Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
CHAPTER I.
Crowned Heads Meet.

window of their spacious sitting room,
looking down upon the thorOughfare be-
meath. Both men were laboring under a
bitter sense of failure. Bellamy's face
was dark with forebodings; Dorward was
irritated and nervous. Failure was a
new thing TO him-a thing which those
behind the great journals which he rep
resented understood less even than he.
Bellamy loved his country and fear was
gnawing at his heart.
Below, the crowds which had been wait
ing patiently for many hours broke into
tumult of welcoming voices Down
their thickly packed lines the volume of
sound arose and grew, a faint murmur at
first. swelling and growing to thunder
Gus roar. MyriadS of hats were suddenly
torn from the heads of the excited null
titude. handkerchiefs waved from every
window. 1t was a wonderful greeting,
this.
THE car on his way to the railway
station" Bethany remarked.
The broad avenue was suddenly
thronsed with mass of soldiery-
guardsmen of the most famous of Aus
tran regiments. brilliant in their white
uniforms. their flashing helmets. The
small brougham with its great black
horses was almost hidden within ring of
naked steel Dorward. an American to
the backbone and bitter democrat,
thrust out ms under up
1.-The anointed of the LOrd!" he NUT
tered.
Far away from some other quarter
came the same roar of voices, muffied yet
insistent. charged with that faint. excit-
ing timbre which seems always TO live in
the cry of the multitude
THE emperor" declared Bellamy. He
goes to the West station"
The connection had passed. The crowds
in the street below We're on the move,
"A
ping of feet and murnur of voices The
two men turned from their window back
into the room. Dorward commenced to
roll a cigarette with yellow-stained, ner-
vous fingers, while Bellamy threw HIM
self into an easy chair with gesture of
depression.
so it is over. this Iong-talked-of meet
ing he said. half TO himself, half to Dor
ward. 1T is over and Europe is left to
wonder"
"They were together for scarcely more
than an hour" Dorward murmured.
Long enough" Bellamy answered.
THAT little room in the palace my friend,
may yet become famous
If YOU and / could buy it's secrets"
Dorward remarked. finally shaping Gig
arctic and lighting it, I'VE should be big
bidders. 1 think I'd give fifty thousand
dollars myself to be able to cable even
hundred words of their conversation
For the truth" Bellamy said the
whole truth, there could be no price suffi
cient. We made our effort in different
directions. both of us. With infinite pains
/ planted may tell you this now that
the thing is over-seven spies in the
palace. They have been of as much use
as rabbits. / don't believe that a single
one of them got any farther than the
kitchens
Dorward nodded gloomily.
II guess they weren't taking any
chances up there" he remarked. There
wasn't a secretary in the room Car
stairs was nearly thrown out, and he had
a permit TO enter the palace. The great
staircase was held with soldiers, and Dick
swOre that there were maXims In the cor
ridors-"
Bethany sighed.
1--WE shall hear the roar Of bigger guns
before we are many months older. Dor
The journalist glanced at his friend
keenly.
"You believe that?"
Bellamy shrugged his shoulders.
do you suppose that this meeting is
for nothing?" he asked. when Austria.
Germany and Russia stand whispering in
a corner. can't you believe it is across
the North sea that they point? Things
have been shaping that way for years
and the time is almost ripe
You English are too nervous to live,
nowadays Dorward declared. tmpa-
tiently. I'D just like to know what they
said about America
Bellamy smiled with faint but delicate
irony.
Without a doubt the prince will tell
YOU" he said. HE can scarcely do more
TO show his regard for your country. He
is giving YOU a special interview-you
alone out of about two hundred journal
lists. Very likely he will give you an ex
act account of everything that transpired.
First of all. he will assure you that this
meeting has been brought about in the
interests of peace. He will tell you that
the welfare of your dear country is fore
most in the thoughts of his master. He
will assure you
Say. you're jealous. my friend,'' Dor
ward interrupted. calmly. Il wonder
what you'd give me for my ten minutes
alone with the chancellor. eh?"
If he told me the truth" Bellamy as
serted. I'D give my life for it. For the
sort of stuff you're going to hear I'd give
nothing. Can't YOU realize that for your
self. Dorward? You know the man-false
as hell. but with the tongue of a serpent.
He will grasp your hand; he will declare
himself glad to speak through you TO the
great Anelo-Saxon races-to England and
TO his dear friends the Americans. He is
only too pleased to have the opportunity
of expressing himself candidly and open
ly. Peace is to be the watchword of the
future The white doves have lowered
over the palace. The rulers OF the earth
have met that the crash of arms may be
stilled and that this terrible unrest which
,broods over Europe shall finally be
broken up. They have pledged themselves
hand in hand to work together for this
= but with an immense army still available
whose only chance of holding her place
among the nations is another and a sue
cessful war; Austria, on fire for the sea-
board-Austria- to whom war would give
the desire of her existence: GERMANY with
Bismarck last but secret words written
in letters OF fire the walls of her
palaces. in the hearts of her rulers in
the brain OF her great emperor Colonies,
Expansion, Empire, Whose colonies, 1
wonder? Whose empire? Will he tell
you that. my friend Dorward?
The journalist shrugged his shoulders
and glanced at the clock
Il guess he'll tell me what he chooses
and shall print it he answered indif-
ferentIy. ITS all part of the game of
course. | am not exactly chicken enough
TO expect the truth. All the same nv
message will come from the lips of the
chancellor Immediately after this wonder
full meeting"
He makes use of YOU" Belamy de-
clared. Ito throw dust into our eyes and
yours
Even So" Dorward admitted, II don t
care so long as | get the copy. It's good
bye. ] SUPPOSE"
Bellamy nodded.
Il shall go on to Berlin. perhaps, to-
morrow" he said Il can do no more
good here. And you?''
after I've sent my cable I'm off to
Belgrade for a week. at any rate" Dor
ward answered. Il hear the women are
ria oh oil