Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-10-22
SEVENTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER TX.
rhe pIotters of orahofien.

In the court OF GrnnOuen, meantime,
mixed sensations occupied the minds
of those responsible for the disappear
ance of Kitty Gray and her servant.
Roleau Old Cortislaw and his re-
doubtable aid. Count Sachio, foregath-
cred in the palace rooms Immediately
following the acts which had meant
the forced deportation.
"She has gone, then, Sachio?" de-
manded the king.
Without a doubt. your majesty l
myself from n distance saw the two
hoisted inboard in freight nets--as SO
many cattle. They went into the hold
Of the vessel beyond any question
whether or not they come out again
Is their concern. not ours!"
Il am not so sure said the old
king thoughtfully, mot so sure. True,
we have lid ourselves Of potential
trouble, but at the Same time we have
deprived ourselves of potential aid In
questions not yet solved. They might
have been useful. perhaps"
you mean the girl?'
YES She has q mind, be sure of
l.
of use-to US we may no longer ask
with profit-she now is beyond our re.
call That is only as to her knowl-
edge, whatever II may have been, Of
the broken coin. AS to this other enig'
ma, this scrap of paper, which may or
may not be connected therewith-who
knows? l declare, am like O horse
In the dark-ready TO shy at any such
trifie as a scrap of paper blowing on
the wind"
1--WE still have it, your majesty-we
took II from her"
Eyes, but when we separate the two
the scrap OF paper and the scrap OF
Eirl-what do we actually accomplish?
We have only larger secret left, a
deeper mystery. Curses on all women
anyhow They only make us trouble,
Mysterious themselves, they solve no
mysteries. The best hope for yonder
traveller is that she sinks at sea.
swear. sometimes our little kingdom
bids fair to sink in it's own waves oi
trouble"
"Well, now, your majesty" said
Sachio, who dislilSed this discomfort
OF his sovereign, at no time safe fol
any courtier, "let us see what we our
selves may be able to do in solution oi
this mystery which has been be
queathed us. Surely our minds are az
good as those OF rattle-brained cir
from America"
HUNT may be true. What dt
you propose, at least?'
"Why, your majesty, that is obvious
What we must do Is to get into ou
hands the other half OF this scrap o
paper. It lies still somewhere over II
Gretzhoffen, along with the other hal
Of the Gretzhoffen coin"
"Yes, along with the missing hal
Of that coin, alsol They hold the key
or half of 1t, that is true. And yet WI
hold as much as they-half OF tn
answer. Each is complement of tn
other. That is to say. a stalemate,
arawn game--there is never profit Il
any SUCH"
Stay, your majesty, let us see fui
lher before we call the game done
Surely our chances outweigh theirs
for we have a monarch to guide u
who has brains and courage. coun
myself, also, as worth an equal ba
ance with Count Frederick, thei
strongest man. And how shall we ei
innate yonder drunken, worthless. pul
net king of theirs-how shall he stan
In comparison with ours?'
Sachio bowed deeply. His fatter
was not without it's effect on the oil
king. who smiled his approval.
my dear Sachio. whenever i nee
comfort you have Il at handt O.
claimed he. well. then, what fu
lher may we plan against them? Ho'
may we loose their hold upon these 8
.rets which perplex and menace =
10 much?"
why. this: That we profess ne
and profound friendship for Michae
He will be but too glad to listen TO OF
proposition, be sure Of that"
Suppose we may be assured
Ihat--what then?"
HE would be willing to do US SON
little favor II 1t caused him but litt
trouble TO grant it. He looks ON US
defeated. Let US encourage him
play the role OF the grand Caesar. alb
to be gracious, to be magnanimous'
fallen foe"
Good --go on--i see the point
80 we ask OF that weak mind som
hing which his mere sloth VIII a
pose him to grant us--nothing NUT
--oniy tho ownership OF q worthie
pit OF paper. He does not know
,alueuu ~ ~ sIoea not know