Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1915-12-17
TWENTY-SECOND INSTALL
MENT
CHAPTER LXXVI.
The Treasure.

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 faint illumina
ton.
1T is here" said Count Frederick
glancing at the little compass which
he had brought with him. "The north
east lies there-it is yonder, where
sists yonder skeleton in the iron chair!
What shall we do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. II dare not"
Nonsense, 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 u.s."
Kitty Gray, pale and disturbed, still
feeling woman's terror at these grim
scenes about her, spoke with solemni
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 tC
their last rest and let them lie in
peace. l shalt 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 dimly in the
dust the outline of a steel plate, an
iron ring welded to it's center Count
Frederick pointed. This is the place,
said he, with conviction. 1T was
guarded we'll. See here-I doubt not
low"
Yet even his strength failed to re-
move the covering He found at last
a part of an old bar, pushed it through
the ring and put his strength to 1t. A
faint dust arose, the lid yielded slowly,
and at last fell back with 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,
1t 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 1t 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
steel receptacles. Each was locked
clamped and banded, tight against all
intrusion.
What is here?" said Count Fred
erick. Are we baffled even at the
last?'
Kitty Gray cast the rays of heI
light here and there about her in the
cavernous interior. BY chance hel
eyes rested-indeed were drawn, fas
cinated, to the skeleton which sat
bent forward in the iron chair. A dull
CLEAN of something like metal caught
her eye.
Look" said she, and pointed. There
fastened by a metal band to the wrist
was a key-it was half hidden be
tween the bones of the forearm.
Look" said Count Frederick, ant
held it up before her. Cunning
enough was the man who hid thi:
treasure, and yet he left it plain fol
those he meant to find it."
He stopped and tried the key in the
lock of the central chest of those
which lay below. The next momen
he had flung back the lid.
Their eyes rested upon what would
have made glad the heart OF any buc
cancer. Gold, countless pieces o
gold
II was the lost treasure Of the king
They stood. awed, spellbound AM
looked down at what they saw.
"But look yonder." said Kitty, pluck
ing at his sleeve-her hand has
grasped 1t comfortably for many me
ments now, for she took comfort II
the touch even of his clothing, tn
presence of the bulk of his body nea
her. Look, Sir Frederick" said she
"whst is that in this chest below?
He bent over, casting down tn
cleans of his little light. What b
saw was q long package OF foide