The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-12
A BADEN-BADEN TRAGEDY.
An Incident of the Rich and Mad Princess
DromorOff.
Especial Correspondence


Especial Correspondence
BADEN-BADEN, Jan. 15.-I had climb
ed to the mountain top and had scram-
bled aloft even to the crumbling battle
ments of the old castle of the Duke Of
Baden. At the base of the mountain
Baden-Baden crouched, as in the dead
days, like dog at its masters feet.
lighted another cigarette and acct
dentally dropped my cigarette case into
the ruins instead of my pocket Looking
down, I saw it drop far below through
an iron grating into q black hole-a
well. 1t had fallen into the ancient
ubliette-vanished as did strong men
long age when the hosts of this castle
dropped inconvenient guests down there
to slow and secret death.
AS looked man came and peered
down the grating. Two young women
lowered near. The man was small and
slim, and his clothes hung awkwardly
upon him. Presently he lifted his eyes
to me and stared moment. Then with
his companions he left the ruins.
"Many visitors?' I asked the gate
keeper later.
Hundreds, mein herr; but so early
this morning only yourself and the
Princess Dromoroff. -
MANY descend into that vault?"
"There's a rope ladder, mein herr,
but few use it. -
81 dropped q cigarette case down
there. Will you get it for me?"
''But mein herr should descend him
self and see the dungeon. The Princess
Dromoroff has been down.
Every well, will. But not now-to-
morrow. Who is your Princess Dromo-
roff?'
"She is Russian, very rich and very
mad. She has also sick heart, which
she comes to Baden-Baden to cure. -
'Sick heart? Love?'
''No, mein herT-cigarettes. 1t is for
hidden in all Baden Baden to sell her
tobacco. Every one is paid to keep it
from her. She has offered her purse,
bursting full for one cigarette So she
is watched always, for she must not
smoke
Hurts her hearth"
"Worse, mein herr. Cigarettes would
stop her heart still like the dead"
Then / descended the mountain and
passed through the town to the Trink-
halle. Like the early morning assem-
blage at Saratoga's Congress spring
was that which now joined. While the
band played everybody was served with
the thermal water from the springs.
Gathered at tables ON the portico and
overlooking into the gardens were health
seekers from all the world-a few actual
and many imaginary valetudinarians.
Gazing fixedly at the bandmaster was
the stranger Of the mountain. At the
table with him sat the two women. Sal
low and wizened was his face. His I'M
der jaw dropped like one aged, but his
mustache was sillSen like the beard of
youth. Each eye was like the dungeons
black hole. Perceiving me, he started as
if to come toward me, but the two wom-
en- dragged him backward, and soon the
three left the portico.
That evening l went to the Kursall,
where in the grand promenade were
wealth, title, fashion and Incidence, the
beauty and the ugliness Of many nations.
The fireworks began. Swishl A co.
lossal fire statue of the grand duke on
horseback, a refined murmur of APP
plause. Monsieur, said small voice.
1t was the mysterious man in the i'll
fitting clothes. His hand tremb1ed on
my arm; his eyes roved wildly; he
seemed like hunted animal. Monsieur
lost cigarette case this morning."
IT did, SIR"
cit was full of cigarettes?"
''Filled this morning."
''Is it still there" said the small
voice, "still where You dropped it2'
IT am going down into the dungeon
tomorrow morning TO get it. Butt