The Elbert County tribune., 1915-11-12

auuresS- fOr the King, at the Royal
Palace. to be delivered at twelve mid
night promptly"
In fault of better messenger, Kitty
telephoned now to the bureau of tele-
graphs and asked for a reliable mes
senger. When presently he came she
entrusted this missive to him with
express instructions that he should
leave it In the hands of some chosen
servant OF the king who would be
sure to deliver 1t at the hour of mid.
night OF that very day.
The man listened respectfully, took
the missive, and started for the door.
Passing. he almost ran against a gen
tleman in the hall. aud dropped his en-
velope as he did so.
Your pardon" exclaimed the gen.
tleman, raising his hat; and himself
picked up the envelope. The messen-
ger did not notice HIS fingers quickly
closing upon 1t. feeling 1t here and
there as he presented it to the bearer.
Relieved now of this care, and sat
isned that her plan would provide for
the safety OF this priced possession
for that night at least-Kitty passed
on to other matters
or what use. after all, was half this
coin. while the Count Frederick still
retained the other half-taken from
her by force, by violence?
She stood for time, her fingers at
her lips, engaged in thought. Il am
going direct to Count Frederick him
self and ask him for the other half
of the coin. He knows the king has
given me his half-perhaps he will re-
lent and let me match the kings half
of the GretzhofYen coin"
With her to think was to act. A
half hour later. ready robed for the
street, she was In her car and on her
way to the palace of Count Frederick
They knew her at the counts palace
now-or thought they knew her-and
SO no questions were asked when she
applied at the door. Pending the COM
| ing OF the count, who was at home. as
she learned. she was shown to a re-
ception room close to the entry door.
| AS she sat here, she heard footsteps
approaching heard voices in conver-
| sation. She knew that Count F'reder-
lex was there. but not alone.
Kitty listened shamelessly-for now
indeed all was fair IN war for her in
case like this.
She heard Count Frederick address
his companion as My Lord Minister"
and again as ''Danislaw." so knew that
1t was none other than the prime min
lister of Gretzhoffen with whom he
was conversing
My friend" she heard a hard, in
cisive voice declare, this ball tonight
is the crowning mistake of the entire
year. II may mean the ruin of Gretz-
hoffen. | tell you. Count Frederick,
revolution Is In the air. The people
are demanding the answer to all their
sufferings. to their poverty, their
anxieties. That answer. If we do not
use every means to change it, surely
will be written red."
But what plan do you propose. my
lord minister? What can | do?"
"One thing. Let me be blunt and
brief-have the king sober tonight, /
| shame to say those words-but those
are my words to you. Have our mon
arch-whom we reverence-sober to-
night If the people see him drunken,
If they find him careless, Indifferent,
in times like this-pouf!
| tell you. and the answer written with
the pen of blood"
Count Frederick apparently paused
at this. There was a hint of some
thing suppressed in his voice when at
length he did reply.
My lord minister, I'll see the king,r
Kitty thought that now they clasped
hands She heard the prime minister
departing, each giving the othsr for
NAL words of courtesy.
his servants.
"Rubinoff. Franko-any of you ras-
cals-well. you, Rubinoff Go at once
to the apartments of the Count Sachio
| and ask him II he will join me at
once
Kitty, still trembling in suppressed
excitement, waited yet longer before
declaring herself She heard F'reder-
| tck pacing up and down in the room,
muttering to himself-heard also after
an interminable interval the footsteps
of another in the hall-heard Freder-
ick greet him
All, odchio, you dTe welcome 1n-
deed. We have news for you, my
friend-news that may go well with
our plans"
Command me. my dear Frederick"
Il ask you. my dear Sachio, to do
an easy. pleasant and interesting task
1t is no more than to go this after
noon, to win in some fashion into the
presence of King Michael the Second
our beloved monarch-whom we both
reverence!-and then and there, by
what means shall seem most expedi-
ent. to induce him to drink more wine
than ever he did in one day in his Iile."