The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-12-06
A CHRISTMAS
EPISODE
. Involving His Majesty the
Emperor Of Germany

By JOSEPH mIcnAL0wsky

anything that has been overIooked?'
Have you ordered the tree?"
II have. and have procured a fine
one. The children will lie delighted"
"a gift from HE to each child?"
Every one has been provided for"
"Well. then. | don't see what else
there is to do"
Are you going anywhere. AdoIph
with the emperor during the next few
daysy"
HE may 90 to Hamburg on Thurs
day. If so | shall doubtless go with
him. Why do you ask"
"Oh. nothing! simply wish to know
ii you will lie absent on Christmas
eve"
II am quite sure | shall-that is. II
we make the trip"
why do you go with the emperor
on all his ~journeys"
Being intrusted with the regula
lions to insure his safety when he
travels. it is usually necessary that
l should do so. Just now it is impera'
tive, for we have got wind Of a plot
of the anarchists to assassinate the
emperor"
The count kissed his wife. went GU,
to his carriage and was driven to his
cabinet in the palace. where be pro
ceeded to make the arrangements fol
his masters trip. During the day fur
Their details of the plot hatched by the
anarchists were brought in and coca
stoned the count great concern But
when he went home in the evening
and found his children absorbed in
their anticipations for Christmas he
threw off care and entered into the
spirit of the season.
my DEAR said his wife. has the
emperor's trip been decided upon"
mot surely
"How can one know whether he goes
or not?"
"NNhy should one wish to know?
asked the husband. looking at his wife
%curiously.
"Why-why. our calculations for
Christmas are in a measure dependent
upon your being here just before
Christmas day"
II don't see why"
"Well. never mind. ! shall try to
arrange everything irrespective of your
being with us"
This reply seemed to satisfy the
count. who was especially DESTROYS
since receiving the Information Of the
anarchist plot to keep the emperor's
going a secret. He played with his
children till their bedtime. kissed them
good night and then fell to thinking
about the coming journey and how to
head off those who were bent on muir
dering his imperial master. The next
morning he said to his wife:
ut will be decided today whether
we go to Hamburg or not. IL we go !
shall send You a private message
don't dare trust to the telephone-that
you may get my baggage ready"
Twill his majesty's departure be an
nounced in the newspapers" p
'That can't be avoided hereSiD Ger.
many as it might Ike in Russia. II
1 VIC kO Iuc HEAL tSSUS VI luC jun 81
will announce the fact"
The count spent the day in his cab
met as usual. and during the afternoon
a police officer came In aud handed
him a note. Demidorf read it and
turned pale. The chirography ne recog-
nized to be his. wife's. The note was
addressed to her brother. Heinrich Won
Kinningen. and read:
Bring it or. Thursday provided the. em-
peror goes to Hamburg o N that day.: If
not. delay till you hear. from me. In any
back door. Twelve midnight would be
the safest hour to a the delivery.
How did. you obtain this?" asked
the count. making an effort to control
his agitation.
1.-The messenger who was employed
to carry it. finding that it had been
carelcssly sealed. had the curiosity to
open and read It. He considered it OF
vital Importance and instead of deliv-
ering it handed 1t to our chief. who
directed me to bring it here"
"Call another messenger, with orders
to carry 1t to: the person. to whom it
ts addressed. said the count. But
first ] will take a copy Of It."
When he had done SO he gave tito
the officer and dismissed him. Then.
when he was alone. his head sank on.
his desk and he groaned. Was it pos
sibIe that his wife had. beensdrawn into
sympathy with anarchists through her
brother. who VAS an extremist and
possibly an anarchist himself, and. had
she consented to use such knowledge
Of the emperor's movements as she
might derive. from her husband to Ia
vor their designs: Heavens! She must
Be Intending to receive the bomb with
which II was intended the murder
should be committed. But what woui6,
Il avail the assassins to receive It aft.
q the emperor had gone? 8S
ZACH! I have III" he said to himself.
The assassination Ii to take place on
our return. 4; e then that precautions
taken In such cases are APT to be No
faxed. Oh. my Amelia! To think that.
y0I should not only be the tool Of a.
aassins. but Of assaasins who are iiabIsi