Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-22
The Argus Daily Story
Christmas Episode-By Joseph Mchalowsky
copyrighted Associated Literary Bureau
for some time, men said:

This is too important matter, my
friend. for me to- leave exclusively to
any one but myself. not even you.
have been very fond Of your wife.
and l fear lest the evidence may be
against her. yet misleading, What
propose TO do is this: We will both
start for Hamburg, but l wish you to
have swift automobile at n way sta
ton to take US OF the train and return
us to Berlin in time to intercept this
bomb carrier. Provide police uniforms
for both of us. We will watch at your
back door, seize the bomb and l shall
see for myself what evidences OF guilt
there are on the part OF your wife and
be able to judge how far she has been
made a tool Of others
Demidorf took the emperor's hand
and pressed 1t fervently by way OF
expressing a gratitude for which he
could not find words. Then be left
the chamber to obey the orders he had
received.
1t was nearing midnight on Christ
mas eve or Christmas morning when
| two police officers, sauntering lelsurely
into the street where Count Demidorf
/ lived and later entering the counts
| back yard, concealed themselves under
| some bushes. A few minutes before
/ the clocks struck II a man passed into
| the yard and was advancing TO the
door when he was stopped by the po-
| licemen, one Of whom seized a box he
carried and examined it as we'll as the
! imperfect light would permit.
Its not a bomb" he said, but an
internal machine. l hear it tick"
The bearer OF the box was too sur
| prised to utter a word. The man who
held It raped softly at the door. It
was opened by a woman. One OF the
policemen pushed by her and turned
on the electric light 1t revealed the
countess, her brother and the two po-
licemen.
"Ameliar' moaned one of the latter.
/ "Adolphr' exclaimed the countess.
You have ruined us. How could you
have done 1t? 1t is you, Heinrich, who
have corrupted her with your crazy
ideas"
What does it all mean?" cried the
countess.
let us so in and examine the box"
said the policeman who held It, and.
followed by the other. he entered the
house. The countess looked at him. at
first doubtfully, then confidently, and
exclaimed:
"Great heavens-the kaiserr'
II have come here" said the emper-
or, that l might decide upon your
case In person. have been your friend
too long to intrust it to others"
What case?"
open the box" said the count. LET
me relieve your majesty. IL any one
is to be killed infinitely prefer that
1t should be your loyal servant. myself.
l do not wish to live after this dis
grace"
The emperor handed him the box,
and he tore Off the wrapper
Take care" said his majesty. st
has a sliding lid"
The caution came too late. Demi-
dorf. maddened. drew back a few feet
from the others and removed the lid.
But the expected explosion did not
take place.
"a clockv' exclaimed the emperor.
And as 1 live, the clock that stood in
the cabinet of my grandfather"
There was a moment of silence In
which all wondered; then the emperor.
turning to the countess, asked her for
an explanation.
THE clock" she said. after the
death of his majesty the Emperor Will
liam l. was given as reward for
Polf P1,In 70 pf otf dor mr.
The latter dying poor 1t was sold to a
dealer In curios. My brother bought
1t for me TO give to my husband for a
Christmas gift. | intended a great
surprise and have attempted to intro
duce 1t here while he was away. We
have the surprise, but not the one ex-
pected."
The emperor burst into laugh. and
at the same moment a shouting, hr-
ing, a ringing of bells without an
nounced that it was Christmas morn
ing
Count" said William, you are the
biggest fool on earth except one"
And who Is that, your majestyr'
Myself II there is wine In the
house let us drink a bumper to Christ
mas Meanwhile order an automobile
sent from the palace with suit of
clothes that | may return In more ap-
propriate habiliments than those In
which / came"
The count, overjoyed at the turn the
affair had taken, sprang to an electric
button, but. remembering that the serv-
ants were asleep. ran TO the wine closet
and in another moment the Christmas
din without was supplemented by the
popping of corks within. After pIedg.
ing all the party the emperor returned
to the palace, much relieved and great.
ly delighted
The episode was too good to keep
and II was impaired the next day To
the members of the imperial family
from whence 1t spread all over the
palace. but special messenger was
sent to each newspaper in Berlin with
warning from the emperor not 10
give the matter to the public.
Nov. p in American