The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-05

IN a Moment More He Stepped to the
Rail.
manned by the dead expecting to meet
nothing but grewsome relics Of trag-
edy, and prepared for shocking sights.
From place to place he advanced al
most on tiptoe, and followed by his
companions who stared into darker
corners or glanced fearfully behind
when the echoes Of their falling feet
dumped hollowly through the steel
cavern. Once a weird shrek caused
them to spring toward each other with
nervous fright, and when the ships
cat came mewing up to them, begging
in its animal way for companionship,
they looked foolishly at one another
like boys who had been startled in the
midst of ghost tales told by a camp.
fire In the woods.
Cabin after cabin and wardroom aft
er wardroom was opened and
searched; but nowhere could be found
sign of disturbance or conflict. There
was not another living being aboard
to greet them. nor did they find more
awful testimonials of war.
In the captains quarters, clean and
business-like, the roll-topped desk was
closed, and the books on top of 1t were
in order as for inspection. At its side
stood a typewriter with the tin resting
lightly upon 1t, and a stenographer's
case notebook beside neatly checked
and showing that the last letter or
order had been completed. On the
wardroom table lay q magazine open
and turned page downward as though
the reader had desired to keep his
place and had stepped away from 1t on
a sudden call. In the galleys CT this
great floating home pots, pans and
kettles were placed in orderly array
In their racks-no thrifty housewife
could have left her kitchen in better
state. In the chartroom the traced
drawn up in their closed cases, and
the hoists were not loaded or Uttered
with ammunition as would have been
the case had the battle ship been in
action when overcome by the enemy.
There was nothing above or below
offering a key to the enigma,
Puzzled and overcome, the patrol
men took temporary charge of the
ship, while a boat hurried away from
the miniature fiotilla, carrying a de-
tailed report to the admiralty, where
the news was received with amaze
ment no less than that which had.
brought the crowd on the embank-
ment. Subordinates Of departments
called for their tardy superiors, tele-
phone bells tangled, and British
bhlegm gave way to excitement; but
even in this remarkable state prece-
dent was maintained and routine OBJ
served, SO that from mar to man, 60
ing constantly upward, the report
reached the first lord of the admiralty.
Then for the first time it was
learned that this high and mighty Of
fetal was missing from his home and
had been summoned to the palace in
the night. No delay could be brooked
in an event so startling, and with due
ceremony inquiries we're instituted for
him. This caused an investigation
in gray old Buckingham, which spread
until 1t came to the head of govern
ment, when It became known that not
only was the naval officer missing, but
no less a parsonage than the king of
England as well.
m great disasters by sea or land
where swift Death ravages, men cry
aloud In their excitement and dis
tress: but when a calamity threatens
a nation and q king is involved. they
seek to hide their emotions. Hence
1t was that in the palace men came
hurriedly together without words to
those around, and In whispers e1-
pressed their anxiety. It was recalled
with alarm that the kaiser had left
his palace in IN equally unceremonious
manner, decoyed by q stranger, and
enticed into the night. Nor was his fate
as uncertain or with more ground for
question. because there he had been
traced to a carriage which had driven
away. The king Of England had gone
into his garden, and the guards at the
gates swore he had not passed the
portals, which they watched. And for
their pains they were doubted and
placed under temporary detention un-
til the king should return to prove
that they were not in a conspiracy
against the state. l
Perhaps the alarm would have been
less keen were It not for the tale Of
the kaiser; but the cases were so
parallel that the conclusion was in
stantly formed that England's mon.
arch was probably in as great jeop-
ardy as his fellow ruler who had now
been gone for many days. The mobiles
looked at one another askance, and
asked what times were these when