The Washington times., 1915-11-21
TwENTY-sECOND INSTALL
MENT.
CHAPTER LXxvII.
The Treasure.

TOTB Wn1Cn DeIOT6 nOW uhu
smitten the souls Of both with
terror. two persons were bend
ing over in the light Of the candles.
which gave illumination.
~ Is here" said Count Frederick,
siancing at the little compass which he
had brought with him. "The northeast
lies there-it Is yonder. where sits yon-
der skeleton In the iron chair! That
was the last guard Of the king"
What shall we do7" gasped Kitty
Gray. Il dare not"
Nonsense! my dear. Fear?-why
should We feel lear? Yonder frieWl OF
ours has kept the place we'll and safely
seated there in his iron chair waiting
so long-ior u.s.
Kitty Gray. pale and disturbed. still
feeling u woman's terror at these grim
scenes about her. spoke with solemnity
:" her tones. He was waiting for I'D.
a''. ! justice. Sir Frederick, said
90. 70 shall have them. We will give
se Christian burial-shall we
..syer yon wish .haIl .i~I. be ID dons;,", ,s;;,,
take ali these poor victims away to
their last cot and let them lie In peace.
shall sal up this cavern here"
But Ione." he said: and 80 laid q
hand on the grinning guest In the iron
upright by metal bands which support
ed 1t. He found the ancient chair heavy
to move, but applying his great strength
at length. gently as he could. he shifted
chamber. formerly beneath the iron
chair, there showed dimly in the dust.
the outline of a steel plate. an iron ring
welded to its center Count FREDERICK
With Conviction. 1T was guarded well
See here-I doubt not this Is the lid
which covers what is below"
Yet even his strength failed to re-
part Of an old bar. pushed 1t through
the ring and put his strength to IT.
fait dust arose. the lid yielded slowly.
and at last fell back with clang upon
the rocky floor. Al the edge OF lns this
the edge Of another plate, close nttins;
"1t runs farther" exclaimed Count
Frederick "See-look what Is below -
forward with him 70 gaze down. Yes.
II, is here" said she. But look now
"softiy." said her companion. Let
is the grave Of a 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 cover @
they saw cavity filled with steel re.
ceptacies. Each was locked. clamped
and banded. tight against all Intrusion.
what is here?" said Count Freder.
ick Are we baffied even at the last?'
Kitty Gray cast the rays Of her light
here and there about her in the cavern
Gus Interior. BY chance her eyes
rested-indeed were drawn. fascinated,
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
the bones OF the forearm. -.
held 1t up before her. Cunning enough
was the man who hid this treasure. and
;s yet ons hs ist! is 1T plain for those he meant
He stopped and tried tho key In the
lock OF the central chest Of those which
lay below The next moment he had
Their eyes rested upon what would
have made glad the heart Of any buc.
cancer. Gold. countless pieces Of gold !!
Coins Of unknown mintags-5ewels that
sparkied-gold, that shone after all
Those who had owned them long ago
were dust, but these. the evidences--
the palpable. visible and enduring evi-
dences Of human toll. minted into gold
1t was the lost treasure Of the King!
They stood. awed. apellbound and
looked down at what they saw.
Il cannot lift the box" said Frederick.
edge down under here. II Is beyond be-
lief-millions and millions are here
and tewels-tewels-the world has not
seen their like! The treasures! MY God
such treasures have not been dreamed.
What does 1t mean-what will 1t not
mean?"
Yes" said the slow vSce Of Kitty
GRAY at his side. Liberty. Justice.
Peace. Happiness. what would II not
buy In homes and In content7 A. look
at It I fear not that We shall lose It,
wealth-what potency - what sisnifi-
cance u here"'
And you" said Count Frederick,
turning to her after a time. without
you. this could not have been. With
you, It has happened. The treasure Is
not mine or yours-but ours-and 1t Is
for our people"
He could not see the glance which she
turned him. uncertain, wistful. implor-
ina. 49, u
close these chests and make It all Sc
cure We have seen enough. This treas
ure Is not ours. 1t belongs to Gretzhof-
fen. The parliament must be called
the ministers must be summoned into
council. Before them I shall place the
story Of what you and have done
But look yonder.' said Kitty. pluck
Ing at mis- sleeve-her hand had grasped
Il comforta blv for many moments now.
for she took comfort In the touch even
Of his clothing. the presence Of the
hulk OF his body near her. Look. Sir
Frederick" said she. what Is that in
this chest below?"
He bent over. casting down the CLEANS
Of his little light. What he saw was a
long package OF folded parchments
thrust down to the side OF the chest.
Gently ne drew Il out and held IL In his
hands for a moment, regarding It curl
ously.
II shall not open H." said he. with
YOU 7 feel a certain fear. I believe here
II something come down to us out OF
the past-some message from the King.
II this be so. It belongs not to me. but
TO the people. 1t must go before their
dulv constituted rulers"
He placed the parchment In his
breast and gently closed down the steel
lids which covered the cavity. Even he
lifted gently back to its place the sea ted
skeleton. its arms now wide. its palms
turned upward as though In rest. It's
vigil was ended at last. The secret OF
tho Broken Coin was known.