Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-05
The Mischief Maker
ByE PHILLIPS OPPENEEEIN

journalist, seriously injured; Sir Julien
Portel, the ex-cabinet minister,-dead!
She stood as though turned 10 stone.
Then something in her husbands face
seemed to bring her back TO the present.
She turned upon him. Her face was
suddenly lit with some strange, quiv-
ering fire. IL was one of the moments
Of her life.
You miserable worm!" she shrieked.
You dare to stand there and smile be-
cause a man is dead You'll"
He tried to draw himself up. tried to
rebuke her He might as well have
tried to stem a torrent.
II have done my best to share your
rotten. scheming life" she cried, ito
help you in your dirty ways, and to
crawl up into the place we coveted!
Once saw the truth. Once a real man
was kind to me and I saw the differ
ence I've felt it in ny heart ever
since. For your sake and my own, for
the sake OF our rotten, miserable ambi-
tions, 1 ruined him and sent him to
his death. He is dead, do you hear?
You and 1 did it, We are murderers!
And to think that I did IL for you!
That you-such a creature as you
might take his placer
She threw up her hands high above
her head There had been people who
had doubted her good looks. No one at
that instant would have denied her
beauty. Carraby's eyes were fixed upon
her, and he was afraid. Even when
she had cast herself face downward up
on the couch. and lay with her head
buried in her hands, he dared not go
near. He stood there gazing at her
across the room. Perhaps he, too, though
his understanding was less, tasted lit
tie OF the poisonl
In the splendid library Of his palace
in Berlin. the maker of toys leaned
back in his chair after a long and hard
days work. There fingered upon his
lips still the remnants of a grim smile,
which the dictation Of a despatch to
London had just evoked. His secreta-
~ gathered up his papers. His mas
ter was disposed to be genial
MY young friend" he remarked,
those letters from Paris-they were
stopped just in time, eh?"
Just in time, indeed, Highness." the
young man replied. Il have friends
who write me from there. They as
sure me that their effect was tremen-
dous. The cessation of them was in
deed an act of Providence
Prince Falkerberg's lips relaxed,
There were hard lines at the corners
Of his mouth. Yet If this were indeed
smile, it was no pleasant thing to
look upon!
IAN act Of Providence without a
doubtr he excIaimed-"Providen
which watches always over the desti-
mics Of our dear Fatherlandp'
II shall bring you now, Highness, the
foreign papers!" the young man sug-
gested.
IF you please" his master replied.
Il read them now, thank Heaven, with
an easier feeling
The young man retreated and reap
peared in a few minutes with a pile Of
newspapers. Prince Falkenberg rose
and stretched himself. lit a long black
cigar, and threw himself into a COM
Portable chair before the high window.
''Your Highness will take some cof-
fee. perhaps?" the young man asked.
Presently"
The great minister unfolded his
newspapers. A reference in the Eng
lish Times perplexed him. He turned
to the journal which only a few days
ago he had opened with almost a shud-
der. He undid the wrapper. shook it
open. and looked at It. Then suddenly
he sat like a man turned to stone The
cigar burnt out between his teeth, his
eyes were riveted upon that page, the
black letters seemed to have become
iurid. The sentences stabbed, he was
face TO face with the impossible. The
paper which he read was dated on the
preceding day. Before him was a
fourth article, dated from Paris, dat
ed less than forty-eight hours ago,
signed julien Portel" The title of
the article was The Worlds Great
Mischief Makerr' He read on. read
from the first sentence to the last the
naked truth about himself. saw his
motives exposed. his secret visits to
Paris derided, his foibles photographed
He saw himself the laughing stock Of
urope~ Then he leaned over and rang
the bell.
''Neudheim." he said, let IT be gwen
out that I leave tonight for Falkerberg
as usual. Let the automobile be pre-
pared for a long journey. 1 leave in
half an hour"
The young man stared. He had fan
cied that those flying visits of his
masters for a time were to be dis
continued.
Your Highness goes south?" he
asked.
II drive all night" Prince FaIken-
berg replied See that the Count Ru-
dolf is prepared 20 accompany me-
Quicki Give the orders"