Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-01-12
Copyright. BY W. G. Chapman.)
NARRATIVE OF
CAPTAIN ADAMS
Detective Diplomat IS
BY Il. M. EGBERT

VI INC loIeisu oEtCe, WHICH INSURED
me reception.
| Hardly had l stated the purpose of
my mission when / saw the count
start and change color He looked
at me with penetrating gaze.
His majesty appears-in his-nor-
metaphysical health" he said with
difficulty, gulping down the words.
Mental, my dear count, mental"
| rejoined. l saw the muscles of his
face twitching and knew that l had
him at the confessional. by the
way" l continued, approaching him,
where is his majesty"
I'm damned If l KNOW" the count
exploded Then we looked at one an
other earnestly and both saw that the
time had arrived for frankness.
rs 1t the emperor or is 1t some i'm
postor?" l asked.
1T is not the emperor" the count
replied. THE resemblance is almost
perfect. 1t would deceive anybody
who had not known his majesty SO
intimately as l. Nevertheless, l know
that it is not the emperor. But how
can denounce the man without lay
ing myself open to Imprisonment as
lunatie?"
Tell me how and when the trans
formation occurred" / asked.
ut was about Is days ago. 1 was
the minister in attendance for the
week at the royal palace. His mai
esty had gone to bed in his inner
apartment, which overlooks the street.
A guard was on duty in the outer
rooms. 1 was passing through to in
spect them before my departure when
we heard the emperor's bell rung. His
valet hurried in, came out, and an
nounced that his majesty desired to
see me. When entered / found him
in his pajamas, sitting up in bed.
Count Lichtenstein, you have been in
my service for many years, have you
not?' he said. / bowed. And you
would do any favor for me- I would
serve your majesty in any way pos
| sible,' answered. Then he replied,
/ be so good as to stand on your head,
my dear count, to relieve my ennui' :"
What did you do?" 1 queried.
| ptOOo III AAy hCudB ACPliCu thO
count, slow blush creeping up be-
meath his bearded cheek. And then
| perceived that this was not my en-
| peror. And ever since l have lived
in an agony of doubts, with no one to
whom to confide my suspicious"
What Of the prisoner in the for
tress?" / asked.
Count Lichtenstein choked. You
have heard?" he cried.
/ nodded, waiting. Suddenly Count
Lichtenstein grasped me by the arm
wildly.
This man-this false emperor-or-
dered him to be placed in a mask and
taken to the Turkish border fortress
of Chodovay," he said. HE thinks
his order has been obeyed. But /
have managed that he shall remain
in the prison here. The chief of po-
lice is of my own following. But /
have not dared to see this man-this
so-called lunatic-for l know 1t is my
emperor"
He collapsed into a chair, painfully
agitated. 1t was with some difficulty
that l brought him to a more reason
able view of affairs, for he talked OF
suicide and of having betrayed the
honor and safety of his ruler. Finally
l induced him to secure me a presen
tation to the pseudo-emperor at the
leyee on the following day.
had taken up my residence in lit
tile, transformations house in respect
able, but not fashionable, quarter. Or
the following afternoon, arraying my
self in court dress, / summoned a car
riage and had myself conveyed to thu
palace, where l found myself In the
midst of throng of notables, al
; pressing toward the throne room. Al
/ the door | was damned in the mob ant
held immobile for several moments
+ during which l witnessed a remark
able spectacle.
Before me, not IL feet away, stoot
the impostor upon a crimson carpe
under canopy, surrounded by hi
staff, all a-glitter with colors and or
: ders. A gentleman in plain black ha,
just bowed to him and turned to pas
, on, but the emperor (as / must cal
!, HIM detained him. l had no diff
Guilty in recognizing the features 0
Mr.. Timothy Purroy. the American
ambassador.
> "One minute. Mr. Purroy." cried tn
= emperor, in fluent English. 81 hea
!, there's mad Yankee in the hand
of the police who thinks he's the en-
peror of Austria. What?"
81 have heard the report, your ma
!. esty," answered the American amba.
: sador with dignity.
We'll, then, what are you starin
! at, pinhead?" the emperor cried. 20
about your business
> I held my breath, wondering wha
y Purroy would do. II he had boxe
the emperor's ears in the midst of hi
encourage, should not have been SUI
: prised. But he only looked him steat
fly in the face until the emperor los
. countenance and turned away fretfu
ly. Then Mr.. Purroy backed gu
bowling. past where l stood. and
l heard him mutter:
= IF that lunatic weren't emperor {
Austria I'd swear he was a born an
>, bred Vermonter."