The Minneapolis journal., 1905-08-23

wires to my staff, while my valet was
strapping up the portmanteau which al
ways stands ready packed in my dress
ing room, and to look out my German
passport-for I have separate one
for every important nationality-an
in an hour or two I was seated in the
Berlin express, speeding towards the
frontier.
From the bunch of papers which
my attentive secretary had thrust into
the carriage. learned something Of
the effect which the German emperor s
Interference in the affairs of South
Africa had produced on the public
mind in England. It was evident that
the islanders were strongly reused,
gage of battle which had been thrown
down. No sooner had I reached Ger
| man territory than I found evidences
| OF an even greater excitement. The
whole nation seemed to have rallied
round the kaiser, and to be ready to
back up his words with martial deeds.
By this time l had little doubt that
the outbreak of hostile feeling between
the two powers. But it was impossi'
BILE for me to anticipate the actual ma
ture of the task which awaited me.
On reaching Berlin I was met by
private emissary of Finkelstein s, who
hurried me off to the directors pri-
vate house. The first words with which
he greeted me convinced me that the
business l had come about was Of no
ordinary kind.
"Do not sit down. he said to me,
as I was about to drop into a chair,
after shaking hands with him. II must
ask you to come to my dressing room
at once, where you will transform
yourself quickly as possible into an Of
! Of hn ho
that is done, I am to conduct you to
the palace, where his majesty will see
AS I followed the director into the
dressing room, where I found a uni
form suit laid out ready for my wear;
me what this is about?''
Finkelstein shook his head with
| mysterious air.
"The kaiser has told me nothing.
But ne. warned me very strictly not to
l let single creature in Berlin know of
your arrival, and from that fact have
naturally drawn certain conclusions. -
I gazed at Finkelstein with some sus-
plclon. We were good friends, having
worked together on more than one oc-
caslOn, and | knew he would have no
wish to keep me in the dark. On the
other hand, if he had been instructed
to 90 so, | knew he would not hesitate
to lie TO me: The secret service has
ITS code OF honor, like other profess
Genes before friendship.
Keeping my eye fixed on him, I OBJ
served carelessly:
"You will tell me Just as much or as
little as you think fit, my dear Finkel-
stem. On my part [ shall, Of course,
imperial majesty has given me my in
structions -
AS [ expected, the bait took. Curl
oslty IS the besetting weakness of a Sc
cret service officer, and the Berlin
d1rector was no exception to the rule.
Putting on his most confidential man
ner, he at once replied
trust each other, whom can we
trust? Rest assured that nv
confidence in you has no reserves. /
have spoken the bare truth in saying
that the kaiser has given me no indica,
ton of his object In sending for you.
But the fact that he has ordered me to
take these precautions to conceal the
fact OF your arrival in Berlin tells me
Pla1nly that there IS person whom he
wishes to keep in ignorance; and that
person can only be-
"The chance ellor?' I threw in, as nv
companion hesitated
Flnkelstein nodded.
HYou consider, perhaps, that it is
against the chancellor that I am to be
employed9'' I went on.
1T looks like it, was the cautious
answer.
And the reason why this task is not
placed in your handsq''
Is because am a native of Hanover
and the kaiser regards me rather as a
public official than as a personal serv-
: ant of his own dynasty,'' said Finkel-
In other words, he regards you as a
creature of the chancellor 's,'I com
mented bluntly. +,
: The director made pleasing and in.
genious attempt to blush.
can only affirm to you, on my sa-
J cred word Of honor, that his majesty
) has no cause to trust me any less than
, if [ were Prussian,'' he declared
And I shall take it as a personal
Kindness if you will endeavor to con
, vince the kaiser of my loyalty.'
E IT will take care that he knows vou1
r Sentiments I answered, with an ambi
guilty which Finkelstein fortunately die
: not remark.
g