Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-11-25
A COUP BY A
TELEPHONE GIRL.
!. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
(Original.1

you VIII land IN Il lunatlc asylum.
But to think of Heinrich being put
to death and he innocent of the crime!
How can l throw that off my mind?
We must find way to get this new
evidence before the court"
THAT is impossible, sweetheart. We
have had the last rehearing of the
case, and it is closed. Do try to make
up your mind to bear it. You will not
only lose your reason, but make me
lose mine. No judge or court can now
help us to save your brother"
could not the EMPEROR
THE emperor cannot interfere in law
cases. Besides, it would be impossible
to get an audience with him."
mot on matter of life and death?'
"Unquestionably. Suppose every con.
victed prisoner or his friends could in.
terview the emperor about his case.
He would have no time for his legti-
mate duties. Besides, the courts have
exclusive control of such matters"
He talked with her long while, but
failed to produce any effect. Who suf-
fers most, one whom the law Furnishes
or those who love the offender? Proba-
bly, the latter. At last the lover went
away and Gretchen walked the floor
in agony Presently Marie Froibel, a.
friend of Gretchen's, came in. Marie
was employed in the central Office OF
the Berlin Telephone. She not only
knew of Gretchen's trouble, but suf-
fered from it herself. Carl, the con.
demned, and Marie had been school
children together, and, although they
had not spoken of love and no one
suspected them of being lovers, still
Marie hid secret in her heart. She
alone knew that she loved Carl. But
she must not display her feelings as
her sister did.
Marie" said Gretchen, II must see
the emperor Carl says his majesty
cannot help us If he would. l don't
believe it. He has the power to do al
most anything. am sure he has a
kind heart"
Marie pondered. ut seems to me-
she said presently, that womans
heart is more susceptible to pity and
would be easier influenced, especially
when what is asked conflicts with
duty"
But the emperor is not woman"
"The empress is"
But has she the power
Eyes, to influence the emperor"
"Well, but we cannot get an inter
view with her any more than with the
emperor"
Il think possibly l may manage
that"
You, poor girl working for your
living, get me an interview with the
greatest lady in the fatherland!'
Sometimes 1 have great power to
secure the attention Of great people"
"What do you mean? Tell me Quickv'
81 have given you hope. Live on that
for the present If perfect plan !
will call you upon the telephone and
give it to you. Stay at home, never go
ing even for a minute where l can't
reach you.'
away. She had caught an idea. The
question remained, Would she get an
opportunity to work 1t out? There
might be a penalty attached to what
she proposed to do, but what was that
compared with chance to save the
life of the man she loved
In few days, when Gretchen was
endeavoring to get her mind off the
tragedy by doing some homework,
there was a ring at the telephone. TAX
ing up the receiver, she heard a wom-
ans voice ask:
as that you, baroness?"
"You are began Gretchen.
THE empress"
Gretchen trembled.
mo, your majesty, / am not the
baroness. l am only poor girl whose
brother has been sentenced TO death
for a crime he did not commit God
has given me this opportunity TO ask
you to help TO save him. | beg that
your majesty will implore the emperor
to use his influence to give me an OPP
portunity to get the new proof that he
is innocent Think, your majesty, how
you would feel if one dear to you were
about to be killed.
This Is singular" said the voice of
the empress as II to herself. Then:
"Give me your brothers name, my
poor girl. and | will see If / can do
anything for you, though you must
know that the courts are an entirely
different part of the government from
that which the emperor administers.
But am sorry for you and will help
you if can"
Gretchen gave her brothers name.
then thanked the empress. hung up the
receiver and danced all around the
room. But 5000 she began TO be de-
spondent again. though now that she
had the empress promise to try to
help her she did not despair.
The next day the judge before whom
the case had been tried received
summons to the palace. There an in
terview occurred between him and the
emperor, which resulted in reopen
Ing Of the case In question, and in the
end the condemned man was acquitted
Marie Froibel had succeeded in get
ting herself assigned to a field which
h.