The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-17
SEVENTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER Tx.
The Plotters of Grahoffen.

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 a 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 an not so sure said the old
king thoughtfully, mot so sure. True,
we have rid 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"
"Ycu mean the girl?"
Yes. She has mind, be sure of
that. Eut what she might have done
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 it may have been, Of
the broken coin. AS to this other eng
ma, this scrap of paper, which may Or
may not be connected therewith-who
knows? I declare, l am like horse
in the dark-ready to shy at any such
trifle as scrap of paper blowing on
the wind
1--WE still have it, your majesty-we
took it from her.
eyes, but when we separate the two
tho scrap of paper and the scrap of a
girl-what do we actually accomplish ?
We have only a 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 its own waves of
trouble"
We'll, now, your majesty" said
Sachio, who disliked this discomfort
of his sovereign, at no time safe for
any courtier, 'let us see what we our
selves may be able to do in solution of
this mystery which has been be-
queathed us. Surely our minds are as
good as those of a rattle-brained girl
from America"
Hunt may be true. What do
you propose, at least?"
"Why, your majesty, that is obvious:
What we must do is to get into our
hands the other half Of this scrap OF
paper. It lies still somewhere over in
Gretzhoffen, along with the other half
of the Gretzhoffen CON-"
Eyes, along with the missing half
of that coin, also! They hold the key,
or half of it, that is true. And yet we
hold as much as they-half of the
answer. Each is complement of the
other. That is to say, stalemate, a
drawn game-there is never profit in
any SUCH"
Stay, your majesty, let us see fur
Their before we call the game done.
D.
for we have a monarch to guide us
who has brains and courage. l count
myself, also, as worth an equal bal
ance with Count Frederick, their
strongest man. And how shall we es-
innate yonder drunken, worthless, pup
pet king of theirs-how shall he stand
in comparison with ours?'
Sachio bowed deeply. His flattery
was not without its effect on the old
king, who smiled his approval.
My dear Sachio, whenever l need
comfort you have it at hand!" ex-
claimed he. well, then, what fur
Their may we plan against them? How
may we loose their hold upon these Sc
crets which perplex and menace us
SO much?"
why, this: That we profess a new
and profound friendship for Michael.
He will be but too glad to listen to our
proposition, be sure of that"
Suppose we may be assured of
that-what then?"
He would be willing to do US some
little favor II it caused him but little
trouble to grant 1t. He looks on us AZ
defeated. Let US encourage him to
play the role of the grand Caesar, able
to be gracious. to be magnanimous. to
a fallen foe"
"Gocd-go OIL see the point"
$50 we ask Of that weak mind some
thing which his mere sloth will dis
pose him to grant us-nothing much
only the ownership of worthless
bit of paper. He does not know its
value-perhaps he does not know Of
its existence"