The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-04-21
TWENTY-SEC0ND INSTALL
MENT
CHAPTER LxxVI.

The Treasure,
Deep within that chamber OF horrors
which before now had smitten the
souls OF both with terror, two persons
were bend g over in the light OF the
candles, N.ich gave a faint nlumIna.
ton.
1T is here" said Count Frederick,
glanclng at the little compass which
he had brought with him. The north.
east lies there-it Is yonder, where
sists yonder skeleton in the iron chair!
That was the last guard Of the king. -
What shall we do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. - dare not"
Nonsense my dear. Fear?-why
should we feel fear? Yonder friend OF
ours has kept the place well and safe.
ly-seated there in his iron chair
waiting so long-for u.s."
Kitty Gray. pale and disturbed, still
feeling a woman's terror at these grim
scenes about her. spoke with solemn
ty IN her tones. He was waiting for
liberty and Justice, Sir Frederick"
said she. He shall have them. We
will give all these Christian burial
shall we not2"
Whatever you wish shall be done, 10
said Count Frederick. YES, we will
take all these poor victims away to
their last rest and let them lie in
peace. | shall seal up this cavern
here"
But come he said and so laid a
hand on the grinning guest in the iron
chair. The bony frame was confined
upright by metal bands which support.
cd t.. He found the ancient chair
heavy TO move, but applying his great
strength, AT length, gently as he could,
he shifted 1t TO ono side. On the floor
OF the chamber, formerly beneath the
iron chair, there showed dimlv IN the
dust the outline OF a steel plate. an
iron ring welded TO its center. Count
Frederick pointed. This Is the place"
said he. with conviction. 1T was
guarded we'll. See herc-I doubt not
this is the lid which covers what is be.
low"
Vet ever his strength failed to 70.
move the covering. He found at last
n mart Of an old hnr. pushed II through
the ring and nut his strength to It. \
faint dust arose. the lid Welded slowly.
and NJ last fell back with a clang unon
the rocky floor At the edge NJ this
newly made aperture there showed
the edge Of another plate. close Nj.
ting.
~ run farther" exclaimed Count
Frederick. "Sec-look what is be.
low"
F.''v. overcoming hcr terror. bent
forward with him 10 gaze down "Yos.
II Is here said she. But look how
much there is"
Softly" said her companion. Let
ms open this cavern more widely. Here
is the grave Of a giant treasurc-I had
not dreamed what really Il was"
Carefully he pushed I'm and under
the edge OF the bar, removing plata
after plate Of that which had been the
covering Of the treasure place. Below
this, they saw a cavity filed with
steel receptacles Each was locked.
olamped and banded, tight against all
intrusion.
What is here?" said Count Fred.
erick. Are we bafled even at the
Kitty Gray cast the rays OF her
light here and there about her in the
c]avernous interior. BY chance her
eyes rested-indeed were drawn, fas-
cinated, to the skeleton which sat
bent forward in the iron chair. A dun
CLEAN Of something like metal caught
her eye.
Look. said she, and pointed There,
fastened by a metal band TO the wrist
was a key-it was half hidden be.
tween the bones OF the forearm.
Look said Count Frederick. and
held Il up before her. Cunning
enough was the man who hid this
treasure, and yet he left it plain for
those he meant to find IT,"
He stopped and tried the KEY in the
lock Of the central chest Of those
which lay below. The next moment
he had flung back the lid.
Their eyes rested upon what would
have made glad the heart OF any hue.
cancer . Gold, countless pieces OF
gold!
II was the lost treasure Of the king,
They stood, awed, ~spellbound and
looked down at what they saw.
But look yonder." said Kitty. pluck.
ing at his sleeve-her hand had
grasped It comfortably r. many mo.
ments now. for she took comfort I'm
the touch even Of his clothing the
presence OF the bulk of his body noar
her. Look. Sir Frederick" said sbo.
what is that In this chest below"
He bent over, casting down the
CLEANS OF his little light. What ne
saw was a LONG package Of folded