The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-06-19
to XIII your husband a. w.n a. II.

imperial master would leave for Ham.
/ burg as intended and she was to pre-
. pare his baggage and send II to the
station Then he asked for an inter
view with the emperor aud told him
J that he had unearthrd plot to muir.
{ DEF him on his return from Hamburg:
| that II would he better for his ula jes,
! ty to go Hs intended. white he, DENT
! dOrf. remained behind to prevent the
assassination and secure proof against
/ the consplratOrs.
| Williain questioned his aid-de camp
closely and finally drew forth the in
formation, that the Countess Demidorf
! was implicated In the plot. He thought
| for some time. then said:
This is too important Il matter. my
FREUD. for me to leave exclusively to
any one but myself, not even you. !
have been very fond OF your wife,
and fear lest the evidence may be
against her. yet misleading What |
! propose to do Is this: We will both
| start for Hamburg. but wish you to
have swift automobile at way sta
! tiOn to take us off the train and return
us to Berlin in time to intercept this
bomb carrier. Provide police uniforms
for both of us. We will watch at your
back door. seize the bomb and | shal
see for myself what evidences of guilt
! there are on the part of your wife and
be able to judge how far she has been
/ made tool of others"
DemdOrf took the emperor's hand
and pressed 1t fervently by way of
I expressing n gratitude for which he
could not lind words. Then he left
the chamber to obey the orders he had
received
1t was nearing midnight on Christ
mas eve or Christmas morning when
two police officers. sannterng leisurely
into the street where Count Demidort
lived aud later entering the counts
back yard. concealed themselves under
some bushes A few minutes before
the clocks struck IL man passed into
the yard and was advancing to the
door when he was stopped 10y the po
licemen. one of whom seized box ht
| carried and examined it as well as the
imperfect light would permit
Its not a bomb" he said but an
Internal machine | hear 1t tick
The bearer of the box was too sur
prised to utter word. The man who
/ held it raped softly at the door 1t
was opened by woman. One of the
policemen pushed by her and turned
on the electric light 1t revealed the
countess. her brother and the two po
licemen
Amelia moaned one of the latter.
"AdOlph." eXclnimed fle countess
you have ruined us How could you
have done it? 1t is you. Heinrich who
have corrupted her with your crazy
ideas"
What does it all mean?" cried the
countess
Let MS go in and examine the box"
said the policeman who held It, and.
followed by the other. he entered the
house The countess looked at him. at
first donbtfully, then confidently, and
exclaimed
Great heavens the kaiser"
Il have come here. said the Pmper
or that | might decide upon your
case in person. | have been your friend
too long to intrust it to others
What case?"
open the box" said the count Let
me relieve your majesty. II any one
is to be killed | infinitely prefer that
It should be yonr loyal servant, myself
l do not wish to live after this dis
grace"
The emperor handed him the box.
and he tore off the wrapper.
"Take care" said his majesty 1T
has sliding lid"
The caution came too late Demi
dorf. maddened. drew back few feet
from the others and removed the lid
But the expected explosion did not
take place.
"A clock" exclaimed the emperor
And as | live. the clock that stood in
the ca binet Of my grandfather"
There was moment of silence In
which all wondered; then the emperor,
turning to the countess. asked her for
an explanation.
THE clock" she said. "after the
death or his majesty the Emperor vii
liam |. was given as reward for
faithfulness to one of his attendants.
The latter dying poor 1t was sold to
dealer In curios. My brother bought
1t for me to give to my husband for a
Christmas gift | intended a great
surprise and have attempted to intro
duce 1t here while he was away We
have the surprise. but not the one ex-
pected."
The emperor burst into laugh. and
at the same moment shouting. fir
ing. ringing OF bells without an
nounced that 1t was Christmas morn
ing.
Count" said william, ''you are the
biggest fool on earth except one"
And who Is that your majestyT'
Myself. If there is wine IN the
house let us drink bumper to Christ.
mas. Meanwhile order an automobile
seot from the palace with suit OF
clothes that ! may return 10 more ap.
nrOnriafo ha ahilirnanto than thoao A.,