Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-02


from the other. Besides, who but the
prince could gain admission to the
Russian court? Yet, once there, the
substitution could be made easily. 1t
was a daring scheme, but fraught with
little risk. The conspirators would
never dare lay violent hands upon the
prince. And after much thought the
king fell in with my scheme. A tele-
phonic message was sent to the
princes house at Richmond, requesting
his immediate presence at the palace,
with the expectation of leaving for St.
Petersburg.
In little more than an hour he came
hurrying in. Prince George was
trained to be a sailor. When told of 1t
he laughed, swore, refused and acqui-
esced. We were to take the noon train
for Harwich, reaching Hamburg that
evening late, in time to catch the
transcontinental mail, which would
land us in st. Petersburg on Monday
about midday. Hastily we debated the
scheme. The prince suggested nat he
should allow himself to be kidnapped
in place of the car, hus leaving the
car free to follow his own counsel
on the morrow. And" he added, "once
l get those rascals out in the forest
I'll jolly well skin the hide off them"
But eventually 1T vas decided that
this plan left the car too much init
alive. The c~onspirators might dis
cover the substitution in time and hit
upon some other scheme in order to
Illustrate our plans. 1t would be better
actually to allow Nicholas to be kid
mapped M then for Prince George to
substitute himself at the last moment,
When Philippe, Kaulbars and the grand
dukes were confident that the car was
miles away.
1t was essential that the princes de-
parture should not be known. Accord
ingly he disguised himself in blue spec
tacles and a tourists costume, and we
set off together for st. Petersburg i'm
mediately, catching the train for Har-
wich. Our plans were, to a certain
extent, dependent Upon circumstances;
our general scheme, however, was that
the prince should gain access to the
car and should remain in the palace
until the need arose for him to take
the place of the car himself.
Your royal highness will have
shrewd minds at work. against you,"
l hazarded, as we sped into Berlin and
changed cars for the frontier.
THE .%vultures will be gathering for
the feast" he answered. But We'll
best 'em, Adams; We'll best EN-"
When we got into the train, how
ver, and l leaned out from the win
dow, taking a farewell view of the
scene, l suddenly perceived some
thing which most u~npleasanlty affected
me. Strolling leisurely along the
coaches, away from ours, was Stapf-
haus, the German agent, with whom
l had more than once crossed swords
before, especially in the case of the
North sea incident, Clready recounted.
He had passed us; had he detected
the prince and myself? From his non
chalant air, his absence of all dis
guiSe, it was evident that he deemed
himself secure from all danger. I saw
him swing round on his heel and come
back slowly. l had just time to mo-
ton to h prince to draw himself up
into a corner behind his newspaper
when Stapfhaus approached and recog-
nized me. He clasped my land cor
daily, then shook his finger in mock
warning.
off to St. Petersburg to urge the
czar to fight?" he observed mockingly.
"Oh, my lear Adams. Your notions are
SO childish and elemental! Now /"
You're going as the German agent"
l replied.
That goes without saying" he said
lightly. However, Adams, no blood is
likely to be shed on this journey, SO
why should we not be frank and cry,
let the best man VIM"
At that moment the train began to
move, and Stapfhaus ran to his own
coach, which he entered, leaving me
somewhat disconnected and considera-
bly, chagrined, and only hoping that he
had not recognized Prince George.
Suddenly the prince ~propounded a
question which, absurd as it may seem,
had not occurred to me.
"How am | going to get into the pal
! ace unless | announce myself" he de-
manded.
He had been so used to having the
unrestricted entree Of any court that
he had still thought of himself in
terms of his rank. After some mo-
ments thought of the obvious solu-
ton.
You must remove your glasses and
walk in boldly as the car, trusting
to his not coming Upon the scene" |
said.
1t was exactly noon on Monday when
we drew into ST. Petersburg. l waited
in some ~trepidation for Stapfhaus' to
emerge. | did not want the prince to
be discovered. He had evidently got
off at the local station, however, for
there was no sign of him. We hailed
a cab, were driven to the Hotel des
strangers and, as soon as we had re-
moved the evidences of travel. hurried
to the Winter palace in a landau. In
side the closed compartment the
prince Invested himself of his dis
guise. He opened his cloak; pom his
breast blazed the order of the Bath
and that of the Russian Eagle. We
saw the sentry present his rifle and
order the driver down. He descended
and opened the door
Descend, excellencies," he began.
NO further can we"
The words died upon his lips. Over
his face there crept an expression of