The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-04-07

~1nat seems simple, your majesty
Even though do not know where the
young girl is"
aThat is why / ask you, my dear
count"
agreed then, your maje1ty. OF
what use is a servant OF the king II
he cannot do the kings will! l &C.
cept your Grand will soon return
to YOU the coin-at least, l hope so.
After all, perhaps it has no such value
as YOU seem to Think am sure 1t has
less value for you than other things
that we might mention"
Count Frederick did not add aloud
what was in his own mind-the truth
that the coin had moro value for
him than he at any time before now
had believed.
Presently he excused himself from
the royal presence and departed to
put into effect a little plan OF his own
which he fancied might blunt both
horns of this dilemma into which the
naivete of King Michael SO suddenly
had placed him.
AS luck would have it, there had
been thrown into his hands the kings
half of the coin.
Count Frederick thought for a mo-
ment before he made a plan. Then
he made a hurried journey to a Ger
! tain. silversmith in whose skill he had
| much confidence.
Make me-" he said as he laid upon
the counter his piece of the COMA
replica of this-absolutely, line for
line, so that I myself cannot tell the
two apart Do you hear me? Can 1t
be done?"
Eyes, excellency," said the workman,
"it can be done-so nicely that l my
self scarcely could tell them apart"
Then quick with It," said Count
Frederick. How soon?"
by tomorrow, excellency, promise
you a duplicate"
It was therefore on the morrow
that Count Frederick was able once
more to visit the royal palace with a
mind more at peace with circum
stances. With him he carried what
was apparently the kings half of the
coin which he had given to the young
American SO carelessly, and which
now at once he coveted again-since
the young American herself was gone
$50 soon!" exclaimed Michael "Yoy
are the acme of punctiliousness ant
efficiency, my dear count. You arr
indeed a man of results. Go now t.
, my cabinet again and help yourself t.
such jewels as you fancy"
mo more, your majesty. I thanl
you. If have been of service l an
pleased. Jewels are not for me. The,
are for wonderland no woman ha
jewels from me now. l have reformed
your majesty. I shall be taking my
self to monastery next"
King Michael laughed loudly at Thu
Jest on the part of his former boo1
companion. mot so far as that TO
me-" he said. Il am not yet ready TO
any monastery. l swear can remem
Der a queens face and a queens flgur
when see them, we'll as ever And
saw them both here not so long age
l thought had secured the chance t.
see them yet again-when l gave he
as our gift this which you have re
stored to me now. It seems I faile
in that. But should the same cas-
!, come up again for acticn-should sh
by intent or accident meet us again
t l am in possession once more of wha
! formerly was mine. Perhaps the a.
, fair could be undertaken de novo, m
dear count. She gave 1t to you t
return to me? Well, no matter, only
hope that in some way, on some day
: she will come back again"
: Il trust it, your majesty" said Coun
= Frederick fervently; and the delude
;, monarch. pleased at the quick exec,
ton of his wishes, knew nothing of tn
deeper Vaccinations of the keen brai
which he fancied still was in his ser,
ice.