Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-10-05
TWENTY.SECOND INSTALL
MEhT
CHAPTER Lxxvl.
The Treasure.

Deep within that chamber OF horrors
which before h6G sniitten the
souls OF both with terror, two persons
were bending over n the light o; the
candles. which gave G faint illuuina-
ton.
1T is here" said Count Frederick.
giancing at the little compass which
he had brought with Kim. The north.
east lies there-it is yonder, where
sists yonder skeleton IN the iron chair!
That was the last guard CT the king"
What shall We do?" gasped Kitty
Gray. II dare not" o.
NONSENSE, my dear. Fear?-why
should We feel fear? Yonder friend Of
ours has kept the place we'll and safe
ly-seated there in his iron chair
waiting so long-for u.s."
Kitty Gray, pale and disturbed, still
feeling a woman's terror at these grim
scenes about her. spoke with solemn.
ty in her tones. He was waiting for
liberty and Justice. Sir Frederick"
said she. "He shall have them. We
will give all these Christian burial
shall We mott"
Whatever you wish shall be DONE"
said Count Frederick. Yes, we will
take all these poor victims away to
their last rest and let them lie in
peace. l shall seal up this cavern
here"
But come" he said; and so laid a
hand on the grinning guest In the iron
chair. The bony frame was confined
upright by metal bands which support
ed 1t. He found the ancient chair
heavy to move. but applying his great
strength. at length, gently as he could,
he shifted 1t to side. On the floor
Of the chamber, formerly beneath the
iron chair. there showed dinly in the
dust the outline OF a steel plate. an
iron ring welded to It's 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 be-
low"
Yet even his strength failed to re-
move the covering. He found at last
a part Of an ola bar. pushed it through
the ring and put his strength to 1t. A
faint dust arose, the lid yielded slowly.
and at last fell back with a clang upon
the rocky floor. At the edge of this
newly made aperture there showed
tire edge Of another plate, close fit
ting.
1T runs farther" exclaimed Count
Frederick. -See-look what is be-
Kitty, overcoming her terror. bent
forward with him to gaze down. Yes.
It is here" said she. Put look how
much there is"
Softly" said her companion. LET
us open this aver more widely. Here
is the grave of a giant treasure-I had
not dreamed what really i. was"
Carefully he pushed IN an1 under
the edge OF the bar. removing plate
plate Of that which had been the
covering Of the treasure place. Below
this. they saw a cavity filled with
steel receptacles. Earh was locked.
clamped and banded, tight against all
Intrusion.
What is here?" said Count Fred
erick. Are we batled even at the
Kitty Gray cast the rays Of ner
light here and there about her in the
interior. py chance her
eyes rested-in!eed we're drawn, fas-
TO the skeleton which sat
bent forward in the iron chair. A dull
Eleam Of something like metal caught
her eye.
Lock" said she. and pointed. There.
fastened by a metal band to the wrist
was a key--it was half hidden be-
tween the bones Of the forearm.
Look said Count Frederick. and
held it up before her. Cunning
was the nan who hid this
:reasure, and yet he left it plain for
hose he meant to find t."
He stopped and tried the key in the
ock of the central chest OF those
which lay below. The next moment
re had flung hack the Id.
Their eyes rested upon what would
made glad the heart OF any buc-
Gold, countless pieces OF
,old!
1t war the lost treasure Of the king!
They stood. awed. spellbound and
ooked down at what they saw.
But look yonder." said Kitty, pluck
nE al his sleeve-her hand had
IT comfortably for many no
.ents now. for she took comfort In
he touch even Of his clothing, the
,resence OF the bulk OF his hcdy near
Ter. "Lcok, Sir Frederick" said she,
what is that in this chest below?'
He bent over. casting down the
leans Of his little light. What he
was q Icing package Of folded