The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-09-26
4 COURTER'S STORY.

ny name Is NaTI JUnauN tOeckeI. BY
birth and nationality I am a Swiss, but
cosmopolitan il every taste and habit.
In my early days I regularly followed
the profession of a courier. as l do now
occasionally when any of my old patrons
or their friends require such services.
which Is rather infrequent, the taste of
the travelling public having degenerated
into hasty journeys by express trains.
with the consequent loss of all enjoy
ment OF the different phases of scenery
through which the travellers are passing.
In the course Of my many years expert
once ] have been witness to many strange
occurrences. have assisted in many 4
secret and adventurous undertaking.
and have been subject to many perils
From among such varied experiences I
give the following strange story. sup
pressing for obvious reasons the real
names of those interested
Many years ago Z was engaged as courier
to his EXceieHcy the Honorable Frederick
EslinCtOn, ambaSSador-eNtra raOrdinary Of his
Britanic Majesty King George, on a special
secret mission to one of the great Contineu-
tai powers. Having finished his duties and
successfully attained the object Of his mis-
sion. We started on our hOmeWard journey
in the summer OF Is. The period was one
to be long remembered, from the political
excitement which existed throughout all
Europe, almost every government having
unSheathed the sword. We had travelled
considerable part of the first stage OF our re-
turn journey, when his eXcehency, who was
feeling the fatigUes Of the iBCcSSant travel
ing ia the heavy, rumbllnG carriage, said he
should stop at the next town we arrived at
and take rest and TefTcshment, both OF
which he was much in need Of, besides hav-
ing important state documents TO trauscTibe.
In due course we arrived at the small town
Of s. ON the confines of Germany,
w we mt nm hN4l II. "a .1a nd "a
half there and was then Instructed to
have the carriage and horses in readiness to
continue our journey. His eXceileuCY mean
while had completed his writings, to which
he had aSSiduously applied himself; and
told me. as it was fne afternoon, he would
take a short walk, and on his return resume
his Journey at once, and / must therefore
make all necessary Preparations He aC-
cOrdingly lett the hotel. But he was never
seen afterWard, nor was anything known Of
his fate.
l waited upward of an hour anxiously
and then made close search for him, which
] continued for several days, but not a trace
could discover OF NY master. \ VltlagtT,
however, living outside the town. brought
to me at the hotel al pair Of of Oyeralls,
which he stated he had found in q neighbor-
ing cOpSe. / recognized the garment rs be
longing to his eXcellcucv. and IT once re
paired with the yiliageT 10 the copSe and
closely examined the spot but found no
trace or sign of any struggle
Finding il useless to prosecute the search
I at once returned to London with his eX-
ccliencyS travelling gear, which handed to
his family. The British government at once
Instituted inquiries, Is did also his eXcellen-
cy'S family, and large rewards were offered
by both, and advertisement widely dissent
mated for any information respecting the
missing ambassador: but they failed one
and all to gain any information OF or the
slightest clue to his fate. y certain amount
OF suspicion attached TO me. but II was only
+ momentaTy and l at once cleared myself of
it, and assisted the distracted wife and her
missing husbands family as much as lay IN
my power. We'll | remember the aCOnies Of
anxiety and suspense caused TO the amhas-
SadOr's wife and family by the distressing
calamity. Magisterial Investigation was
made, experts we're employed and every en-
deayOr made to penetrate the dark veil OF
( mystery surrounding the event; but all ef-
forts were unsuccessful. One OF his ma Jes-
tvs ambassadors had completely and nlyS-
teriously disappeared without leaving a
. clue to light up the awful ObScurlty which
/ envelOped the tragic occurrence.
Several years had elapsed since the dis
trcSSing event, and the memory, the paIuIu u
( memory, OF it was beginning TO fade from
my mind, when happened TO be in AutwerI
on short tour through Belgium with pa
irons. And while listicssly strOliing by my
self in the quay one summers evening
. watching the passengers GisemOaTklng iron
the newly arrived steamer, | was accOSte'
+ DN 4 mean, MISUNDERSTANDING liltic Hldll @
beggarly appearance, who spoke 70 me d
Flemish.
''Are you not Herr Rockcl. the courier?
said he
YES replied l. "What do you wan
with me- Who are you2'
4 suppose You have quite forgotten me .
said he.
| stared at him keenly. The mans fea
lures were somewhat familiar 10 me. yet
: was confused in my remembrance Of ho'
and where / had seen him. 4 do not kno'
You, said /.
r '.Yes YOU do, and very well, replied h
. ''My name is Ludwig kuhi, and have ln
. quenty driven YOU the first stage out OF \
D emma | did So when You were courier
D his Excellency the Honorable Eslington,
/; the summer OF the year Is
l. (The courier Is remembered even Wht
a the patron is forgotten, for II IS to us III
I landlords and their servants look for the
gratuities-)
c ber YOU now well. How goes IL with yOt
S What do YOU do here in Antwerp The @
:. trade, eh -
: .'Ah, no ." he replied, with a deeI
: drawn sigh. It's long story, and car
tell il to You here in all this noise and bust
z Let US go to g quiet cd5dret.'
It / agreed and in cur short walk revolN
,e in my mind al those. circumstances, 50 ia
and impenetTaDe in their profound myStel
which had happened years before. AnC
remembered how our position, Ludv
R Kuhl. had assisted me in the unayaill
Is search Tor his eXcellency. soon we reacf
k a little cabaret their name is legion IN