where at her side stood
also a strange misshapen figure OF q
man. or what had been a man.
\ "Madcmoiselle"' cried Count Fred.
erick. high and clear. ''Courage!" and
! sprang forward.
i Now this strange creature that hat
brought Kitty Gray seemed to fame,
! himself about to be robbed of hi!
captive. For one moment he stooc
awaiting the onslaught OF Count Fred
cry he caught Kitty Gray up In hi,
arms again. pace or so. and sh,
was held SUSPENDED above the unknown
abyss which lay below. Menacingly
her captor turned upon his assailant q
face WHICH at least offered one con.
clusion
He made no coherent speech. but hi.
attitude spoke loud
Count Frederick halted. One steI
more. and the girl would be plunged
into eternity.
| (Continued Next Sunday\