The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-05-02
CHAPTER Kill.
The Torture Chamber.

The Torture Chamber.
As for the young American herseif,
she had remained these hours alone In
the palace of the king.
The palace, as she now reflected,
was more nearly deserted than ever
she had seen it. The household staff
seemed disorganized. Fright had
caught hold of all. The most conflict
ing rumors went this way and that.
81 wonder" said Kitty Gray to her.
. self after time, as she sat alone-"I
wonder!"
Now, what she wondered had to do
with certain questions which she long
had had in her own mind.
"'Cruciati candid cam mean
'camera'-'chamber' - torture cham
ber?'"
If so, where was that torture cham
Der? Was it under the battlements yon-
der, or here in the palace itself?
Where had the old king concealed his
wealth?
She rang the bell and summoned
once more the woman of the palace
who thus far had cared for her at the
kings behest.
"Margot," said she, talk to me. I
have travelled far and am weary. I am
distressed-nervous perhaps. Talk to
me-
1--WE are all distressed, excellency,'
said the woman. 1--WE know not what
there may be yonder. Perhaps this
moment the two kingdoms may be at
war. But what can do to make your
excellency more comfortable?'
She was willing enough to curry IA
vor with a favorite of the king.
Tell me Margot," demanded Kitty
Gray, about this country here. am a
stranger from far country, and
know very little of this land and OF
it's customs. Is it an old land, this Of
Gretzhoffen, Margot?"
More irnmemorially old, your excel
lency, than most people have eve1
dreamed of. The first kings of Gretz
hoffen date back so far in history tina
almost they merge into myths. Thu
Oldest kingdoms of Europe are not 81
Old as this little one"
Does the history of this countr!
date back SO far as the middle ages?'
ooh, easily. We are very old,
smiled Margot.
Those also were times of war AM
bloodshed, were they not? Why, Mar
got, in those days they tortured pris
oners, did they not?'
mot only prisoners, excellency, bu
many others. If king wished new
Or money, if an official wished comics
sion of crime-if a bishop desire
confession of faith from heretic-th
torture chamber was the place to ge
such results"
But not here, Margot-surely no
here?'
These very walls saw it, excellenc,
yes!"
But that was long ago-those place
were all wiped out and forgotten age
since'
destroyed? Indeed, not Do no
the people of this country always pre-
serve their monuments, their museum
OF weapons, their chambers of horrors
Do they not take a certain pride i,
that? Monarchs even of today kno1
the secrets of the old torture chan
another"
I could not have believed it.! An
so there was such place here, in thi
palace?'
Surely. can give warrant for e,
cry word I have told you, excellenc,
The tradition is that the old tortur
chamber Of Gretzhoffen was over yo,
der-under the corner tower of tn
palace-where the embellishments ra
IN. There is a corridor which lead
yonder, down below, into the vault
l would not &c there for all the worl,
Few of US know the way, indeed
have never been there We folk {
Gretzhoffcn palace-we are wis
enough not to ask too many question:
or to learn too many truths. Besides
l should die with terror to think {
what spirits must haunt such a plac,
But, excellency,' she concluded. "le
US speak of more nleasa0t thippc