Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-02

| Susanna. 1 would see to it that he was
more comme-il-faut.''
Herr Freudenberg laughed.
Never mind his appearance" he said.
He can drive the truth into the hearts
OF this people as swiftly and as surely
| as any man who ever took up pen. Bring
| him here, little sweetheart and tomor-
row we visit Cartier together"
/ She glanced at him almost reprOach-
| fully.
| las IL that mattered." she murmured
| as she gided away.
Julien turned .discontentedly to his COM
| panion.
This fellow will take no order from
me- he objected. DO you own this
| place Herr Freudenberg. that you must
always be obeyed here?"
| by no means" Herr Freudenberg re-
piled. Tonight is an exception. l or
| dered supper as l entered. You see, there
are others whom l may ask to join. You
| shall have your turn when you will and 1
will be very submissive guest, but to-
| night-well. / have even at this moment
charged mademoiselle with a message to
! her friend and her friends companion. /
| have begged them to join us. On these
| nights l like comparatively Of COM
pany."
| In that case. perhaps" Julien suggest
| ed. II may be de trop."
| Freudenberg laid his hand upon his
companions shoulder.
My friend" he said, earnestly, 1T is
not for you to talk like that, tonight of
all nights. If l say little. it is because
that we understand. You know very well
what you and your shock-headed friend
| have done for me. Not that l believe"
| he went on, that 1t would ever come to
me to be bounded to death by such a
gang. l am too fervent believer in my
own star for that. But one never knows.
1t is well. anyhow, to escape with a
sound skim
why did you run such a risk?" Ju-
lien asked him.
Partly Freudenberg answered, "be-
cause / was really curious to know what
those fellows were driving at and part
| ly." he added, because, alas! am pos
sessed of that restless spirit. that ever
lasting craving for adventures. which
drives one on into any place where life
stirs. l knew that these people were plot
ting something against me. / wanted to
hear 1t with my own ears, to understand
exactly what It was against which | must
be prepared. But now, Sir Julien, l QueS-
| ton you. As for me, my presence there
was reasonable enough: but what were
you doing in such a place? What inter-
ests have you in German socialism,
| Julien shrugged his shoulders.
Il cannot say that 1 have any," he ad-
| mitted. 1t was Hendricks who took me.
He is showing me Paris-Paris from his
| own point of view. He took me first to
restaurant. where we dined for two
those people to whom he is now making
himself agreeable. Hendricks has
democratic instincts. His latest fad is to
try Ian and instill them iPto me.
across at the journalist. still deep in
| argument with his friends.
Il am not sure that 1 understand that
man." he declared. "In a sense he i'm
as one of those who do nothing without
set and fixed purpose. But enough of
other people. Listen. l wish to speak
with you-of yourself. l am glad that we
| have met tonight. l have another and
altogether a different proposition to make
| to YOU.
Julien remained silent for several mo-
| ments. Herr Freudenberg watched him.
"A proposition to make to me-" Julien
repeated at last. We'll let me hear it?''
Herr Freudenberg leaned toward him.
Sir Julien" he said. there has hap
pened to you, as to many of us. a little
slip in your life. 1t is a wise thing if for
a few months you pass off the stage of
European affairs. You are Of an ad-
venturous spirit. Will you undertake
commission for me? Listen / will guar
antee that it is something which does not.
nor could not ever, by any chance. affect
in the slightest degree the interests of
your country. 1t is a commission which
will take you year to execute, and it
will lead you into new land. 1t will re-
quire tact, diplomacy and some courage.
If you succeed. your reward will be an in
come for life. If you fail, the worst that
can happen to YOU is that you will have
passed a year Of your life without eff
fective result Still, you will at least
have Travelled. you will at least have
seen new phases of life
Julien was puzzled.
You cannot seriously propose to me-"
he protested, Ito undertake diplomatic
GRAND for country which has abso-
iutely no claims upon me-to which am
not even attracted?' he added
Herr Freudenberg tapped with his fore
hnger upon the table. Upon his lips was
| a genial and tolerant smile. He had the
air OF preceptor devoting special pains
upon the most backward member of his
kindergarten class
My friend" he said, there is no DO
| litical question involved whatever. The
mission which l ask you to undertake
would lead you into remote part Of
] Africa. where neither your country nor
| mine has at present any interests. More
| than this l cannot tell you unless you
! show signs Of accepting my invitation
| The negotiations which you would have
| TO conduct are simply these: Four years
| ago distinguished German scientist who
| was in command Of a somewhat rash ex-
| petition was captured by the ruler Of
| the country to which I wish you to travel
| For some time the question of a mission
to ascertain his fate has been upon the
| carpet. 1t is true that We have received
| letters from him He processes to be
happy and contented. to have been kindly
| treated and to have accepted a post in
the army OF his captor We wish to know
| whether these letters are genuine or not.
| IL they are genuine, all is we'll, but a
| suspicion still remains among some of us
| that the person in question is being held
| In torture as an example to other white
| men who might penetrate SO far This is
/ the first object in the journey which
propose to you. There is nothing political
| about il at all, you perceive. 1t is
| purely matter of humanity. All.
| / see that party is to be increased
| Here are some new friends who arrive
| Mile. Ike had succeeded. She returned
/ now to her place, followed by the girl
| with the chestnut-colored hair and her
| companion. At close quarters the latter
| at any rate, was scarcely prepossessing
| He was a man of middle age. untidily
dressed, whose clothes were covered with
cigar ash and recent wine stains. whose
linen was none of the cleanest and whose
eyes behind his pince-neZ were already
/ bloodshot Herr FreuGenberg, however
seemed to notice none of these unpleasant
defects. He graSped him vigorously by