Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-17
! THE MISCHIEF MAKER !
E. PHILIPS OPPENTIEIM
0epynsAt BY Brown D. :

brief orders. Then there was a peremp-
tory knock at the door. Herr Freuden-
berg was announced and entered.
TO the man who had been waiting for
his sentence there was something terrible
in the grim impassivity Of Prince Falken-
bergs features. His face was set and
white and sphinxlike. Only his eyes
shone with q fierce. unusual fire.
What have you to say. Estermen?" he
demanded.
1T was q miracle" Estermen faltered
Sir Julien descended the stairs with the
copy in his hand to speak to a caller. For
seventeen hours he had been In his rooms.
for the following seventeen hours he
would probably have been there. too. For
the intervening thirty seconds he hap
pened to be upon the pavement II was
q miracla!''
This was the end of all the specious
story which Estermen had gone over so
often to himself. Yet he had done his
cause no harm. for the few sentences he
spoke were the truth.
You have discovered his present where
aboutsf'' his master demanded.
Estermen hesitated. He feared that this
was another blow which he was about to
deal.
phor In the Rue de St. Paul" he faltered.
His news. however, did not discompose
Prince Falkenberg. On the contrary. he
seemed. If anything, to find the intelli-
gence agreeable.
Have you made any inquiries as to his
condition."
Estermen shrugged his shoulders.
The household OF Nine. Christopher.
he replied. is, as you know, outside my
sphere OF influence 1t is, besides. incor-
ruptible. / myself am personally obnox-
ious to madame. 1 could do nothing but
wait for your coming
Prince Falkenberg stood with his hands
behind him, thinking He had relapsed
into his former grim and impenetrable
silence. And while he waited the sweat
stood out in beads upon Estermens fore
head. Greatly he feared that the worst
was to come!
Have you anything else to say to me?''
his master asked
Nothing" Estermen replied, with fall
Prince Falkenberg's eyes were fierce
orbs Of light and his servant quailed be-
fore him.
Have you any reason to believe that
the origin Of the crime is suspected?"
1t was the question which above all
others he had dreaded. Estermen was a
coward and a fluent liar. The latter gift
| however, awaited him nothing. He felt as
though the nerves Of his tongue were be-
Against his will he told the truth.
Jean Charles is watching these apart
ments!'
"Ah"
Prince Falkenberg's single exclama-
ton was the death sentence Of his agent
Estermen knew 1t and his knees knocked
one against the other.
For six years." Prince Falkenbere
said, after a moments pause, you have
lived an easy and q comfortable life
the gutter vices which would naturally
appeal to a person OF your temperament;
q life, apart from the small services which
I have required Of you. directed alto
gether by your own inclinations. Be
thankful for those six years. AS you well
know, but for me they would have been
spent either in prison or in the profile
NAUTICAL future world-a matter entirely
at the discretion OF the judge who tried
you. 1t pleased me to rescue You for my
certain amount OF low cunning and q
complete absence of all ordinary human
qualities. a combination which made You
a useful servant OF my will. My one con-
dition has always been before you. The
present case demands your fulfillment of
Estermen began to tremble.
THE man may be there by accident
he faltered. There is no certainty as
yet that 1 am even suspected. Tm-Tm
ugly little laugh.
$50 are most men Of Your kidney,
Prince Falkenberg replied. composedly
Nevertheless, die you must, and tonight
WTte your concession. MIKE IL clear
that one of the victims was your personal
enemy. I'll dictate it IL you like"
II can do 1t myself" Estermen NUT
tered. Let me-let me write the con-
fession first and then make an attempt
to escape" he pleaded. IF I am taken,
It will make no difference. Let me have
a chance! know the secret places of
the city. l have friends who might help
me to escape"
for a moment in contemptuous curiosity.
Estermen was walking restlessly up and
down the few feet Of carpet, his fingers
and the muscles of his face twitching.
His words had come with difficulty, as
though he had suddenly developed an i'm
plexion had become yellow. His carefully
waxed mustache was dropping, a speck
Of saliva was issuing from his lips.
THE request which you make to me.
Prince Falkenberg replied, Il absolutely
refuse. L know you and your cowardly
temperament too well to allow you to
come alive into the hands of the French
police
You value your own life highly
enoughr' Estermen snarled.
TT is not so." Prince Falkenberg as
serted. III / had ever valued my own
life highly there would have been no Herr
Freudenberg; and IL the whole history Of
Herr Freudenberg is discovered, follow
be taking any pains to hold my own, re-
member that mine is a life which is valu-
able to the fatherland. You have been
and you are only a feeder at the troughs.
One more or less such as you in the
world makes just the difference Of a speck
Of dust-that is ALL
Estermen shrank, covering, into his
seat.
I'D rather live-in torture-in prison or
in chains-anywhere!" he gasped. Il can't
think Of DEATH
Prince Falkenberg was becoming i'm
patient.
My dear Estermen.'' he exclaimed.
what prison do you suppose remains
open for the murderer Of seven men! You
shrink from death. Yet, let me assure
you that the guillotine. with the certain
prospect of 1t before you day after day
through a long trial, is no pleasant out
let from the world for q sybarite. Be q
philosopher. Go and die as you have
lived. Write your confession, summon
your dearest friend by telephone. give a
little supper-you'll have plenty of time
but see that the affair Is over before mid
night, This is my advice to you, Ester
men; these are also my ORDERS my final
orders II find you alive when 1 return.
or the confession unwritten, I will show
you how death may be made more hor-
rible than anything YOU have Vet con-