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

stirring days. He has Planned this
great ball in order that you might see
the equaminity of his own soul in
these events, so difficult alike for a
king and his people to endure. There
fore, remain loyal to your king, whom
1 represent before you. The ballroom
soon will be cleared Let the streets
also be cleared. Go to your homes
Wait, and depend on us who have your
true welfare at heart"
There surged up to him now the
ngures OF m re than one man, some in
uniform, from places in the thrcng, in
the street. What is it-what is wrong
why do we not have the order to
march on the palace?" they demanded
eagerly.
AIS wrong" whispered the Count
them. For scme reason, best known
to himself, the king is not drunk to-
night, but sober. His people are not
turned against him-On the contrary,
they seem to respect him more than
they have done for months-there
would be division among them if we
started new revolt now
Here, take this gid, my friends -
he added, and stripped himself of
some considerable sums he had
brought with him. 1T is all l have
Give 1t to those who need it most.
Take them away from here-let them
go to the drinking places. See that
these places are filled now, and that
the toast shall be Long live King
Michael!''
I'VE may not yet cry Long live King
Frederick?'''
The nobleman shook his head Not
yet,' said he. They still shall cry
Long live King Michael That will
do for the time at least"
Count Frederick returned through
the great entryway and rejoined King
Michael where he stood. Your ma
5esty,' said he, your people are re-
turning to their homes"
Frederick, my friend, my savior!"
The weak king, his features w~rking,
grasped the hands Of the stronger
man. You tell me they will dis
perse?"
Even new they do SO, your ma
jesty.''
Kitty, by this time somewhat for
gotten in the kings vacillating mind,
stood looking from enc 20 the ether
of these two. AS she read the situa-
tim, it carried something CT defeat
to her An instant ago she herself
had dominated the scene Otherwise
now; fer Count Frederick gave her
a somewhat sarcastic smile It was
the time of his triumph and of her
discontinue.
"Mademoiselle is distrait?' said he.
She is not danc1ng-she will return
to her hotel, perhaps? What can one
do for mademoiselle?
Kitty turned toward Kim calmly.
If l might ask enc of you gentle
men to secure my car for me?'' Count
Frederick smiled and bowed as ne
turned away.
But Kitty was not SO soon to leave
the great salon of the palace that
night. She passed toward the entrance
slowly, caught in the crush and confu-
sion of others who were crowding out
in the f1asco of the much-vaunted
black and white ball. For the time,
she found herself in the shelter of
great column, where she was willing
enough to pause. AS she halted here
she heard voices just behind her-one
deep voice, which it seemed to her
she had surely heard before.
1t is pity that the affair did not
come off tonight, your excellency," she
heard another whisper hoarsely. I'VE
have everything In our own hands
now, I have all the plans OF the forti-
hcatlcns, the maps of the avenues, the
specifications for each street crossing.
1t would have been entirely simple for
the army of Grahoffen to march
through this ramsnackle city as it
liked"
Yes!' broke in the deep voice
which haunted Kittys memory, 81 sup
pose so; but what would we do if
we could not pay cur troops the next
day? How much better eff than Gretz-
hoffen would then be our own case?
No, Frederick is right in his main
plan. The throne alone is worth moth
ing-it is worthless in his kingdom
or in cur kingdom, or in any ether
a poverty-strlcken kingship is n bust
ness for any mar. Why have you net
a diagram CT the treasures burial
place-with that, now, The matter
would be somewhat different tonight"
Hush" she heard the other voice
whisper. Apparently warned, at least,
by their suspicious, they moved away,
although Kitty shifted her swn psi
ton SO that her presence was MT
known
Was it Count Sachio's voice she had
heard-was he, the kings friend
Count Frederick's friend, the worst
traitor of all, and was he also plot
ting for the restoration CT the two
lost bits of Gretzh offen ccin?
Which way Should she turn now?
To Frederick? Impossible. To Mi
chael? Equally impossible.
The two men whose talk she had
overheard passed now fron behind
the pillar toward the interior ef the
palace. Apparently they were known
there and welcome, for surely they
were not stopped Iy any of the kings
guards CT chamberlains, and Kitty her
self, equally well identified, passed
readily just behind them
Kitty headed but che glance at the