Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-29

- - gu .ANN 4N4lW W.
That VIII interest me-" FitzRsrald
cried. Tell it."
u say to you at oace that the tale h
known to few and has never lad any
publicity and must sever haze any.
Remember that. IL yss please. NJ. Tits.
gerald, asd you also. Mr.. BreltuanA."
II beg yeur pardon" said Rrsitmann.
Il was not listening"
n. Ferraud repeated his request
clearly.
u am no longer newspaper writer.
Breitmann affirmed. clearing the fog
out Of his head. "A story about Napo.
leon. Will it be true?"
Every word Of it." NJ. Ferraud fold
ed his arms and sat back.
During the pause IIildegarde shiy.
cred. Something made her desire mad.
ly 10 thrust Il hand out and cover NJ
Ferrauds mouth.
We have all read much about Napp.
leon. The emperor As soldier was
the peer Of all the Caesars. As huS-
band he was vastly inferior to any or
them. This story does not concern him
as emperor. If in my narrative there
occurs anything offensive correct TIE
instantly. | speak English auently.
but there are still some idioms | trip
on"
I'll trust you to steer straight
enough" said the admiral.
Thank you. Well, then, once upon
a time. Napoleon was in Bavaria. The
country was at that time his ablest
ally. There was q pretty peasant girl"
A knife clattered to the door. Par
don" whispered Hidegarde to Ca.
THEY'VE. Il am clumsy She was as
white as the linen.
Breitmann went on with his crumbs
81 believe" continued NJ. Ferraud.
that 1t was in the year 1918 that the
emperor received peculiar letter II
begged that. a title be conferred upon
a pretty little peasant boy. The EN-
peror was a grim humorist. | may say
In passing. and for this infant he ere.
ated a baronetcy. threw In a parcel OF
land and a purse. That was the end
Of 1t as far as 1t related to the em
peror. Waterloo came and with Il
vanished the empire. and II would be
q long time before baron Of the EN-
pire returned to any degree Of popu.
larity. For years the matter was for.
gotten. The documents in the case
the letters Of patent. the deeds and
titles TO the land and a single Ma
poleOnic scrawl. these gathered dust
in the loft. When ! heard this tale
the thing which appealed TO me most
keenly was the thought that over in
Bavaria there exists the only real. di
rect strain Of NapOleonic blood-a leu
ton. one Of those who had brought
about the downfall OF the empire"
You say exists?" interjected Ca
THEY'VE.
Exists" laconically.
"You have proofs? demanded Fitz
gerald.
"The very best In the world. have
not only seen those patents. but have
seen the man."
VERY interesting" agreed Brett
mann, brushing the crumbs into bis
hand and dropping them on his plate
But go on"
What a man." breathed Fitzgerald
who began to see the drift of things.
81 proceed. then. Two generations
passed. | doubt If the third genera
ton Of this family has ever heard OF
the affair One day the last Of his
race, in clearing up the salable things
In his house-for be had decided to
lease it-stumbled on the scant history
of his fOrebears. He was at school
then, Il promising youngster. brave
cheerful, full of adventure and curios
ity Contrary to the. natural sequence
of events he chose the navy. where he
did very well. But in some way Ger
many found out what France already
knew.
Here was fine chance for a stroke
of politics. France had always watch.
ed; without fear. however. but with
half formed wonder Germany con-
sidered the case. Why not turn this
young fellow loose on France, to worry
and to harry her? So. quietly Ger
many bore on the youth In that cold
blooded. Teutonic way she has, and
forced him out of the navy.
He was poor, and poverty among
German officers. in either branch. is
a bad thing. Our young friend did not
penetrate the cause Of this at first.
for he had no intention Of utilizing his
papers. save to dream over them. The
blood Of bis great forebear refused TO
let him bow under this unjust stroke
BE sought craft. an interesting one
The net again closed in on him. BE
began to grow desperate. and despera.
ton was what Germany desired. Des.
peradon would make a tool Of the
young fellow. But our young Napo.
leon was not without wit. He plotted
but so cleverly and secretly that never
a hand could reach out to stay him
Germany finally offered him an i'm.
mense bride. he threw 1t back. for
now be hated Germany more than be
hated France. You wonder why be
hated France? II France had not dis.