The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-12-24
CHAPTER XIII.


Far across the neutral lands. beyond
the desert Of Intergraffen, in his hunt
ing lodge at the edge Of the forest
Count Sachio for long hours OF uncer
tainty had nursed his own wrath and
disappointment at the denouement OF
the scenes which he had seen take
place about him. Pacing up and down
refusing food or drink, his rage always
turned toward the unhappy agent Ru'
dolph. his unsuccessful messenger.
you, Rudolph of Grahoffen." he ex.
claimed at last, you should have died
rather than betray me! All, you be.
trayed our country as we'll"
The man addressed, now practically
a prisoner, and if not an object of aus.
picion at least one of hostility, sat
moody and unhappy in the main room
of the lodge.
Il can say no more, excellency,"
said he. 81 failed, it is true. But you
do not count the skill and power of
those who are arrayed against US"
How should ! count them?" ex-
claimed Sachio, fercely. why should
l? Can explain to my own king can
you explain to him? Bah! man, they
come to nothing in life-explanations
excuses, reasons. Results, results. re-
sults-those alone count for aught."
"EXcellency, tried"
you tried-what is that? Rather
say you failed. for that is the main
thing"
But, excellency," spoke up another
man after a time, a friend of Sachio.
"if it is useless to cry over split milk
and we cannot wholly mend this pitch.
er-even the trife of milk remaining
in the fragments may have some
value"
What do you mean?"
well, this. The young girl who was
the actual instrument of Rudolph's fail.
ure-as none of us can doubts still
alive and still at liberty"
We'll, what of that?"
III we found her-and perhaps she
can be found-we could even pick up
our skein at the same knot where we
left it, She is somewhere on top of
earth--she is not a spirit after all,
elusive though she seems"
Sachio grumbled some response, and
the other went on.
These strained times cannot hold
together forever-the break will come
before long. Our own monarch will
not continue to endure this condition,
half peace and half suspicion, that
exists between the two kingdoms"
"Yes-war!" exclaimed Sachio. But
why war without success? War for
plan or purpose or result-yes. we
could agree to that. But curse il!
man, do you not see that 1t all hangs
on the ownership OF this spirit coin
There is the issue. Without that we
could gain nothing If we did go to war.
not even though we won the war"
"The economy of king may mean
much, my friend" went on Sachlo. mi.
chael, the dead king. was a business
mamie saved. The economy of a
people Is the hope OF business-the
economy OF king Is the hope OF a
people itself. There are two sorts OF
folk in the world-those who make
mortgages and those who pay them
King Michael the Second of Gretzhof-
fen is one who makes mortgages.
King Michael the First was one who
planned to pay them. He saved the
money for that purpose-he intended
to leave his kingdom rich.
But where is his hidden treasury?
We know something of tit is un-
der the Notifications Of Gretzhoffen
Our own monarch knows so much as
that-but no more He asks me to
learn more definitely the location of
that treasury-and what have done?
What can | do-unless at length [
shall gain not one but both halves Of
this Gretzhoffen coin? So is 1t not
plain enough?"
Thirty years ago, your excellency,"
reioined his friend, these kingdoms
did fight"
Yes, and that was ended by the
alliance Michael the First formed with
our own prince, Love did that. mes
sieurs-he loved our princess, so all
was forgotten. He was a good king
and a strong one. There is need for
another strong man like him these
days-but not like the second Michael
of Gretzhoifen. Why, he gave away
his very birthright-won by the fair
face OF a girl-this strange young
American, whoever she may be. He
gave her the Gretzhotfen coin out OF
hand, as though II we're no more
than a farthing, for all he cared"
But she cared. that is evidence
enough"
Yes, she cared. that is true! and
so did another care"
Count Frederick"
Yes, now you have named them
BOTH" rejolned Count Sachio, his grim
Jaws set. THE young woman has halt
the coiu. Count Frederick hac the 9th