The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-25
CHAPTER LVI.
The Treasure Of the King.

III HIS hVOP eAAS
King Michael was beginning, for the
first time, to recover from his alco-
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-l want
Sachio OF Grahoffen and another man.
What was the name Of the fellow with
him? I sent them for another bottle
or 80 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 smitten
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,
glarcing at the little compass which
he had brought him. THE northeast
lies there-it is yonder, where sits
Wonder skeleton in the iron chair!
That was the last guard of the king"
What shall we do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. II dare not
Nonsense! my dear. Fear?-why
should we feel fear? Yonder friend
of ours has kept the place we'll and
safely-seated 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 as he could, he shifted 1t to
one side. On the floor of the cham
ber formerly beneath the iron chair,
there showed dimly 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
well. See here-I doubt not this is
the lid which covers 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
ly and at last fell back with a clang
upon the rocky floor, At the edge of
this newly made aperture there
showed the edge of another plate,
close fitting.
1T runs farther" exclaimed Count
Frederick. "See-look what is be-
| low!"
Kitty, overcoming her terror, bent
forward with him to gaze down. Eyes,
it is here" said she. But look how
much there Isl"
Softly" said her companion. Let
US open this cavern more widely. Here
is the grave of giant treasure-I
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 had been the
| covering of the treasure place. Be-
low this, they saw a cavity filed with
steel receptacles. Each was locked,
clamped and banded, tight against all
intrusion.
What is here?" said Count Fred
erick. Are We baffled even at the
last?"
Kitty Gray cast the rays of her light
here and there about her in the cav.
ernous interior, By chance her eyes
rested-indeed were drawn, fascinat.
ed, to the skeleton which sat bent for
ward in the iron chair. A dull CLEAN
of something like metal caught her
eye.
Look" said she, and pointed.
There, fastened by a metal band to
the wrist, was key-it was half hid
den between the bones of the fore
arm.
Look" said Count Frederick, and
held 1t up before her. Cunning
| NhOubh Noo thO WIN llu lulS
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 mad flung back the lid.
Their eyes rested upon what would
have made glad the heart of any buc.
cancer Gold, countless pieces OF
gold! Coins OF unknown mintage-
jewels that sparkled-gold that shone
after all these years-an this lay be.
fore them.
1t was the lost treasure OF the king!
They stood. awed. spellbound and
looked down at what they saw
Come. said he. at length. Il shall
close these chests and make 1t all Sc
cure. we have seen enough. Thit
treasure is not ours. 1t belongs tC
Gretznoffen The parliament must Dc