The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08

urts Of Europe, . Treason" E
was at last put an end to by cipher
Ielegram from the agent whom I had
stationed in Belgrade unknown to even s
Draga herself. ~ y - E
Death Of king fixed for next week.
queen must be persuaded to fly at
The dispatch reached me lust half
an hour before the departure Of the
oriental express, into which flung
myself, painting, as it began to glide
out of the station.
MY agent, warned from Vienna, met
me - as | alighted in Belgrade.
, Inc pallor Of his countenance told me
that he had bad news to communicate.
The worst-instantlyl | exclaimed
IN Polsh, language I have taught to
all the most trusted members Of my
staff. 80 80
!" Nothing has happened" he STAN.
mered out. But tried to give a
mint to the queen; she has passed it
on to her husband. The conspirators
have learned that suspicion has been
aroused in the palace; and''
And what?o I seized him BY the
wrist.
The assassination is to be carried
out tonight instead Of next week. - :.
"Tonightl'
Exhausted as I was by the long
Journey, this news almost broke me
down. | had to lean against my agent
for support
The poor wretch, conscious that he
had blundered disastrously, dared not
meet my eye, and felt Hmm trenl-
bling. ....s45
It IS my maxim never to be angry
with an employe except for bad faith.
down I consider the fault is mine for
having intrusted him with task be-
yond his powers. Besides, there are
no perfect instruments. In my own
career have made two mistakes.
Therefore J assured the unfortunate
man that all was well, since queen
Draga was vet alive. We went together
been residing for some time in the
character Of correspondent of the Havas
agency. There I assumed the Servian
dress which he had had the forethought
to prepare for me, and, disguised as
sous officer, I set off for the palace.
Ny military uniform naturally In
spired confidence in the sentries, those
in the plot no doubt supposing that l
was SO, also.
7 made my way round to side en-
trance, suitable to my apparent station,
and there, by my agent g advice, asked
to see Anna Petrovitch, the waiting
maid who had shared the queen IS for
tunes for many years: $,
and presently Anna herself appeared.
She took me apart into a small cham
Der apparently used by the upper SER
wants Of the palace, and asked me what
I wanted. T
s'I must see the queen Immediately,
in private" I answered.
"You cannot do that. Her majesty
is Just sitting downs9to dinner. What
is your name; and ,s what 40 you want
MY name does mot matter. I come
as a friend, and I bring her majesty
message from one who wishes her
well. = Ya
I knew that If this woman were real
ly in Draga 8 confidence these words
would not fall UNDECIDED. \"
'sCannot you tell me something moref
+ I will try to get you an audience as
soon as dinner is over, provided I am
sure that you are a friend.o
ssListen!'' I bent forward and whis-
( pered in her ear. t1Have you ever
heard the queen mention certain Mon
l. sieur V--90
Q The woman gave a start Of joy,
?, impossible to be feigned:
n You come from himS'
I bowed.
3, stThen [ will endeavor to let the
9 queen know. at once. In the meantime,
L follow me.
y Anna conducted me up one of the
e back staircases Of the palace and along
"a a corridor, till we arrived at door,
q which she unlocked with a key taken
out Of her pocket. .55
If I found myself in a small bedroom,
id hu1nbly but comfortably furnished. ),
e. NThis is nv own room. The queen g
boudoir is reached thru that 1907, :.
ID she explained pointing int to 2afe the pna
caution Of locking you in:
at "Stay,O I said sharply. "In situa,
r. tions like this I trust no one. Give
r. me the key and I will lock myself in
to. and open to your knock.
K The servant made no objection, and
/ signal was arranged between US;
to after which she stole away, leaving m me
is fate Of kingdom trembling IN the bal
Of my feelings during the next hall
s.. hour it would be useless to speak. Muir
fe der, red-armed and tiger-eyed, was
We whetting it's knife against the bosom
a. q have died to save. And I could d.
+ nothing but stand there and gaze fur
=. lively thru the window for the first sig1
~ r 9of the approaching cyclone.
- At the end Of thirty eternal minutes
az the expected knock came at the oute1
81 door. I took out my; loaded revolver
~ cooked it, and advanced to the TIRES
= hold.
=, - "Who is theref'''
!. 'sThe queen s friend" came the ex
~ pected answer.
I unlocked the door, opened It just
n rs widely enough to admit the waiting e
,s 3s maid, and promptly shut and locked i
to 1The queen knows you are here, but
to she dares not leave The table for an
other half hour. At the end OF that
lis time she will be in her boudoir, and vii
hit admit us.
vn T took out my watch and cursed eacl
1T dilatory hand.
re IT'S the danger 50 pressing, then9p
IN asked the frightened woman.