The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-16
on the EMPRESS
PRIVATE LINE.
Strategy Of Telephone Girl
Saved Her Lovers Life.
"Carl. this Is dreadful."

to death and he innocent 1.-THE crime!
How can 1 throw that off my mind!
We must find away to get this new
evidence before the court" III
s".That is impossible. sweetheart We
have had the last rehearing OF the
case, and 1t is closed. DO try to make
up your mind to bear 1t. You will no
only lose your reason. but make me
lose mine. No Judge or court can now
help us to save, your brother"
Gould. not the EMPEROR"
1.-THE emperor cannot interfere In law
cases. Besides. 1t would be impossible
to get an audience with him.
"Not on a matter of life and death?"
"Unquestionably. Suppose every con-
victed prisoner or his. friends could in
terview the emperor about his case.
He would have nj time for his legiti-
mate duties. Besides. the courts have
exclusive control or such matters"
He talked with her a long while, but
failed to produce any effect. Who suf-
fers most-one whom the law Furnishes
or those who love the offender? Proba-
bly, the latter. At last the lover went
away. and Gretchen walked the floor
In agony. Presently Marie Froibel. a
friend Of Gretchen's. came in. Marie
was employed in the central Office of
the Berlin Telephone. She not only.
knew of Gretchen's trouble. but suf-
fered from it herself. Carl. the con-
demned, and Marie had been school
children together, and. although they
had not spoken of love and no n
suspected them of being lovers. still
Marie hid a secret in her hedi.t. :
Marie said Gretchen, II must see
the emperor. Carl says his majesty
cannot help us IL he would. don't
believe it He has the power to do al
most anything. | am sui be has q
kind heart"
i Marie pondered. ut seem to me-"
she said presently. that a woman's
heart is more susceptible to pity and
would be easier influenced, especially
when what Is asked conflicts with
duty"
"But the emperor is not q woman"
1.-THE empress Is"
"But has she the power
"Yes. to influence the emperor"
"Well. but we cannot get an inter-
view with her any more than with the
emperor" 4.
81 think possibly ! may manage
that"
You, a poor girl working for your
living, get me an interview with the
greatest lady in the fatherland"
Sometimes 1 have great power to
secure the attention of great people"
what do you mean2 Tell me quick"
II have given you hope. Live on that
for the present. II | perfect q plan l.
will call you upon the telephone and
give it to you. Stay ut home. never go
ing even for a minute where can't
reach you"
Marie kissed her friend and went
away. She had caught an idea. The
question remained. Would she get an
opportunity to work It .out? There
might be a penalty attached to what
she proposed to do. but what was that
compared with a chance TOT save the
life Of the man she loved?
In a few days. when Gretchen was
enldeavortng to get her mind OF the
tragedy by doing some housework.
there was a ringing at the telephone.
Taking up the6receiver. she heard 9
woman's voice ask:
SIS that you, bar0ness?"
.You are''-- began Gretchen.
1.-THE empress"
Gretchen ;trembled.
..No, your majesty. ! am not the
baroness. am only q poor girl whose
brother has been sentenced to death
for a crime he did not commit. God
has given me this opportunity to ask
you to help to save him. beg that
your majesty will, implore the emperor.
to use his influence TO give me an OPP
portunity to get the new proof that he;
IL Innocent. Think, your majesty how
yonswould feel II, one dear. to you were.
about TO be killedE' II
This Is singular = said the voice Of
the empress as IL to herself. Then:
Give me your brothers name. my
poor girl, and i VIII zee II, Lean do
anything, Tor you.a though you must
know that the courts are an entirely
different part f the government from
iSxhat which the emperor administers
But ! am sorry forr 5yyolil5 and will help
you he 4 can ssfs sag @a s u;
Gretchen gave her brothers. name.
then thanked thease empress. hung np5 the