The daily Alaskan., 1908-10-12
''G''s9 T'f N'i''f '''.''!''.''i''F''
 A COUP BY A TELEPHONE GIRL.
.l. 2. :.
lOrlg!nall

kN's faHst.NAh.a
 "Carl, this Is dreadful"
 "Calm yourself, Gretchen. Try to throw It olf your mind If you can't you will land in a lunatic asylum
 But to think of Heinrich bcl"g put to death and he innocent Of the crime! How can throw that or my mind? We must find a way 10 get this new evidence before the court"
 That is impossible, sweetheart. We have had the last rchcaring 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 10 save your brother"
 Could not the emperor"
 "Thc emperor cannot interfere in law cases. Besides, it would be impossible to get an audience with him.
 Not on matter of life and dcathE'
 "UnQucsuionably. Suppose every con yictcd prisoner or his friends could in. tervicw the emperor about his case. He would have no time for his lcgid- mate duties. Besides, the courts have exclusive control of such matters"
 He talked wi.h her a long while, but failed 10 produce any effect Who sui 'crs most, one whom the law pun'Shcs or those who love the offender: PrOOa- bly the latter. Al last the lover went away. and Gretchen walked the floor in agony. Presently Marie frotbcl, a friend of Grclchcn's, came in. Marie was employed in the central office of the Berlin Telephone. She not only knew of Grctchcn's trouble, but sut- tered from it herself Carl, the con Gcmncd. 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 lu her heart. She alone knew that she loved Carl. But she must not display her feelings as her sister did.
 Marie" said Gretchen, "I must see ike emperor. Carl says his majesty cannot help us if he would. l don't believe 1t. He has the power to do al- most anything. I am sure he has kind heart"
 Marie pondcrcd Tt seems to me" she said presently, that a 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 woman.'
 "Thc empress iS,"
 But has she the powcr'-
 "Ycs. to influence the emperor"
 Well but we cannot get an inter, view with her any more than with the emperor"
 T think possibly may manage that"
 You, a poor girl working for your living. get me am interview with the greatest lady i'm the fathcrIand"
 sometimes l have great power to secure the attention oC great people,
 "What doyou mean: Tel quick"
 "I have given you hope. Live on that for the present. If | perfect plan. l will call you upon the telephone and give it 10 You. Stay at home, never go. ing even for minute where l 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 it out? There might be a penalty attached to what she proposed to do, but what was that compared with a chance 10 save the life of the man she loved.
 In a few days, when Gretchen was cndcavoriug Co get her mind of tue tragedy by doing some housework, ,hrrc wasa ring at the telephone, Tax, ing up the receiver. she heard a won. ans voice ask:
 Us that you. baroncsS:'
 You are began Gretchen.
 "The empress"
 Gretchen rcmbIed.
 NO. your majesty, l am not the ItIahIlfNN. NlAl NaAAe N lN'' siAA ''AiN'N brother has been sentenced to death for 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 Co use his influence to give me an op- portunity to get the new proof that he is innocent Think, your majesty, how You would feel ir one dear to you were about to be klled.'
 This is singular" said the voice of the empress as If to herself. Then: Give me your brothers name, my poor girl, and l will sec if l 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
 Gretcayl gave her brothers name, then thanked the qmprcss, hung up the receiver and danced all around the rooa. But soon she began to be de- spoaIeut again, though now that she fN FTsVT Nn