The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-12-21

waiting to receive me. He was stand
ing stitly at attention, his heels to-
gether in military style, and, when
l entered, he saluted me. Then, see
ing that l was in civilian clothes, he
looked at me inquiringly.
I had already decided upo my
course of action. l would tell Count
Lichtenstein frankly thatI represent
ed his majesty of England, who had
heard disquieting rumors concerning
the emperor's health. OF course l
had presented my special passport,
vised by Lord Lansdowne, the head
of the foreign Office, which insured
me a reception.
Hardly had I stated the purpose of
my mission when 1 saw the count
start and change color. He looked
at me with a penetrating gaze.
"His majesty appears-in his-nor.
metaphysical health" he said with
difficulty, gulping down the words.
Mental, my dear count, mental"
1 rejoined. l saw the muscles of his
face twitching and knew that had
him at the confessional. by the
way" l continued, approaching him,
! where is his majesty?"
I'm damned if I know" the count
exploded. Then W looked at one an
other earnestly and both saw that the
time had arrived for frankness.
SIS it the emperor or is it some i'm
postor?" l asked.
1T is not the emperor" the count
replied. The resemblance is almost
perfect. 1t would deceive anybody
who had not known his majesty so
Intimately as I. Nevertheless, l know
that it is not the emperor. But how
ing myself open to Imprisonment as
a lunatic?"
Tell Inc how and when the trans.
formation occurred" ! asked.
ut was about Is days ago. I was
the minister in attendance for the
week at the royal palace. His maj.
esty had gone to bed in his inner
apartment, which overlooks the street.
A guard was on duty in the outer
rooms. ] was passing through to in.
spect them before my departure when
we heard the emperor's bell rung. His
valet hurried in, came ont, and an
nounced that his majesty desired to
see me. When l entered l found him
in his pajamas, sitting up in bed.
Count Lichtenstein, you have been in
my service for many years, have you
not?' he said. l bowed. And you
would do any favor for me- I would
serve your majesty in any way pos.
sible,' I answered. Then he replied,
be 80 good as to stand on your head,
my dear count, to relieve my ennui.' F"
What did you do?" I queried.
81 stood on my head" replied the
count, a slow blush creeping up be-
meath his bearded cheek. And then
l perceived that this was not my ELI
peror. And ever since l have lived
in an agony Of doubts, with no one to
whom to conf1de my suspicious"
What of the prisoner in the for.
tress?" l asked.
Count L~ichtenstein choked. "You
have heard?" he cried.
l nodded, waiting. Suddenly Count
L~ichtenstein grasped me by the arm
wildly.
"This man-this false emperor-or.
dered him to be placed in a mask and
taken to the Turkish border fortress
of Chodovay,'"h he said. HE thinks
his order has been obeyed. But /
have managed that he shall remain
in the prison here. The chief of pc,
lice is of my own following. But l
have not dared to see this n,an-this
so-called lunatic-for l know 1t is my
emperor"
He collapsed into a chair, painfully
agitated. 1t was with some difficulty
| able view of affairs, for he talked of
suicide and of having betrayed the
honor and safety of his ruler. Finally
1 induced him to secure me a presen-
tation to the pseudo-emperor at the
levee on the following day.
had taken up my residence in a lit,
tie, transformations house in a respect
able, but not fashionable, quarter. On
the following afternoon, arraying my
self in court dress, l summoned a car
riage and had myself conveyed to the
palace, where l found myself In the
midst Of a throng Of notables, all
pressing toward the throne room. At
the door I was damned in the mob and
held immobile for several moments,
during which l witnessed a remark
able spectacle.
Before me, not IL feet away, stood
the impostor upon a crimson carpet
under a canopy, surrounded by his
staff, all a-glitter with colors and or.
ders. A gentleman in plain black had
just bowed to him and turned to pass
on, but the emperor Gas I must call
him) detained him. l had no diff
Guilty in recognizing the features of
Mr.. Timothy Purroy, the American
ambassador.
Zone minute, Mr.. Purroy." cried the
emperor, in fluent English. Il hear
there's a mad Yankee in the hands
of the police who thinks he's the en-
| peror of Austria. What?"