The Washington times., 1915-10-24
THE. ROKEN COIN

many other things left undcclared1
bngrossed In such thoughts az these,
Count Frederick did not note that the
Iaithfui Roleau had become separated
from him In tho confusion following the
landing from the boat. In truth. ko.
Ieau, exhausted as he was, hirDself had
noted but little Of what had gone on.
Finding himself finally left practically
search of food and water. while mean
time Frederick was accompanied, cy a
party OF natives up the beach and into
the village which served as headqiar-
ne was brought before the chief. From
inc look OF him and his subjects. Count
frederick fancied himself to be Oh an
island somewhere of the African coast.
Whethcr these people were friends
or foes he could not toll at first. Tor he
understood neither their language nor
their gcsticulations. but It occurred to
him that whichever they might be 1t
would not be nmiss for him TO impress
Them with a feeling OF his own power.
lie could not tell whether or not tney
were familiar with the ecct Of firearms.
nut recalled all he had read of the
terror inspired In savage minds by the
use OF such weapons. He drew from
ried. and looked about him for some
object at which to aim. Whether or
wero familiar with the effect OF fire
arms. but recalled all he had read OF the
put he was satisfied they did not rec
oRnizc the power of the little automatic
pistol which he carried.
A Wild duck was floating In the la
Coon not far away. and at this Count
FREDERICK took careful aim. and hred
NTH ~ !. the extraordinary good luck to
XIII II outright. This feat brought out a
most ludicrous activity amongst the ma
themselves before him, clnsped his
knees. and laid their foreheads upon
the earth even as Man Friday had In
the presence OF Crusoe OF old. Obvious
ly they wcr" disposed to curry favor
with him now. and not to attack him.
AZ for himself. possessed only OF such
ammunition as remained in his single
cartridge clip. he assumed such attitude
as he fancied would best display him
Hs q conqueror-although In truth he
felt himself far from such.
They led him through the village TO a
place where he was offered food and
watcr-both now tmperatircly cravcd
by his starved body Having eaten and
drunk. he felt his hold on life Increase.
felt increase also his desire to live. lie
settled himself down now with GER
tain fortitudc to meet what fate might
bring him next. and TO ponder OH what
he really wished to do.
Unable to understand what was dc
sired OF him. and indifferent as to TN"
meaning OF the colloquy going on about
him. for some time his interest In life
and It's affairs was so lax that he paid
no attention to anything that was hap
pening. At length. however. h" noticed
something which caused him to tax" a
sudden and eager interest In his sur
rou ndings.
Two men came running. evidently
bearers Of news Of some Importance. as
could bc proved by tn" reception given
, their hurried story. But what was that
story
There Is a certain virtue IN necessity
Itself. There is q certain common de-
nominator In human emotions. There
Ia perhaps a certain unrecognized com
| mon dcnominator In human expression
Of human emotions-some universal Ian
e. age. whether OF word or gesture. or
OF the unspoken telepathic quality OF
stood not one word OF his lanGuag"
| v hich he heard. yet he kncw-bcS aus"
he must know-somethin2 of the sub
ject which these persons were discuss
ing.
The men had come far-one could tclI
that. their looks proved II. They had
seen something stragc. something ch.
traordinary had happened. some event
OF Interest or Importance had occurred.
else they would not have come so fast
and 70 far. This was easy enough 10
reason out. -,
What was that event What could
happen out OF the ordinary on this
desert island. unless II were something
zon OF that island-say. n shipwreck. or
the landing on these shores OF some
survivor such as he himself had been?
| That would explain these hurried mes-
scngers But II that were true. who
or what was the survivor or the adven..
turcr discovered In distant part OF
this same land? Was II a man or men.
was II a woman or women? What was
the meaning Of these excited ejacula-
! tions these gestures. these contortions
| Guessing rather than knowing. Count
Frederick fanci"d that these men were
| telling about o woman who Ike himself
had been cast up by the waves.
The keen intentness OF the whit"
mans brain. for countless generations
trained In logic and analysis. Infinitely
superior to the mentality Of these half
b-utes about him. served to force itself
into some COMPREHENSION OF what might
almost az well have bsSn an unspokcn
thought on the part OF these 'thers.
The eye Of the white man kindled. the
figure OF the white man straightencd
! lie knew. They were trying TO tell
| that they had found woman ship
wrecked and cast upon this island.
Ito be continued tomorrow