River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-04

that you had ceased to be
associated with the League. Sit down
and tell me precisely why"
Paul Lane answered with some We
hemence:
II was, as you probably know, in
duced to place my services and my for
tune at the Leagues disposal by Her
HIghness Princess Clothilde,' he be-
gan 81 say service and fortune, al
hough ! believe that only the latter
was required by the minds at the
back of the organization. At first !
was unaware Of this. | threw myself
with enthusiasm into the cause"
THAT enthusiasm of you Americans
will yet be the cause of your country's
downfall" answered Lord Claude. But
please pardon the interruption. You
found things different from what you
had been led to expect?"
Yes. / had been told that the
League was an international associa-
ton for promoting the principles Of
monarchy ! found it to be an anarch-
istic body, controlled by men Of
whose identity I was never informed.
/ worked in the dark, and they spent
my money-some three millions of dol
lars-also in the dark. Finally, when
the princess proposed that ] should or
ganize a conspiracy against my own
country, which would have led to the
absorption of all the Pacific coast
states by hostile power, severed my
connection. And So"
You have come to me to offer to
place your services and your knOwl-
edge Of affairs at the disposal Of the
counter-organization said Lord
Claude. II think you have acted wise
ly, Mr. Lane. The League is nothing
but a criminal society," led by some of
the younger and least influential of
Europe's rulers. Under the cloak of
devotion to mOnarchy-and no one be-
lieves more in that principle than |,
for ! am secretary Of what is called I
believe, the Black Cabinet Of Rulers
as | was saying, Mr. Lane, under this
pretense the League has united all the
criminal and anarchistic elments in
Europe against the established order
of society. ] welcome you and trust
that we shall deal with you more frank
~ than your late friends did"
Lord Claude dismissed Paul Lane
cordially soon after, promising to call
upon him as soon as the need for his
services developed
Paul went back to his quarters in
Piccadilly aflame with enthusiasm. The
frankness of Lord Tresham had pro-
Jucod = v,oryr diffarop+ c,ffoo+ fro,,, tE,o+
created in his mind by the evasions
of his late allies. Since his falling
out with the Princess Clothilde his
life had seemed wholly empty and I'M
profitable. He had thought at first
Of returning to America to resume
charge of the huge corporation built
up by his father. But the experiences
that he had undergone while in the
service of the League had made the
life of an American business king"
seem tame and stale, and the memory
of the princess burned always in his
heart, so that. though he had re
nounced her. he could not bring him
self to leave the sphere of her activ-
tiles. Even though in deadly enmity,
he always looked forward to meeting
her again
The summons from Lord Claude
came more speedily than either man
had anticipated. When, few morn
lngs after, Paul went to the secretary's
house by invitation, he found him pac-
ing the floor of his study in what in
any other man would have been mark
ed agitation. In Lord Claude, how
ever, this mood evinced itself only by
4 sharper manner of speech than his
habitual drawl and certain nervous
movements of the hands
Il am glad you have come so prompt
iy, Mr. Lane said Lord Claude. Il
want you . go upon a mission of the
utmost delicacy. l have not forgotten
how you outwitted me in the matter of
the kaisers visit to Paris. when you
we're with our enemies, and if any man
can clear up this situation, | know you
can
He handed Paul cigarette, lit it,
and resumed
Trouble is brewing in Holland
very serious trouble Her Majesty
Queen Wilhelmina, as you doubtless
are aware. when she assembled the
throne at the age of eighteen became
fascinated by the ideals of the League,
and for time assisted in its councils
Later, when her eyes had been opened
TO the true nature of this body, she
withdrew from all participation in its
schemes, thereby mourning the dead
ly hostility of the society. You are
aware, of course. that her majesty Wis
Its Berlin on the fifth, in order to dis
cuss with the kaiser the proposed forti-
fcation of Flushing. a measure which
he has inspired and which gives cause
for considerable anxiety to England.
Certain patriots of Holland. consid-
ering that the queen, in visiting Ber-
lin, has betrayed her country, are plan
ming conference.-the. aided, of
curse by the ubiquitous League What
this is we do not know. We know only
one fact-that it is to center around
the Princess Juliana, her majesty
five-year-old daughter, and heir to the
Dutch throne 1t may be the plan to
proclaim her queen in her mothers
lace; it may be something more das-
tardly. That is what we have to dis
cover-and we rely on you to do it,
There is no fear of a coup detat,
for, during the queens absence, to-
gether with her husband, the palace
will be guarded by two regiments of
loyal troops. What treachery is
stealth. Your task will be to go