The Washington times., 1915-08-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Counterfeit Coin.

self from the apathy or inaction in
which Kttiys sudden disappearance had
left him. Now he learned that the mes
sage from the King asked his attend
ance at the palace as soon as might be.
The King had. 1t seemed. communi-
cation which he desired to make to
Count Frederick at once.
"Confound his royal highness!" ex-
claimed Frederick to himself. II never
leave him but he asks me back at
once. He is always In some trouble.
and I am ill-disposed now to be nurse
to any King. for I have affairs Of my
own to trouble me sufficiently"
Nevertheless. eraumbling. he went his
way to the palace. for the royal will
was something not yet at least to be
Coed! Count Frederick" Michael
greeted him. II asked your return be-
cause of a sudden thought that had
come to my mind"
come to you alone. una ssisted?"
The king was too much preoccup!ed
to concern himself with sarcasm.
Yes. assuredly. 1t is regarding the
The coin! thought your majesty
cared little for it--so little that you
gave 1t away unasked to one who is
not even OF our country-a stranger
the young American"
Precisely. That is true. And had
does not make gifts unrequited. Now
the young American has disappeared.
and so has tho coin. Perhaps, rather,
COIN 'Ha has e AND and s hnt hs
young American. At least, that Is to
say-they both are gone. So I sent for
io You do'' my dear Frederick. to tell me what
The nobleman stood for a moment
but half concealing his real feeling
gauging the man before him. this imita-
ton Of a king.
She was most charming young per.
his own thoughts. DO you not think
Rare. indeed. your majesty-she is
N all things rare'" suddenly exclaimed
And where is she gone?".
u do not know have no idea"
can bring her back"
very much. But then, as to the coin p
he added. somewhat maliciously-for he
knew well enough where sat the wind
In royal quarters.
| only going to ask you to find it for me. y
That seems simple, your majesty
Even Even though ,i, ! do not know where the
count"
Agreed then. your majesty. ofwhaj
use is a servant of the king II he can:
not 40 the kings will? I accept your
coin-at least. 1 hope SO. After all. per.
haps 1t has no such value as you seem
to think--I am sure It has less value for
you than other things that we nigh,
| mention"
Count Frederick did not add aloud
what was in his own mind-the truth
that the coin had more value for him
than he at any time before now had
believed.
Presently he excused himself from the
royal presence and departed to put into
effect little plan of his own which h,
| tancied might blunt both horns of thi.
dilemma into which the naivete of KIM
Michael SO suddenly had placed him.
king his dS own ne, ha Of the to e sve
no more would he have proposed to re
turn the kings half of the coin wer,
that in his possession-which was no
| the case. Yet he must return something
thing which the king would recogniz,
as his own. He could not shift the TIVE
halves of theS Suddenly, as h,
realized TrIissio this BE difficulty. Coun
| as part of the struggle In his room
| BY mere accident the transpositton hat
| been altogether In his favor-this wa
| not the half of the coin which he ha,
which she had brought from Americs
| with her. No. as luck would have it
there had been thrown into his hand
the kings half Of the coin!
Count Frederick thought for a mo
ment before he made a plan. Then h
rersmith in whose skill he had mucl
confidence.
Make me-" he said, as he laid upol
the counter his piece OF the coin-'i