The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-06-02

first time, to recover from MS a1co-
holic stupor. He had known nothing
OF the stirring events of these last
days. He accosted those about him
with the irritability Of shattered
nerves
Frederick, where is he? What he
has deserted me? And Sachio-I want
Sachio Of Grahoffen and another man.
What was the name of the fellow with
him? I sent them for another bottle
or SO Of wine. That was ten minutes
ago, | tell you-at least ten minutes,
and they have not returned Is that
the way to use king? My head
fellow, send to me my physician at
once"
Deep within that chamber of hor-
rors which before now had sInitten
the souls Of both with terror, two per-
sons were bending over in the light of
the candles, which gave & faint illumi-
nation
1T is here said Count Frederick,
glancing at the little compass which
he had brought him The northeast
yonder, skeleton in the iron chair!
That was the last guard Of the king. -
What shall we do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. Il dare not
Nonsense! my dear Fear?-why
should we feel fear? Yonder friend
of ours has kept the place well and
safely-seateG there in his iron chair
waiting SO long-for us!''
He laid a hand on the grinning
guest in the iron chair. The bony
frame was confined upright by metal
bands which supported it. He found
the ancient chair heavy to move, but
applying his great strength. at length.
gently Us he could, he shifted il to
one side. On the @YGr Of the cham
Der, formerly Beneath the iron chair,
ssthero showed dinlly IN the dust, the
outline Of a steel plate, an iron ring
welded to its center. Count Frederick
pointed. This is the place" sale. he,
with conviction. 1T was guarded
well. See here: doubt not this Is
the Id which CCy5rS what is below
Yet even his strength failed to re-
move the covering. He found at last
a part OF an old bar pushed it through
the ring and put his strength to it. A
faint dust arose, the lid yielded slow
", and at last fell back With ciang
upon the rocky floor. At the edge CT
this newly made aperture there
showed the edge OF another plate.
close fitting.
1t runs farther exclaimed Count
low"
Kitty, overcoming her terror, bent
forward with him 20 gaze down. Eyes,
it is here said she. But look how
much there isl"
"SoftIy,' said her companion. Let
us open this cavern more widely. Here
is the grave of a giant TREASURED
had not dreamed what really it was
Carefully he pushed in and under
the edge of the bar, removing plate
after plate Of that which mad been the
covering of the treasure place. Be
low this, they saw cavity filled with
steel receptacles. Each was locked,
clamped and banded, tight against all
intrusion.
What is here?" said Count Fred
erick. Are we bafied even at the
1ast?"
Kitty Gray cast the rays of her light
here and there about her in the cav
ernous interior. By chance her ewes
fested-lndeed were drawn, fascinat-
ed, to the skeleton which sat bent for
ward III the iron chair 4 dull 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 hid
den between the bones of the fore
arm.
Look said Count Frederick, and
enough was the man who hid this
treasure, ard 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
nave made glad the heart of any buc-
cancer. Gold, countless pieces of
oON' WINS VI OiiE1lONu m1lUdSc-I
Jewels that sparkled-goid that shone
after all these years-au this Law be-
fore them.
1t was the lost treasure of the king!
They stood, aweG, spellbound and
looked down at what they saw.
Come, said he, at length. Il shall
close these chests and make it all Sc.
cure. We have seen enough This
treasure is not ours It belongs to
Gretzhoffen The parliament must be
called-the ministers must be .suyu-
moned into council Before them I
shall place the story Of what YOU and
1 have DONE
But look, yonder," said Kitty,
plucking at his sleeve-her hand had
grasped it comfortably for many mo-
ments now, for she took comfort in
the touch even of his clothing. the
presence OF the bulk OF his body near
her Look, Sir Frederick said she.
what is that in this chest below"
tie bent over, casting down the
CLEANS CT his little light What he
saw was a long package of folded
parchments thrust down at the side
OF the chest. Gently he drew it out
and held it in his hands for mo-