The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-11-13
EIGHTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LxIv.
saohIo and Michael.

0atbfo dIb WlfSVdCis
The two rival capitals of thes
nncoted lands still faced one anothe
ID conflict as YET undecided. Whicl
were deeper in duplicity 1t had beei
difficult to say. but as to which sur
passed in active measures no doub
at ali remained, Count sachio, rest
less and energetic, already was taking
further steps to enforce his own vii
and that Of his sovereign upon the
weaker mind which purported to gov
efn at Cretzhoffen.
lit was as Sachio had prophesied--
the sloth Of Michael left him open tc
any proposition which came couched
ii fair words and which offered nc
disturbing changes in his own per
sonal plans. He acceded readily
enough to the proposals of the era.
hoffen courtier to lengthen the armis-
tice between the two warning coun-
tries with a view to a formal and final
peace Readily enough also he admit
ted into his own household the arch
plotter OF the forces Of his hereditary
enemy.
.Unopposed. indeed invited, Sachio
made his way much as ne liked
throughout. the Gretzhoffen palace,
with whose interior he already was
more or less familiar It was his plan
In case OF any chaiienge 10 reier 10
the royal ruler who was his host.
He maid .snecial attention to that
apartment where he had found the
partially destroyed original script
whose missing nall he sought. Here
infinitely, patiently, ike a mound run
ming q oiincult trail ne Went over the
place inch py men seeking 10 nnd
some trace wnicn would iead MIN 10
MS quarry.
But success did not attend MS ei-
forts, though theso ne prosecutor even
IN those portions OF the palace wnere
80 recently ne and mis- troops nau
laced death when the ievels were noou-
eu py waters turned IN from the castle
moats. lie was wiling 70 despair ana
IN lact mad turned away WIN tne M
tention Of giving up the search, when
ne met suboiicer OF the guard VINO
proved eiifhcult to handle in his usual
easy fashion.
Halt! Who goes thereY' chal-
lenged this guard as he saw Sachio
emerge from one OF the lower cnam-
bers.
"A friend!" re1oined Sachio prompt
ly, In military formula.
Advance, friend, and give the couD-
tersign!' came the grun command.
THE countersign?" said Sachio.
"Ah, we'll, my friend, now that think
OK II, have not had It given to me.
Twas my own neglect. But am a
friend Of the king-r'twas he who gave
me permission to explore these por-
tons OF the palace. ! was curious to
see the operations Of this system OF
defense by water--it was something
new to me-"
f'That is all very well" rejoined the
soldier, but explanations of that sort
are scarcely good enough I
Take me, then to the king him
sell. SAID Sacnio. 44N
why should \ !" rejoined the other.
Wnat business IS It OF yours to know
about the lower levels OF our palace?
Inese are ticklish times, and there
nave been such things as spies
"Spies!' exclaimed Sachio, yirtuous-
~. 4, a spy-is that what you mean
fellow? II so, ] command you to car
ry me forthwith to the presence of the |
king himself. He knows me well. and
you should have a care not to offend
one who is under the kings protec-
tion
the sheer audacity OF this intruder
had It's euect, even upon the blunt SOL
dier who had accostcd him. Sachio