The Washington times., 1911-08-30

Prince Eugen, the hereditary Grant
Duke of Posen, has disappeared. Foul
days ago was to have met him at Os
tend. He had affairs in London. Hs
i sent Dimmock on In front, an6
waited Tor Eugen. He did not arrive.
telegraphed back to Cologne, his las
stopping place, and l learned mat he
mad left there in accordance with his
brogra l learned also that ne had
passed through Brussels. It must have
Deen between Brussels and the railway
peared.
He was travelling with a single equer-
~. and the equerry. too, has vanished.
need not explain to you, Miss Rack
sole, that when a person OF the i'm
portance OF my nephew contrives to get
lost, one must proceed cautiously.
"One cannot advertise for him in the
| London Times Such a disappearance
must be kept a secret. The people of
Posen and at Berlin believe that Eugen
| is In London, here at this hotel; or,
rather. they did so believe.
But this morning l received a cipher
telegram from-from his majesty the
Emperor, very peculiar telegram, ask
ing when Eugen might be expected to
| return to Posen, and requesting that he
should go first to Berlin. That tele-
gram was addressed to myself
Now, II the Emperor thought Eugen
the telegram to be addressed to me?
j have hesitated for three days, but /
can hesitate no longer; / must myself
go to the Emperor and acquaint him
with the facts"
Il suppose you've Just got to keep
straight with him." Nella was on the
point Of saying, but she checked her
self and substituted, the Emperor Is
your chief. is he not? First among
equals, you call him."
g oaN
Aribert, quietly.
why do you not take immediate
steps to inquire as to the whereabouts
Of your royal nephew?' she asked SIM
ply.
The affair seemed to her Just then so
plain and straightforward.
Because one of two things may have
happened. Either Eugen may have
been, in plain language, abducted, or
he may have had his own reasons for
the background-out of reach Of tele-
graph and post and railways"
What sort Of reasons?"
do not ask me. In the history of
every family there are passages"
He stopped.
And what was Prince Eugen's OBJ
ject in coming to London?'
Aribert hesitated.
Money" he said at length. LAS a
family we are -,y very poor.poorer than
any OllC III buSptClS
Prince Aribert," Nella said, shall I |
tell you what l think?''
She leaned back in her chair and
looked at him out of half+closed eyes. |
His pale, thin, distinguished face held |
her gaze as If by some fascination. |
There could be no mistaking this man |
for anything else but a prince.
If you WILL" he said.
Prince Eugen is the victim Of q |
plot"
Il am perfectly convinced of it."
But why? What can be the object !,
Of a plot against hin?"
That is a point of which you should |
know more than ]" she remarked |
All! Perhaps-perhaps," he said.
But, dear Miss Racksole, why are you
so sure?''
There are several reasons, and they
ire connected with Mr.. Dimmuck Did
hat poor young man was not entirely
oyal to your
He WAS absolutely loyal" said the
Prince, with all the earnestness Of con-
tction.
"A thousand pardons, but he was not"
Miss Racksole, If any other than
'ourself made that assertion, would
[ would" II
"Consign them to the deepest dun
:eon In Posen? she laughed lightly.
And she told him of the incidents
which had occurred in the night pre-
eding his arrival in the hotel
DO you mean, Miss Racksole. that
'oor Dimmock and this fellow Juie,?'
Impossible
Your hlghness, the man who wishes
ses the word impossible But / will
ay this for Mr.. Dimmock. 1 think he
epented, and / think that II was be-
ause he repented that he-cr-died so
uddenly and that his body was spirited
way"
Why has 10 one told me these things
efore?" Arlbert exclaimed.
Princes seldom hear the truth" she
He was astonished at her coolness,
Ter 1rmness of assertion, her air Of
omplete acquaintance with the world.
Miss Racksole," he said, 'ff you will
ermlt me to say II, | have never in
~ life met a woman like you. May
S ON SUPPORT gpS5 Prnee BUT gDfr
II do not know" he replied; "bu:
ou could help me If you would. A
Toman, when she has brains, always
as more brains than a man."
"Ahr' she said, ruefully. have no
rains, but I believe 1 can help you"
What prompted her to make that as !
ertion she could not have explained 8
ven to herself.
But she made 1t, and she had a sus-
icion. a prescience, that it would be 8
tstif1ed, though by what means. {
trough what good fortune, was still a ,
lystery to her.
''Go to Berlin" she said. ct see that
ou must do that. You have no alter
ative; As for the rest, we will see.
will occur. 1 shall be here
~ father will be here. You must count
$ as your friends
He kissed her hand when he left. and
when she was alone sbe |
issed the spot his lips had touched,
gain and again.
Now. thinking the matter over in the
llmness of solitude, all seemed strange b
nreal, uncertain to her. %
Were consniracies actually possible :
owadays? Did queer things actually
lppen in Europe? And did they actu- n
lv happen in London hotels? Il
She dined with her father that night N
81 hear Prince Aribert has left" said =
heodore Racksole. u
Yes" she assented
She said not word about their inter- 81
ew.