The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-11-26
FOURTH lNSTALLMENT
XIV.
u Your Majesty please.

now q lett the dancing uoOr n
gathered in groups at a respectful dis.
lance from royalty, Kitty received the
envelope from the messcuger-thc
same packet which she had herself
sent to the palace that morning for
delivery at midnight.
She did this with n fine air OF In
souCiance. for she felt quite sure that
success now had met all her plans
nor did the outward appearance Of
the packet afford any reason to sus.
pect otherwise.
Yet, even as she took tho envelope
in her hand. there came "a her n sharp
conviction that something was wrong.
It had a strange lightness-it did not
seem quite the same as when she her
self had sealed 1t that morning Has.
tily, she opened the envelope. her lips
compressed It was empty
Yes. the mystericus coin was gone.
Entru"tod tn the safest messenger she
could find sent TO the king himself
received by the kings trusted official;
guarded, as vas to be suppose |, every
moment Of tho time since Il had left
her handsome the less. the coin had
disappeared as though gome specter
hand had distracted It,.
The blank book OF surprise which
came to her face rs something not to
be mistaken. King Michael frowned.
What Is this. madcmnisCllo-are We
made the subject OF some sport? How
now?"
Kitty stood regarding first orc. then
the next OF the faces about her. On
the countenance OF Count Frederick
she read only Chlgrin and surprise
equal TO her own. There was ne
trace Of guilty know ledge thorc-shr
was sure OF that. Then another
hand had come into the game! Some
other mind also was interested In the
mysterious coin Of Grc'zhOffen.
what then, mademoisellc?" 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 It that
you we're so good ms to intend sending
us?"
Kitty dared not answer this direct
question She concluded quickly that
II would be far safer to add as little
AZ possible to the number OF those
who knew the full story Of the travel
ing coin
Your majesty" said she, turning
upon him so dazzling a smile as would
have made any man forget all else
It was nothing! II was but n small
favor | would have sent your majesty
10 show the acknowledgment OF my
own country. since your majesty has
done such honor to me tonight. Per
maps in my humble menage
has been unfaithml II 81. it was but
small loss after all. II your majesty
will forget II aud give me IA few added
days OF grace, ! will EXPLAIN will
Try again. / hope with greater for.
tune"
Michael was ready enough to ngree
10 anything which would bring back
10 his society this dazzling young crea.
tuTs who stood beside him,
Very well, mademoisclle.' said he,
as you like"
A certain relief was felt By all con.
cerned. as now he turned and made
A sign to the leader Of the orchestra.
who stood, baton poised.
with us, e~xcellenza?" The king OF
iered his arm. The king and the
Young American. Of whose origin he
knew and apparently cared tn know
nothing whatever, we're the observed
n all. Michael at least could dance.
and as for Kitty, she was an Ameri.
can girl.
AS they swept on in the cvolutions
of the dance. Kitty caught sight OF the
dark face Of Count Sachio.
That she had earned this mans dis.
like, OF at least, had deeply hurt
his masculine vanity. Kitty was well
enough aware,
As for King Michael. he was extra.
ordinarily sober; which, in his case.
was equivalent 70 saying that he was
not extraordinarily happy.
Count Frederick eyaded the tlrongs
about the king. Unwillingly he turned
away his eyes from the beautiful FIG.
lre OF the young American as she
danced. lie never had seen "A woman
who thrilled him thus. He himself did
not dance. This was no evening OF
pleasure for him. lilo had other plans
Count Frederick started toward the
door before a second thought came To
fta fHfHHN - WkEW. aNa.la e.
son be miscarriage OF his plans-if
here should be- reed for yet greater
''ia h,toro his final overt act was
'"r1u '..-d th.n he ought TO have a
.arr 800 rHt" some footing in the