The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-12-26
70 KIM your husband as wen as TIN

Calling q messenger. he sent the
countess note stating thai he and bix
imperial master would leave far Ham
burg IN Intended and she was t0 pre-
pare his baggage ami send II 10 the.
station. Then he asked for an inter
view With the emperor and told him
that be had unearthed plot to mnr-
der him on his return from Hamburg:
that II would be better for his majes-
| ty to go az intended. while he. Demi
d0rf. remained behind to prevent the
assassination and secure proof against
the eonsplrators.
Eiiliain questioned his aid-de-camp
closely and finally drew forth the in
formation that the Countess DemidOrf
was Implicated In the plot. He thought
for some time. then said:
"This is too important q matter. my
| friend. for me to leave exclusively to
any one but myself. not even you.
have been very fond Of your wife.
and / fear lest the evidence may be
against her. get mlsieading What ]
propose to do is this: We will both
start for Hamburg. bat | wish you ia
have swift automobile at way sta
rs 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 ! shall
| see for myself what evidences Of gnilt
/ there are on the part Of your wife and
be able to judge how far she has been
made n tool of others"
Denlidnrf took the emperOr's hand
| and pressed it fervently by way of
expressing gratitude for which be
could not end 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. sanptering ieisnreiy
! 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 man passed into
! the yard and was advancing TO the
door when he was stopped by the po-
| liceDen, one Of whom seized box he
carried and examined 1t as well as the
imperfect light would permit.
"It's not II bomb" he said. hut an
| Internal machine. hear 1t tick"
The nearer of the box was too snr-
| prised to utter a word. The man who
held it raped softly at the door. 1t
| was opened by woman. One of the
| policemen pushed by her and turned
on the electric light 1t revealed the
| countess. her brother and the two pO
| lcemen
amelia" moaned one of the latter.
"Adolph." exclaimed the countess
"You have ruined us How could you
have done it? 1t is you. Heinrich. who
| have corrupted her with your crazy
| ideas"
What does it all mean?" cried the
| countess
LET us go in and examine the box"
said the policeman who held 1t. and.
| followed by the other. he entered the
house The countess looked at him. at
first douhtfnlly. then confidently. and
exclaimed:
| ''(;reat hpavens-the kaiser.
| 81 have come here" said the pmper-
or. that | might decide upen your
| case in person have been your friend
( too long to intr,ist it to others
what case:"
"Open the box" said the count let
me relieve your majesty. II any one
is to I've killed | infinitely prefer that
it should be your loyal servant. myself
| do not wish to live after this dis
grace"
| The emperor handed him the box,
and he tore off the wrapper.
flake care" said his majesty. lit
has sliding lid"
| The caution came too late. Demi
dorf. niaddened. drew hack a few feet
| from the others and removed the lid
But the expected explosion did not
take place.
"A clock! exclaimed the emperor
"And as live. the clock that stood in
the cabinet Of my grandfather"
There was moment OF silence In
which all wondered: then the emperor
| turning to the countess. asked her for
| an explanation.
J ''The clock" she said. latter the
death of his majesty the Emperor Will
liam l. was given as reward for
| faithfulness to one Of his attendants
The latter dying poor it was sold to u
dealer In curios. My brother bought
| 1t for me to give to my husband for q
Christmas gift. I intended great
surprise and have attempted to intro
| duce it 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. 6r-
ing. a ringing Of bells without an
nounced that it was Christmas morn
ing.
Count" said William. .'you are the
| biggest f0tii on earth except one =
And whU iS that. your i;ijesty!'
| Myself II there IL wine in tho
house let us drink u bumper tn Christ
mas. Meanwhile order an automobile
sent from the palace with suit OF
clothes that may return In more ap
propriate hahiiinsssnts than those in
which came =. .fsf laz -
Il 49,