The Columbus journal., 1909-02-24
CHAPTER X.=Ccntinued.

CHAPTER X-Ccntinued
The secret service men had already
become convinced that the team be,
longed within the city, and SO, as a
forlorn hope rather than in the be,
lief that any clew would be gained,
they employed the gypsy, giving him
license to adopt whatever means
seemed the most likely to discover and
identify the horse With Romany cum
ming, he Immediately secured a seat
facing one of the most fashionable
parkway drives. where he remained
for hour after hour. apparently occu-
pied in smoking a short black pipe.
and presenting no marked difference
in appearance from that of a hundred
other lVungers.
TX was on the second day of the
traders watch that he jumped to his
feet and eXcitedly ran after a passing
turnout. until he could attract the at
tention of a mounted officer, who had
been posted on the driveway for the
purpose of assisting him in case his
quest should develop anything worth
following. The man pointed to the car
riase ahead. and in broken German as
serted his conviction that it was the
one which had been used in the alb
duction. The officer. after giving him
hasty instructions 10 report to head
quarters. galloped down the boulevard
in pursuit.
Much excitement was caused by the
gypsy's story, and group of the most
prominent officials awaited the return
Of the mounted officer. One hour
passed, and still another, before he
appeared, and suspense by this time
was at high pitch. They began to look
at the horse trader with considerable
suspicion. fearing a canard. and were
almost On the point of sending others
TO search for the missing officer. when
the latter appeared. clanking his spurs
across the tiled floor of the entryway.
He looked sheepishly about him before
saying anything, and then addressing
the captain. said: This man is
Z
promises to be more serious than We
at first believed"
Well" said his superior question
ingly, what about the carriage?"
The officer leaned over and spoke in
a confidential tone. The carriage was
that OF the American ambassador"
The captain started back as if par
alyzed. He impaired the news in an
undertone to his comrades in the room
and the excitement grew. They dared
go no further in this quest without
consulting those of higher authority.
and gathered into a private chamber,
taking the Romany with them. where
they waited till they were joined by
This latter. in person.
questioned both the gypsy and the Off
Ger who had followed the carriage. All
that could be elected from the horse
trader was that he had been accus-
to observe animals closely all
his life, was positive that he could
not be mistaken, and finally. in a fit of
sullen wrath. he SwCre that he would
stake his life on this having been the
animal which passed him on the nigh;
Of the kaiser's disappearance. He
even went further and asserted that
the harness of the horses was the
SAME which he had seen on that &C.
casion.
The mounted officer was equally GER
tain that the turnout was that belong
ing to the embassy. because he had |
observed it before. and knew the am |
bassador by sight. and this was the |
reason why he had made no arrest. |
lie said that he had been prepared |
TO do so when he overlook the team.
out, identifying the occupant, decided |
10 run no risk of OBTAINING so impor-
amt p parsonage. and cOntented him.
self with following the carriage
throughout its journey and till it was
loused. He then dismounted, and by
!. pretext engaged one OF the stable
men in conversation. learning thereby
hat the ambassador had no horses
,thcr than these two. He had not
deemed il advisable TO make any fur
her inquiries for fear CT arou5ics sus-
IiciOn.
The head Of the secret service de-
.ar;ment saw that he was facing Z.
;ery grave responsibility. He sent
messages calling together the most
men in the government,
md within an hour the findings were
aiG before them. They found them
elves in sinSularly embarrassing
To take any action which
night offend the representative of a
latioa wnlcn vas already engaged IN
war, and Of which the
whole world stood in terror and appre-
.eas!on, was something to be avoided