The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-07-18


well to narrate the circumstances un-
der which relinquished this post. in
the holding of which I had 80 fire.
quently received the royal encomiums.
The manner Of my resignation is an
eloquent commentary upon the uncer-
tain fortunes which he must expect
who puts his faith In princes.
The dominant feature of my period
Of service was the intense hostility
that existed between the royal houses
Of England and Germany, and was re-
fected between the two nations. Yet
the time came when Edward and the
Kaiser did in some measure settle
their differences. II rivalry remained,
they at least gave up the rather du-
bious methods that they had been con-
strained to use, in the fulflment of
which had been the weapon ever at
King Edwards hand, as Stapfhaus
was that of the kaiser.
The enmity between Stapfhaus and
myself reached such a point that 1t
was bound to be settled once and for
ever between US. On more than one
occasion-on that of, the North sea
adventures, and that of the cars
drive-Stapfhaus had outwitted me.
He had brought the prestige of Eng
land low and exalted that of Germany.
Yet I, too, had won from him at times
altogether, each of us feared the other
and felt that in him his country had
Its most dangerous enemy.
In other words, both Stapfhaus and
| had determined that We would kill
each the other. whenever our paths
crossed again
think King Edward recognized and
understood this, for his face was
more than usually grave when he
called me to appear before him at ST.
James palace one morning, upon that
occasion of my service as his courier,
which was to prove the last-though
this did not guess.
Captain Adams" said the king,
In very kindly way, Il have selected
you out of all my representatives be-
cause | have the most confidence in
your ability, and because you alone
can checkmate the designs of our
cousin across the North sea- I want
you to start for Washington imme-
diately.
"As you know, the ex-president and
the kaiser are men possessing a vast
admiration for each other, and they
draw the bonds uniting the two coun-
tries exceedingly close. Nevertheless,
the kaiser could not induce the pres
ldent to form an alliance. One presi-
dent shrewdly saw that this would,
In the end, strain the ties of friend
ship between his country and Eng
land. But the present executive has
been less cautious.
He has not, indeed, been willing to
enter into hard and fast treaty, but
he has been induced to execute a pre-
urinary agreement for joint action
against China, in defiance of the clear
treaty rights of England. This docu-
ment, containing the signature of the
kaiser, is on it's way to Washington.
II we can lay hands on 1t, the more
threat to publish it will abort the
whole scheme. But we must have the
document. 1t is in the pocket or
wallet of Stapfhaus, the chief German
agent. You know him. He sails on
the Kaiserin Augusta from Hamburg
today, direct for Baltimore. It Is not
the commonest route, and Stapfhaus
has chosen it to avoid the chance Of
detection. The Kaiserin Augusta is
rather an old and slow boat, and she
will call at Southampton tomorrow
morning. Stapfhaus will be on board.
Follow him, and secure the treaty be-
fore the ship touches port across the
water. Then open the sealed or
ders-" he handed me an envelope
and follow instructions that they con-
tain. That Is all that I need tell you.
except to Teiterate that the whole fu-
ture Of England depends upon your
success"
He shook hands with me and wished
me well. l have never seen him from
that day to this. But how was to
know what manner of mission this
was upon which he was sending me
I went In good faith and carried oxt
his commands, 80 far as could. 10y
ally.
EARLY the next morning I was at
Southampton, waiting for the Kaiserin
Augusta to enter port for her brief
stay Of an hour. My plan was a very
simple one; I was going aboard In q
double capacity. Firstly, had Sc
cured private stateroom under an as
sumed name: secondly. had been &C
cepted as a first cabin steward under
another alias. This was done through
the medium Of the home secretary, In
asmuch az the Kaiserin Augusta was
licensed to carry English mail. and
consequently hint to the London
board sufaced to have instructions re
garding me sent to the captain. II
was an unpleasant way In which II
cross the Atlantic, and entailed dis
agreeable services; but In no othel
{ manner, felt sure, could obtain ar
opportunity to examine the cabin Of
Stapfhaus