The Washington times., 1915-07-18
FOURTH INSTALLMENT.
CHAPTER XVI.
If Your Majesty Please.

now had left the dancing floor and
i gathered in groups at a respectful
distance from royalty, Kitty re-
ceived the envelope from the messenger
the same packet which she had her
self sent to the palace that morning for
delivery at midnight
She did this with fine air Of insonci-
ance. for she felt quite sure that sue
cess now had met all her plans nor
did the outward appearance Of tho
packet afford any reason to suspect
otherwise.
Yet. even as she took the envelope in
her hand. there came to her a sharp
conviction that something was wrong.
1t had strange lightness-it did not
seem quite the same as when she her
self had sealed It that morning; Hasti-
ly, she opened the envelope, her lips
compressed. 1t was empty!
Yes. the mysterious coin was gone
Entrusted to the safest messenger she
could find sent to the king himself re-
ceived by the kings trusted Official
guarded. as was to be supposed, every
moment of the time since it had left her
hands-none the less, the coin had dis
q pearad Is though some specter hand
had distracted it.
The blank look Of surprise which
came to her face was something not to
be mistaken. King Michael frowned
What is this, mademoiselle-are we
made the subject of some sport? How
Count Frederick himself. who stood
nearby, was quite as much surprised as
Kitty at the denouement Of this little
play which had been devised by her.
Had his own man then lied to him
had he also been made the subject Of
some jest? For 1t may be remembered
that he himself had taken means of
his own to secure possession Of the
coin before it could reach the hands Of
the king.
Kitty stood regarding first one, then
the next Of the faces about her. On
the countenance Of Count Frederick
equal to her own. There was no trace
Of guilty knowledge there-she was
sure Of that. Whatever had been his
own plans in regard to the elusive bit
Of metal. surely his desires had been
Then another hand had come into the
game! Some other mind also was in
terested in the mysterious coin Of
Gretzhoffen. Yet other Vaccinations
were to be added to those, so obvious.
OF the drama of the coin and its rapid
ly changing ownership.
what then. mademoiselle?' de-
manded Michael. himself not yet SO
fully advised as others regarding the
nature Of this packet which had been
, intended for him. What was 1t that
us?"
, Kitty dared not answer this direct
question. She concluded quickly that
1t would be far safer to add as little
rs possible to the number Of those who
knew the full story Of the travelling
coin.
have made any man forget all else
1T was nothing! 1t was but a small
favor would have sent your majesty,
to show the acknowledgement OF my
own country. since your majesty has
done such honor to me tonight. Per-
haps some one in my humble menage
has been unfaithful-if SO, 1t was but
small loss after all II your majesty
will forget IT and give me a few
added days Of grace, I will explain-I
fortune"
Michael was ready enough to agree
to anything which would bring back
to his society this dazzling young
over. he was mentally weary by now.
this being due in part to the enforced
sobriety Of the evening. He ever was
willing to avoid anything difficult Of
solution. and now was ready to turn
to themes less exciting than this play
OF wits.
Very we'll. mademoiselle." said he.
"as you like"
certain relief was felt by all con-
cerned. as now he turned and made
u,
who stood. baton poised. Once more
the voices of the reeds and brasses
swept the throng with them. These
people, themselves emotional, and
thing Of the tense nature of the times,
were glad enough to find relief in the
swift measures of the dance. More
over. as they danced, they might gos-
sip; and surely. strange scenes had
with us. excellenza?" The king
young American, of whose origin. ne
knew. and apparently cared to know,
Of all. Michael at least could dance,
and as for Kitty. she was an American
girl.
AS they swept on in the evolut,ons
the dark face of Count sachio. he
himself was not dancing. hut stood
aioof, at the edge of the space occu-
pied by the dancers. His eyes were
which she could not fathom
That she had earned this mans dis
like. or at least. she had deeply hurt
his masculine vanity. Kitty was well
could not quite account for the strange s
expression on his face, as he gazed
intently at her. and her royal part
ner; She jumped at the conclusion lnat
sachio himself also had some interest
what or how much she could not al
vine--in this same troublesome com
Yes. Sachio, also had been on obser-
yer in this little drama but now en-
acted. He was watching her-she must
watch him.
AS for King Michael, he was extra
ordinarily sober; which. In his case.
was equivalent to saying that he was
not extraordinarily happy. He had s-iIl
in mind what he rated as the treach-
cry Of Count Frederick. who had In
tAoAsd to make him intoxicated that