The Washington times., 1915-11-21
TIL BROKEN COIN
BY EMERSON HoUGH.

of the main hall, and passed within
formslities in Gretzhoffen palace now.
SO" said he. you are here again.
nnnsh..r Mhas. saehi9' ACHE you honor us yet by
you! You, .Grahame, you. my former
bodyguard-here with this arch traitor,
this liar, this treacherous snake!'
Ihey stood surprised, as yet without
plan for their defense.
"Ho. therel-the guard-the guard, -
cried Count Frederick. stepping back to
,Ihe,l was,no Exit at any window pos
now stood the tall form of Count Fred
erick. his face set In implacable anger
Ehis eyes betokening the purpose Of his
put to his call there came no foot
steps Of the guard. Instead. one man
momen.s had been in search Of the
two men,. He hastened past Kitty as
she stood. thrust himself into the
room and with Count Frederick. faced
them.
Count sachio, with a snarl of rage.
s,prang Forward at his foe. and Ro-
self between. He felt the iron hands
OF his master on his shoulder.
=, Leave him to me. Roieau! Take
'"o hopittucu lhCtu OHe hnOtneT
calmly now. Not SO with Roleau. On
the instant. he hung himself upon tho
man accosted rs Grahame. The strug-
gle was unequal and under Roleaus 8
helpless. Roleau pushed him back be-
fore him, his face to tho corner, his
arms behind his back. and turned his
own head. over his shoulder inQuiring-
" to see his master and Count Sachio
We'll" said Count Frederick.
"saehio. how shall It be? Shall I
choke you with my hands?"
The man whom he accosted was one
words with a smile. which showed his
white teeth. His own fighting blood
was up. and fear was q thing he did
not know.
Suddenly his eye. rapidly glanclns
trophy Of arms hung across the room.
From II he caught down two swords.
Bowling, he handed both. hiit forward.
to Count Frederick. "Ai your service.
"Do not! Do mott" cried Kitty Gray.
suddenly. He will kill you-he II a
demon with the sword-I have heard
1t score OF times"
upon her. Silence, madam" said he.
Get you out Of the room and walt l
must kill him now
. Roleau released his grip upon tho
prisoner. put $1,000 IN such way as
batants faced each other now.
.'On guard" said Count Frederick.
Lightly, gracefully. gently. the tips
OF the two blades met. shivered
trife. each feeling Of the other. scarce
course.
The Icy eye of Count Frederick. cold,
mercIless. looked into the dark and
smiling face OF Sachio.
m 70
Count Frederick. "Shall It be soon?''
The answer OF Sachio was more than
a smile. F1ercely he whipped free his
blade. His knuckles up; his blade shot
The face before him never took away
its stony gaze. every feature remained
cold as Ice. but the savage lightningliko
riposte showed that Count Frederick
was a swordsman. and one wholly free
Count Sachio smiled. lunged once
again. and once again was foiled. There
had not. as yet. come one smile upon
Cout Frederick's face. His eyes were
sochio. And now tho face Of sachio
changed. His smile was gone.
4 Suddenly the Jaw of Count Frederick
shut the tighter. None could have said
some some fashion. the blade Of the noeie-
man OF Gretzhoffen went out. vibrat-
ing. catching in Its grip tho blade op-
posed to IT, There was a wrench. a
twist. The weapon Of Count Sachio
was torn from his hands. he stood un-
armed. He stood one half moment be-
fore he felt. hissins hot through all his
body. the point of his antasonist.
/ Count Frederick turned. not waitiin z
TO see his foe sink fully down. fof, he
knew the work was done. He advanced
half a pace to the man Grahame,
covering in the corner before Roleau.
Him ne smots across the cheek with
the bloody blade. and said: you coward
and traitor, you shall go to tho law
| "As for you. Roleau. captain Of the
guard" said he. you have proved your
faithfulness once more"
What? am captain. masterT'
"Roleau. captain of the guard" said
ne. "I thank you"
| And SO he turned and strobe from the
room where one was waiting.