The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-03
A PHONE GIRLS COUP.


calm yourself, Gretchen. Try TO |
throw it off your mind. II you can't
you will land In lunatic asylum"
But to think of Heinrich being put
to death and he innocent of the
crime How can | throw that off my !
mind? We must find a way to get his
new evidence before the court"
THAT is impossible, sweetheart.
We have had the last rehearsing of
the case, and 1t 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"
Gould not the EMPEROR"
THE emperor cannot interfere in
law cases. Besides, 1t would be inn
possible to get an audience with
him"
Not on matter of life and death?"
"Unquestionably. Suppose every
convicted prisoner or his friends
could interview the emperor about his
case. He would have not time for his
legitimate duties Besides, the
courts have exclusive control of such
matters"
| Probably the latter.
The lover went away Then Marie
Froibel, a friend Of Gretchen's, came
In. Marie was employed in the cen
trail office Of the Berlin Telephone.
She not only knew of Gretchen's trou-
bic, but suffered from it herself. Carl,
the condemned, and Marie had been
school children together, and, al
though they had not spoken of love
and no one suspected them of being
lovers, still Marie hid a secret in her
heart. She alone knew that she low
ed Carl. But she must not display
her feelings as her sister did
Marie" said Gretchen, II must
see the emperor. Carl says his ma
jesty cannot help us If he would. l
don't believe 1t. He has the power
to do almost anything. l am sure he
has kind heart"
Marie pondered. at seems to me-"
she said presently, that woman's
heart is more susceptible to pity and
would be easier influenced, especially
when what is asked conflicts with
duty"
But the emperor is not a woman"
"The empress is
But has she the power
"Yes, to influence the emperor"
"Well, but we cannot get an inter-
view with her any more than with the
emperor" @l.
81 think possibly may manage
that"
"You, a poor girl working for your
living, get me an interview with the
greatest lady in the fatherland!"
Sometimes / have, great power to
secure the attention of great people"
what do you mean? Tell me
uuicli!" I'D
II have given you hope. Live on
that for the present. II perfect a
plan | will cali you upon the tele-
phone and give it to you. Stay at
home, never going even for minute
where / can't reach yOu.'
Marie kissed her friend and went
away. She had caught an idea. The
question remained Would she get an
opportunity to work II out? There
might be a penalty attached to what
she proposed to do. but what was that
compared with a chance to save the
life of tine man she loved
In few days, when Gretchen was
endeayoring to get her mind off the
tragedy by doing some housework
there was a ring at the telephone
Taking up the receiver, she heard q
woman's voice ask:
as that you baroness?"
you are"--began Gretchen.
"The empress
Gretchen trembled.
No, your majesty, l am not the
baroness. | am only q poor girl
whose brother has been sentenced &c
death for a crime he did not commit
God has given me this opportunity tC
ask you to help to save him. l beg
, that your majesty will implore the
emperor to use his influence to give
me an opportunity to get the new
: proof that he is innocent Think
. your majesty, how you would feel Il
| one dear to you were about to bt
killed"
e This is singular" said the voice o.
the empress as If to herself Then
GIVE me your brothers name, my
poor girl. and | will see If can dc
5 anything for you, though you mus
a know that the courts are an entirel,
different part of the government from
: that which the emperor administers
b But am sorry for you and will hell
4 you If | cam
Gretchen gave her brothers name
n then thanked the empress, hung NJ
[ the receiver and danced all around tn,
e room But soon she began to be Ge
r spondent again, though now that sh,
o had the empress promise to try :,
h help her she did not despair.
\ The next day the judge befor
whom the case had been tried receiy
n ed summons to the palace. Their