The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-12-21
NARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN ADAMS
Copyright, by W. G. Chapman.)

Detective. Diplomat

ID. Hr..r.'E -. AASO III AAo SIuAS III d A16u
state OF excitement. In his hand he
held a letter. When l entered he
came up to me at once, with the ap-
pearance of a man who seeks some
consolation after having gone through
an intolerable 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
sesses courage and discretion in the
highest degree. In view of your sue
cessful expedition to Berlin recently l
am confident that you can solve this
difficult problem
bowed my acknowledgements and
waited for information. At that mo-
ment, however, his majesty's secre-
tary, Lord (then Sir Francis) Knowles
came quickly in from an ante-roum.
THE ambassador is here, sir" he
said.
Bring him in at once, Knowles"
said the king. mo furmalities." A
moment later Lord Walter Eaton
strobe 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-
fdence of Austria and improving rela-
tons between that country and
Britain.
Lord Walter Eaton, this is Captain
Adams, of whom l spoke to you," said
his majesty. Perhaps you had better
tell him why he is tt 60 to Vienna"
Extraordinary events have been
occurring at the Viennese court" be-
gan the ambassador. They we're the
cause of my journey home"
Tell Adams what the emperor
called you," interpolated his majesty,
with a momentary flicker Of amuse-
ment.
"A Soul old horse,' said Lord Wal
ter Eaton grimly. HE addressed that
remark to NIT, apropos Of nothing in
particular, at the last levee. His be-
havior has, in short, been so peculiar
as 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.
bility, and behaves to each person
whom he addresses with the most Of
fensive familiarity
Never mind those details at pres
ent," said the king. Captain Adams,
had been receiving confidential re-
ports concerning the mental condition
Of the Austrian emperor from many
sources for some days when. early this
morning, I received this letter, which
is Individually in his writing. Read 1t"
took 1t. 1t was a hurried scrawl,
imploring King Edward to intervene
to protect the writer, who had been
dispossessed of his throne by an i'm
postor resembling him, and imprisoned
in the fortress of Vienna. The name
signed was that Of Francis Joseph.
Il don't know what to make of it,"
muttered the king, beginning to pace
the floor again. There appear to be
only 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 l don't
know how to find out which is cor
rect"
x can supply the solution, sir" I
replied.
How is that?" the king exclaimed.
by starting immediately to find
out"
YES" replied his majesty. "I think
that will be best. I viii write you a
letter to Count ~Lfchtenstein. the en-
peror's chancellor, insisting that you
be given an immediate interview. You
had better acQuaint yourself with as
many details as possible concerning
the onset OF this deJusion--if indeed it
be one. But II the letter is genuine,
remember, l rely upon you to effect
the emperor's release. Use any means.
so long as you do not lnculpnte he
British government"
l bowed and took my leave. Hurry
ing back to my lodgings III Half Moon
street. P%iccadilly, | ordered Talbot, my
soldier servant. to- pack my grip.
Where are you hon to this time, If
l might h'arsk. str?' questioned my
faithful attendant.
Vienna, Talbot" I replied shortly.
witch Ia the capital Of H'aust,ia,
sir, isn't it," Talbot put In. Wont
you tyke me along to protect you, sir?
Them H'austrians is a tricky lot, as
I've been given to understand
For a moment l was almost tempted
to accede to the fellows request. But
a moments more reflection convinced
me that, In view of the extreme
delicacy of the business on hand, l
must act alone. With some difficulty
succeeded In dispensing his hopes,
and, grip In hand. I entered the night
train for Harwich that evening en-
route for Vienna. The journey across
the North sea was accomplished with
out unusual occurrences, and on the
second day thereafter / raj standing
in the reception room of the Austrian
emperor's palace, waiting for word
from Count L~ichtenstein, to whom I
had sent in my card. Lord Walter
-. ~