The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-12-13

very short investigation showed him
that the wire passed through the floor
and into the body Of the chiffonier.
But there 1t apparently ended Paul
pulled out every drawer, inspected
every inch Of the old piece Of furni-
ture with scrupulous care. In vain. At
last he was compelled to acknowl-
edge himself defeated. The wire end.
ed somewhere In the wood: but unless
he could break the chiffonier into
minute pieces he could discover moth
ing further.
Morning dawned after what seemed
an eternity. Breakfast was served
to Paul in his room. About ten o'clock
Won Grobelaar made his appearance
and invited Paul to accompany the
child princess and himself upon a
morning stroll.
So the day wore away. At six
o'clock all were gathered in the
queens boudoir to await the expected
telephone message from the ambas-
sador at Berlin.
At six-thirty the telephone rang with
and set them upon their feet From
his chair tho old minister arose. He
walked slowly toward the instrument
slowly, not because he was the less
anxious but because he was the more
fearful. He listened; then. after a
moment. he hung up the receiver,
"Mademoiselle and Gentlemen" he
said, Il have the honor to announce
to you her majesty has ratified the
treaty and left Berlin ten minutes ago.
accompanied by his royal highness the
prince consort"
For a full half minute nobody spoke
Then Clothilde came forward.
"Mynheer =" she began.
Gentlemen" said Won Grobelaar,
Her royal highness intends to cele-
brate the joyful news by playing the
national anthem upon the harpsichord
of William of Orange"
They trooped down the grand stair
way, the Princess Juliana in the lead.
whooping exultantly as she raced
along.
There was not one wrong note. The
princess played with no bad execution
and her fingers instinctively felt for
and found each separate key. And
what had begun as prank ended diff
ferently. for the setting of the scene
wrought itself upon the imagination Of
all present, so that each eye was moist
even Won Grobelaar's, and at the
end he was swallowing hard. Paul
saw Clothilde turn her head away; he
touched her lightly upon the shoulder
and she started violently.
You taught her all this yourself?"
he asked
She stared at him like madwoman,
and suddenly. brushing him aside.
broke through the crowd, gained the
passage outside, and ran down the
corridor, sobbing violently. Paul
turned to Won Grobelaar.
81 think that is the last we shall see
of Mademoiselle." he said.
Why" asked the minister quickly.
The crowd had dispersed outside the
door. whittier they had been attracted
by the Princess Clothilde's behavior.
and they stared after her curiously.
The little princess was resentfully
complying with the admonitions Of
the head nurse concerning retiring
time. Paul led Won Grobelaar to the
harpsichord and showed him the new
wire.
81 didn't understand" said Won
Grobelaar. looking at Paul with the
vague air. Of one absorbed in some
abstract cogitation. do you know"
he continued, that the sight of her
little highness there made me feel
like an old fool? When | think how
many such princesses have grown up
to be men and women ="
L beg your pardon" said Paul. Did
you notice that wire?"
II - what which wire? Well,
what Of it?"
Il was here last night when the
palace was asleep"
Then, sir, you were grossly remiss
in your duty. You should have re-
manned in your room"
Possibly" answered Paul drily.
| but tN6 IdCt TeHldluS tudt ludl WIG
runs out Of the harpsichord and
through that statue and my
room?"
| What"
| Won Grobelaar turned on him face
yellow with fear. He tottered and
seemed about to fall.
II didn't hear you. my friend. You
spoke about some wire!"
That wire," repeated Paul indul-
gently, connects with the chinonier
In her majesty's ="
MY Cod" yelled the minister. and
he dashed for the door. Along the
corridor he ran. Paul hurrying after
him. But, agile as ne was. Paul could
not catch the old minister until he
came upon him at the door Of his OWL
apartment Won Grobelaar did not
seem to notice him. With one sweeI
of the hand he consigned the chit
Ifonier cover to tn, floor. with PauPi
hair-brushes. keys. collar-box and var
Iious small articles of baggage. He