Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-11
The Mischief Maker
Blu E. PHILLIPS OPPENE1ELM

Z Mademoiselle, then, I address myself
TO you. on certain terms 1 have offer
ed to purchase for Monsieur Paul here
| two thirds share of the newspaper
upon which he works, that two-thirds
share which he and I both know is in
the market at this moment. / am will
ling at midday tomorrow, or rather to-
day, to place within his hands the sum
required I am willing to send by no
tary with him TO the Office, and the af-
fair could be arranged at half-past
, twelve. From then he practically owns
lie Jour. It's policies are his to control.
make him this offer, mademoiselle.
and it is a greater one than it sounds.
for the money which I place in his
hands to make this purchase-?ve hum
dred thousand francs-is his complete
ly and absolutely. You move at once
into apartments betting your new po-
sition. Monsieur Paul 0Jesen is no long
er a struggling and ill-paid journalist.
He is the proprietor Of an important
journal, through whose columns he
shall help to guide the policy Of your
nation"
Monsieur Jesen sat down. His fing-
ers were clutching one another. Made
moiselle stared at Herr Freudenberg.
Her color was coming and going.
Monsieur, do not understand" she
cried Are you a prince in disguise?
Why do you do this?"
"Mademoiselle," Herr Freudenberg re-
piled. your question is the question OF
an intelligent woman. Why do I do
this? Not for nothing, I assure you.
1t is my custom to make bargains, in
deed. but I make them so that those
with whom 1 deal shall never regret
the day they met Herr Freudenberg.
offer you this splendid future, you and
Monsieur Jesen here. on one condition,
and 1t is a small one, for already the
truth has found it's way a little into
his brain. lie Jour has supported al
ways, wholly and entirely, the entente
between Great Britain and your coun-
try. 1 have tried to point out to Paul
Jesen here what all far-seeing people
must soon appreciate--that the entente
is doomed"
The girl glanced at Jesen. Jesen, was
looking away out of the dusty window.
''Ndademoiselle," Herr Freudenberg
continued, Il will not weary you at this
hour in the morning with politics.
have talked long with Monsieur Jesen,
and 1 think that have, shown him
something of the truth. You came to
the rescue of Great Britain when she
lay friendless and poworless. You
saved her prestige; you saved her, with
out doubt, from invasion. What have
you gained? Nothing. What can you
ever gain? Nothing. Her army of toy
soldiers would be of less use to you than
a single corps from across the Elbe.
Her feet-you have no possessions to
guard. 1t is for herself only that she
maintains it. / ask you to think quiet
ly for yourself and ask yourself on
whose side is the balance of advantage.
You can reply to that question in one
way, and one way only. France has
been carried away on wave of enthu-
siasm, a wave of sentiment-call it what
you will. But France is far-seeing
people. The moment is ripe. 1 propose
to Paul Jesen that his should be the
hand and lie Jour the vehicle which
shall bring the French people to prop
er understanding of the political situa-
tion.
who, then, are your" Mademoiselle
Susanne persisted.
Herr Freudenberg barely hesitated.
"Mademoiselle," he said, I'VE speak OF
great things, we three, in this little
chamber of yours /, who have often
talked of great things before. have
learned in life one lesson at least, and
that is when one may trust. II Is not
my desire that many people should
know who 1 am. 1t suits my purpose
better to move in Paris as private cit
izen, but to you two let me tell the
truth. I am Prince Falkenberg."
There was a silence. The man looked
at him, sober enough now, in amaze
ment The girls hands were clasped to-
gether. She was watching the man
her man. She crept to his side, her arm
was around his neck
Dear Paul, she whispered, think!
Think how sweet life might be. There
is so much truth in all this. 1 know
little of politics, but think of the hard
times we have lived through. Think
how glorl Jus to have you ride in your
Automobile to the office of your news
paper, to see you pass into the editors
ssnctum instead of waiting outside, to
have me call for you, perhaps, and take
you out to lunch-no, never at brewers
any more-at the Cafe de Paris, or Hen
rvs, or Paillard's, or out in the Bots!
And the excursions, dear Paul. Think
of theml The country-how we both
love the countryl You remember when
we first went out together to the little
town on the river. where no one ever
seemed to have come from Paris be-
fore? How sleepy and quiet the long
afternoon, when we lay in the grass and
heard the birds sing and the murmur
of the river, and we had only a few
francs for our dinner, and we had TO
leave the train and walk that last four
miles because you had drunk one more
book. Dear Paul. think what life might
be If one were really RIGHT"
The mans eyes flashed.
You have done your genius an i'll
turn, my friend" Herr Freudenberg said.
slowly. mo man can be at his best
who knows care. I, Prince Falkenberg,
1 promise you that it is the truth which
1 have spoken, the truth which 1 shall
show you You lose no shadow of honor
or seIf-respect. There will come day
when the millions Of readers whom you
shall influence will say to themselves,
Paul Jesen, he is the man who saw the
truth. 1t is he who s saved France.
You acceptY'
Monsieur lie Prince" Susanne cried,
"he accepts!
Jesen rose to his feet. He had be-
come a little unsteady again. He struck
the table with his fist.
IT accept he declared.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE FLIGHT OF LADY ANNE.
1t was exactly 9:45 in the evening,
about three weeks later, when the two
=. 7 or cd N the