The Washington times., 1915-07-13
THE BROKEN COIN
By EMERSON HOUGH.

your majesty" said he, at is in the
hand of lady. BY no means throw
away any letter a woman writes to
you-and by no means write one your
self. Am I not good counsel?"
Smiling. King Michael broke open
the small hotel seal, frowning as he
did so at what seemed to him undue
familiarity on the part Of someone.
he knew not who. But as his eye ran
over a few lines Of the message his
expression suddenly changed. The
words remained deeply written on his
mind. Your majesty young
American drink no wine"
Couna sachio looked on respectfully.
no comment. King Michael made an ef-
fort to turn the conversation. He left
his wine untasted!
IN our people also care are sFSwIs ting
presently. But I pledge your majesty
glass and waited.
Drink heartily. good Count Sachio,"
have dined but lately. as l said. The
excuse me?''
He had poured but small portion
against more. Now he but touched 1t
to his lips. and then cunningly. as the
glass fell below the edge of the table
out Of sig hit. managed to spill the rest
bis glass an instant later, his fingers
closed tightly about 1t.
Il pledge you the prosperity Of Gra-
haffen in turn, Count Sachio."
Count Sachio did his best in this task
which he had fancied would be so easy,
but do what he might, he could not be
sure that King Michael was drinking
mere than a little wine. He could not
promise himself that he had succeeded
in his mission. And so at length, the
king rising. he was forced to make his
excuses.
sechio was obliged to admit to Count
Frederick, whom now he early sought,
| that he doubted the full success of his
errand.
Leave him then to ne, exclaimed
presses now. myself will hasten to
sec the king before he leaves for the
winter palace"
Frederick. making urgent excuses now
to enter the apartments of the king
after his arri|al, found the monarch in
the same apartment. stolidly regarding
the now empty bottle of wine.
A certain idea came to the brain Of
Michael. the king, as he now acknowl-
edged the visit of Count Frederick at so
late an hour. II this message had
warned him not to drink wine - then
there must be someone in the world
who wished him to drink vine. Why?
Who was that person? Might 1t not be
this man here-Count Frederick - the
man whom really he feared? If so.
would not feigned intoxication serve
well to uncover the others nature?
Reasoning this, King Michael with
small eXertion of histrionic art man
aged to give an excellent imitation to
his friend of a monarch far gone IN
| wine. Frederick. pleading fatigue
and thirst as had Sachio. piled him
further, and Michael apparently
yielded using still such arts as served
| him for the time being.
When, not too long before the ap-
pointed hour of midnight. Frederick
left the palace. he left behind him as
he was assured a monarch hopelessly
| fuddled-a monarch the sight of whom
| in public would inflame to rage the
spirit of his longsuffering subjects.
When that came-well, Count Freder-
lex of Gretzhoffen had laid his plans.
Count Frederick was ready for the
| ball. Count Sachio was ready for the
ball also. Kitty Gray was ready. AS
| to this latter young lady, before thiI
| time the count had detected her alb
| sence from the room where he had
left her a prisoner. How she had
made her escape he could only guess.
cough. Too many things crowded even
| his decisive and active brain for him
to ponder upon aught else. He sent
word to his own regiment to be under
arms-sent word to this friend and
that TO be prepared. Tomorrow" SO
said Count Frederick OF Gretzhoffen,
| there will be another king"
So the lights famed on at all the
windows OF the winter palace. Car
riages came and left their splendidly
appareled occupants-who gazed dis
dainfully at the black and silent ranks
OF the people in the streets.
Within was a scene OF luxury and