The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-12-24
OQ0N0GHE LsIJ 81
kyTYGHT & RfTZERS1H

broken. | wish 10 know / all. / am
Informed that you have seen both
halves Of this coin, and therefore know
the entire message. Read Il 10 me at
once"
Kitty took the coin In her hand az
though to study Il, but swiftly put her
W hand behind her back as she
ciutched Il.
ut is my property" said she stout.
". Not even a king can take away
property without course Of law"
Even a king was astonished al the
ehfrontery OF the young girl-who held
her possession until two sturdy guards
forced the coin from her hand. The
king smiled at her. a somewhat tooth
less smile.
so you value Il? Many do. We are
willing to pay for what we have, una.
demoiselle-and the message OF this
coin we mean to have. Give Il to us.
snd you shall be set free"
Your majesty IL liberal-you offer
what is already mine-the right to
liberty. But what you ask is impos.
sible for me. True, | have seen each
nalf Of the coin even l saw both
halves at one time-but never have ]
read the entire inscription"
But you have seen both halves"
went on Cortislaw. Tell me. what
was on the other half"
Your majesty. ! cannot-I do not
know"
by the saints OF our fathers ex.
claimed Cortislaw, III this were In the
olden days the torture chamber should
10y y?u something. But now"
THE torture could wiring oniy de,
ceptlon from me, your majesty, aLd
that deception would be Of no service
20 you. ! have told you the truth
aud that alone can serve you Give
me my liberty again--and then per-
haps ! might learn more OF the other
half Of the coin"
The girl argues Well" said Cortis.
law. II am not sure whether OF not
she speaks truth. but her argument
goes to the same thing IN either case.
Let her 90 under guard-perhaps
HbAAfAhAAh Ahag a. W klNb w AhAN
Their insight into this.
"As for you, Count Sachio. you have
not yet succeeded In what was asked OF
you-you have not yet taught us
where lies the hidden treasure of
GretzhOneni"
Your majesty" replied the count.
reddening, 1T is but inafyertence,
which shall be amended. In my zeal
I fancied your majesty would rather
have this young roman than to have
the other half OF the coin. To secure
that may require yet more time"
The king fixed on him the cold smile
which his courtiers had learned to
dread. yet he could not fail TO see the
shrewdness Of Sachio's reply.
AT least guard her, then" said he
dryly. she shall be our guest until
We learn more OF what she knows. Il
means too much to forego the full
reading OF that coin these days. |
mean to have It. l trust all my officers
will realize that fact"
"Mademoiselle," said Sachio 70 Kit
~. later, when she had been with.
drawn to quarters which virtually
were to prove a prison to her, You
have heard what the king has said
he will allow you to return TO your
own country unframed II you but help
him TO the meaning OF that inscription.
What is Il to you? Il is only idle curl
osity brings you hither. With us II
may mean the life VI death Of our
country"
Kitty gave herself up IN certain re-.
fections at the time. As TO wal be-
tween the two kingdoms. II II came,
why should she aid Grahoffen against
the country with which she had be
come mere familiar7 Neither had
done her much courtesy. true. but for
some strange reason her sympathies
we're not with the oour ~ governed
by this irascible and unlCvely king.
Think well. mademoiselle," went
on Sachio. IT is a long way from here
70 your country. The coin can mean
but little 60 you at best"
1T may mean much to me-" broke
out Kitty suddenly, Listen. This
coin ia not the property OF youi king
or OF that other king. 1t is thu prop
eriy Of the people Of these countries.
Il seekE to tell them It's story-not 10
any king for his selfish purposes-but
II seeks TO make known It's appeal for
justice and liberty. What, think you
the people will forever be content to
remain a shuttlecock between you
two?"
A moment later and he had left
her once more 10 her own devices.