Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-12-29
ARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN ADAMS
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.)
Detective Diplomat

the German agents, who will, doubt
less, soon be upon your trail. The
ka1ser's representative is none other
than the notorious Stapfhaus.
With this he took me by the hand
and, after cordial Godspeed, fairly
showed me down the steps and into
Downing street. I was overcome with
amazement for a few moments, which
was not lessened by the recollection
of the enemy had to face For Stapf-
haus, convicted forger and blackmail-
er, mad been the most adroit of all
Germany's representatives before his
downfall, and we had crossed swords
when I was at Berlin, not wholly to
my advantage.
Half an hour later was at home,
saying adieu to Talbot.
Wont you tyke me with you, STRIP
he pleaded. '"They's tough devils, I
hear, them Rooshians."
l wayered for a moment. But I al
ways like to take my fences alone. Re-
luctantly / felt that I must play a
lone hand in these strange and pecu-
liar circumstances. I ordered Talbot
to sew the dispatches inside my coat,
at the same time mentioning that
expected to encounter danger from
Stapfhaus, whose duty it was at any
cost to prevent me from delivering
my dispatches to the Russian admiral.
Five minutes later Talbot handed
me my coat. Putting it on, I felt the
crinkly paper of the dispatches inside
the lining. Then, again refusing his
urgent and repeated requests that
permit him to accompany me, I
jumped into cab, grip in hand, and
started upon my journey to Copen-
hagen.
With the details of the journey as
far as the. Danish frontier I need not
that from the moment when I left the
house I perceived that I was under
surveillance. In the street, in the
train, upon the boat, I was followed
by relays Of spies. However, I was
armed, and gave no opportunity to my
enemies. The real struggle, 1 knew,
would come later.
I had calculated that I should be
able to reach Copenhagen about five
hours before the passage of the fleet
through the Sound, which would af-
ford me ample time to communicate
with Admiral Rojestvensky. But an
unexpected incident effectually
changed my plans. We had just
crossed the Danish frontier when sud-
denly a violent impact shook me from
my seat. The coach appeared to sway
and rock; it hung indecisively upon
one side for an appreciable interval,
then slowly righted itself. I was upon
my feet in a moment and, finding my
self uninjured, went to the door and
opened it. Then I discovered that the
train had left the metals and hung
perilously over a steep embankment
from descent into which we had
been saved almost by miracle.
Happily no lives were lost in the
disaster, but by the time that help
arrived I knew I was too late to in
tercept Rojestvensky. On arriving at
the Danish capital, however, to my
great Joy I learned that the vessels of
the fleet had passed through only a
few hours previously, and were cred
tied with an intention of hating just
outside the three-mile limit to await
the arrival of the torpedo boats which
had left Russia couple of days later.
Then I might yet be in time to inter-
.cept the admiral and turn him from
his mission of bloodshed with its dis
astrous sequels.
But how was I to reach the vessels
of the fleet? I learned at the British
embassy that no vessels of any sort
had been permitted within gunshot OF
the Russians; that Rojestvensky had
actually fired upon a small boat that
had attempted to enter into commun1-
cation with him. Clearly his orders
had been explicit. The watchers
from the town had seen his squadron
pass in the offing, at a distance OF
some two miles, in perfect formation.
1t was a formidable array, they said.
Furthermore, the city was wild with
rumors of an impending attack upon
the English shores. But nobody, least
of all the British officials, seemed to
know what events were likely to
transpire.
My plan was soon made up. The
only way to reach the admiral would
be to hire fishing schooner-one OF
those numerous vessels that put out
daily during the season in quest OF
herring and cod, off the Banks of the
North sea. With the use OF this
might approach Rojestvensky boldly
when he was anchored on the high
seas. and safe from any immlnence OF
danger. I did not doubt but that, IN
der these circumstances, he would &C
cord me an interview. And at the
worst, if he should sink me, could
but do my duty and go down TO the
depths of the ocean, carrying my
precious dispatches with me.
Since my arrival in Copenhagen
had been free, so far as could de-
termine, from espionage. | mad not
doubted that the wrecking OF the ex-
press was the result of Stapfnaus