The Raymer enterprise., 1911-12-14
|llIjIxNiiE|a

skkAXASH| found him pacing the
floor OF his study in a higt
Stale OF excitement. In his hand he
heid letter When entered he
came up to me at once. with the ap
pearance OF man who seeks some
consolation after having gone through
Al intolerabie strain.
Captain Adams" he said, plunging
at once into the business on hand, as
was his habit. II am in a most un.
fortunate dilemma, and there is i'm.
mediate need OF an envoy who pos.
8ssses courage and discretion In the
t,ighest degree. In view OF your sue.
ccssiul expedition to Berlin recently
AN confident that you can solve this
didicult problem"
| bowed my Acknowledgements and
waited for information. AT that mo.
meBt, however, his majesty's secre.
tary. Lord (then Sir Francis) Knowles
came quickly in from an ante.room.
The ambassador Is here. sir he
said o..
Bring him in at once. Knowles, +"
said the king NO formalities.' A
moment later, Lord Walter Eaton
strode into his majesty's presence. |
recognized him at once as our envoy
at Vienna, who had succeeded to an
unexpected extent In winning the con,
fiience Of Austria and improving rela.
E tons between that country and
Britain.
Lord Walter Eaton, this Is Captain
Adams. OF whom ! spoke to you,' said
hes majesty. Perhaps you had better
tell him why he is to so to Vienna"
Extraordinary events have been
occurring at the VIennese court" be.
gan the ambassador. They were the
cause OF my Journey home"
Tell Adams what the emperor
caiied you" interpolated his majesty,
With momentary flicker OF amuse-
ment.
"A sour old horse" said Lord Wal
ter Eaton grimly. "He addressed that
remark to me, apropos OF nothing In
particular. at the last leyee. His be.
hayior has. in short, been so peculiar
ss TO give rise to suspicious concern.
ing his sanity. For one thing. he
seems to have forgotten entirely the
values OF the respective orders of no.
bil,ty. and behaves to each person
whom he addresses with the most Of
trnsiye familiarity"
Never mind those details at pres.
aut" said the king. Captain Adams,
had been receiving confidential re-
ports concerning the mental condition
ot the Austrian emperor from many
sources for some days when, early this
morning, received this letter which
l. HdubItably In his writing. Head It,"
took Il. II was hurried scrawl,
,nploring King Edward to intervene
tS protect the writer. who had been
d,spossessed of his throne by an i'm.
pJstor resembling him. and imprisoned
In the fortress Of Vienna. The name
signed was that OF Francis Joseph.
4 don't know what to make OF It,
muttered the king, beginning to pace
the floor again. There appear to b"
uuly two possible solutions. One. the
less likely, is that the emperor has
actually been dispossessed OF his
throne by an impostor; the other,
that this letter Is merely an additional
proof of his insanity. And | don't
Enow how to find out which Is cor
rect"
4 can supply the solution. sir" I
rcplcd.
How Is that" the king exclaimed.
ny starting Immediately to find
uut"
Yes" replied his majesty. 81 think
tnat will be best. | will write you n
tetter to Count Lichtenste!I, the EN-.
peror's chancellor, insisting that you
he given an immediate interview. You
had better acQuaint yourself with as
many details as possible concerning
The onset Of this delusion-lf indeed II
he one. But II the letter is genuine,
temcmbcr, ] rely upon you to effect
the emperor's release. Use any means
80 long as you do not lnculpate the
british government"
bowed and took my leave. Hurry
ing back TO my lodgings In Half Moon
street. Piccadilly, ordered Talbot. my
soldier servant. to pack my grip.
Where are you hon to this time, II
might h'arsk. sir?" questioned my
faithful attendant.
vienna, Talbot" replied shortly.
"W'ich Is the capital OF Haustria
sir, isn't ltY' Talbot put in. Won,
you tyke me along to protect you. sir
Them Haustrians Is a tricky lot, as
I've been given to understand.
For a moment ! was almost tempted
90 aecede to the fellows request. But
! "A moments more reflection convinced
me that. In view OF the extreme
dc!icacy Of the business on hand.
must act alone. With some difficulty
{ succeeded In dispensing his hopes
and. grip In hand. entered the nigh,
train for Rarwich that evening en-
route for Vienna. The journey across
A. North aon waa accumulated with.