Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-01-21
The Broken Coin

she saw bending over her was the face
Of her enemy.
"Who is it," she cried. Loose me
leave me! Where am II"
She caught her hands to her face
now as there came to her once more
the terror of what she had seen She
dared not look about her. Take me
away" she moaned. Take me
away"
He made no answer for time.
"Why have you followed me here"
she demanded at last, half hysteri-
cally
He spoke now, slowly. almost SOL
EMMY.
"WhyT sald he. IT do not know
why. ! think It must have been be-
cause you were in trouble. Perhaps
you called me--perhaps that is why !
came"
What do you mean? Would you
taunt me now, at such a time? /
have been frightened almost to the
point OF death-it was terrible
Come" said Count Frederick, and
placed about her an arm on whose
strength, in spite OF herself, she was
glad to lean.
He was guiding her toward the door.
She turned and saw again that which
but now had smitten her with terror.
Her nerves, weaken 4 by the long
strain upon them, gave way once
more
The fare OF the candle lighted up
the cavcrnous interior at whose en-
rance they stood. Count Frederick
saw what she had seen,
On the walls stood out hooks, steel
arms which supported eyeless, grin
ming skulls-old-h old no one
could tell. Beyond arose rods and
gratngs barbed, pointed, curved An
iron chair was In a corner, and In 1t
sat a grinning skeleton.
1t was the torture chamber, the
room Of terrors, born of other years
more savage than these, and brought
down unchanged through all the cen.
turtles!
Come" said Count Frederick, his
own voice agitated. ut is no time
to think OF any treasure now, but you
yourself"
He caught her away swiftly into the
other passage, and flung the door shut
behind them. In silence he led her
along the subterranean passage and
up the stairs
He left her once more alone in her
own ROOM to compose herself as best
she might, while he went on to rejoin
the king.
80, then, you found her, faithful
messenger" demanded Michael,
Eyes, your majesty. at length. She
was but strolling about to pass the
time during your absence. While /
know little of such matters, 1t seems
to me that the trials Of the day have
been extreme for her"
King Michael ended by asking the
attendance OF the young woman her
self; but 1t was just at this juncture
that there arrived at the palace none
less than the project OF police who
made suppllance through several court
Official for admittance to audience
with royalty.
He says" ventured the last cham
berlain, that he comes regarding the
murder at the Ritz hotel, in which
your majesty was graciously pleased
to be interested
Yes, yes-my dear Count Fred
erick, 1t was absurd that you should
be mixed in that-ov the young Amer
ican--I have not had time to think Of
it since then. What is all this now
Bring the man In"
And so presently tho project
abashed and much perturbed, was ad
mitted.
We'll, WE'LL demanded the mon
arch, what is it-why do you CONF
here?"
For only one reason, your maj
esty," began the project humbly
1--WE are convinced that there is NOR
than chance medley in this murder
The thing goes deeper than W
thought at first"
Have you TO suspect|'
"One, your rlaiesty, a person OF n
Importance, by name Roleau.'
How now, COUNT" Michael turne
to the nobleman who still stood neal
What think you OF this natter"
Count Frederick considered for
moment before he replied.
set him free said he at length
Watch him. He will lead us to som'
thing perhaps. Be sure that once Ii
is loose he will not be at rest fo
long"
An excellent idca," said Mlchae
Michael turned now to the matter
closer to his heart-the welfare OF tn
young American, whom he had Nc
seen since his return to the palac
Even now she waited for admission
his presence, and he had her sun
moned at once.
What! mademoiselle," cried NJ
chael, you are palo. You have not "
fully recovered-you have been Ill
Yes, your majesty" replied Kit
smiling somewhat wanly. He now n
tlced that the serving woman at h
side carried her wraps, and that 81
herself appeared ready for the stree
What! you mean to leave us?' c
claimed he. What does this mean :?
"Your majesty" said Kitty, "graciou
" allow me my absence for the tim
l must return to my hotel"
L It was with deep relief that final
y Kitty found herself once more fire.
h of the royal presence and the roy
j palace. She sped, fast as might