The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-03-16

the missing treasure of old King
Michael. He died rich, but like a
miser, he hid his gold. He left a
! clue, yes-1 have told you all of that.
That clue was the broken coin.
That coin was the same as a deed
in the old days. All transfers of realty,
as you remember, were made on
parchment, written in pen, and the
parchment always was cut in two
pieces on a waving line. The seller
kept half the parchment, the buyer the
other half. And always it ran This
lndenture witnesseth.' The indenture'
was the waving line which divided the
parchment; and the parchment was
proof CT the transaction, So each hold
er held half the proof.
Nov, this indenture Of the broken
coin of Gretzhoffen witnessed that
Michael the First had transferred to
his people his treasure-their treas
ure-he kept half the deed for him
self. Or for the man who was to stand
for himself. In some way he meant
to give the people the other half-that
Is to say the other half Of the linden
ture went somewhere, no one to this
day can guess where myself!
These papers Of OLD told of the tor
ture chamber somewhere under the
fort. Our maps cover that, but thew
do not mark the spot of the treasures
hiding. Only the old coin restored, in
denture to indenture-the o7e-half to
the other-ever can settle that
Now, look here, my friend,' Count
Sachio held up before him a little ob-
ject, which caused Kitty to start
where she st0cd:
1t was the kings coin, Yes, there
was the half ccin which she with her
own hands had sent for delivery to
the king on the dancing floor at mid
night that highland Count Sachlo
by means which he only knew. had
been the thief! It now was plain to
her Here was one more claimant for
the treasure Of the dead king of Gretz-
hoffen
Count Sachio went on This is one
half only of the coin. Alone, it does
not serve. I know well enough where
lies the other half Within the next
twenty-four hours l will have it will
have both halves within my own
hands. Then, my friend, we shall see
What we shall see! Events will happen
which will surprise this part of the
world, at least.
Come to me tomorrow at my hunt
ing lodge in the forest, at the edge Of
the neutral lands. That is the rendez-
ho1 Of
shall seek a messenger to secure it. 1
know well enough how. Have our men
there, for I, Count Sachio, will be pre-
pared to show them all the reading of
a riddle which has puzzled both these
kingdoms fer Sc long"
Had Kitty remained moment or so
longer she might have seen what the
ccnspirators themselves, anxious as
they were, did not see. The face Of a
strange man peered in at the window
CT the room which they occupied. He,
too, could see now, all that Kitty had
seen, although he had not been no
ticed by the latter at the time cf her
departure.
The grand salon by this time was
we'll cleared, and Kitty made her way
rapidly toward the main exit. Sud-
denly she found herself face to face
with little group made up Of the
king and notables of his court. They
too, for a time had been absent from
the grand ss,lon-apparently for a GER
tain purpose. King Michael now did
not lack the stimulus of wine. "Our
fair young American again!" he ex-
claimed, as he came What. made
| mclselle has not even yet departed ?"
1T is my fault, your majesty" said
Count Frederick. 81 promised to Sc
cure for her car, but for the time l
lost sight Of her. The confusion has
teen SC great that it has been difficult
to find service of the usual Sort
Az attendant of the palace escorted
her to her car-willing enough to con-
clude the events Of the day.
Tomorrow" said she to herself. as
at length she composed herself for
brief slumber-"tomorrow I must be
at the hunting lodge of Count Sachio
once more!"
CHAPTER XVI.