The Harrison times., 1914-10-24

| meet at Schlangenbad about the
middle Of this month. You know the
place, in the Taunus hills-one Of the
emperor's hunting lodges | suggest
that you get down there tomorrow and
have everything ready You thor
oughly know what is required Of you,
doctor?"
On my asserting was dismissed. |
lost no time in getting home to my
quarters and into comfortable togs
This mission needed some thinking
out And after l told my Basuto boy
to pack my bag l glanced again at the
list Won Wedell had given me.
Haldane, lord chancellor Of England,
persona grata with the kaiser--in fact,
a personal friend; Churchill, first lord
Of the British admiralty; Waechter,
the German minister Of foreign affairs
and, despite court opposition, the
trusted man Of the kaiser; Tirpitz and
Won Heeringen, chiefs Of the German
navy and army stats, the latter a sec
ond Moltke. When ! came to Won Auf'
fenberg's name | whistled. Won Auf'
fenberg was minister Of war and the
right-hand man Of the chancellor or
the Austrian empire Thus three
great powers were represented
Six men Of this eminence, the brains
and force Of three nations, to meet
in secret in a little obscure hunting
lodge in the forest 1t portended
darily for France; but how darky I
could not then conjecture 1t inter.
ested me tremendously, but ! con.
soled myself that ! would probably
know all when the party gathered In
that secluded hunting lodge.
According to instructions, ! present.
ed myself early next morning at the
residence Of Herr Won Kiderlen.Waech'
ter 1t was in the Thiergartenstrasse.
Without delay was shown into his
excellencys room. He was seated at
his desk, and while we exchanged a
few perfunctory words permitted my.
self a moments brief conjecture
Statesman and His Wasteoats
Judging from appearances, you
would never have taken this portly,
rubcund, iron.gray, bushy.browed gen.
teman for a statesman, But states.
man he was for all that, and the EN-.
peror and Germany miss him sorely,
! would have taken him for a Boer
Dopper or an English yeomOn, This
suggestion was supported by his afro.
cious taste in fancy walstcoats, The
one he had on stlll sticks In my mem.
ory. It was a lurld poach.blos8om ere.
alton, spotted with green, But once
his steelgray deeghound eyes looked
you up and down you forgot all about
the fancy waistcoat and got right down
to business, told his excellenoy !
had come for his personal Instructions,
Ills first remark was like dash OF
cold water in the face,
"Hum," he grunted, you are rather
young, but suppose they (meanIng
the emperor and Won Wedell) know
what they are doing"
Besides telling me to "hat my maui"
Ca German military expression liter.
ally meaning keep your mouth shut,
but implying the need for utmost se'
ereey) he gave me certain general In,
struetlons, But from them could gain
no idea Of just what was going to hap.
pen. How big was the gathering storm
he mover even hinted,
Remembering Won Wedell's BuggoB.
ton about the hunting party, | pro.
cured some guns and reached the sta.
ton in time to catch the 1880 express
for Schangenbad,
II was early In october when went
to the KuF hotel and registered M
Herr DambeFger from Berlin, II you
ever go to sehlangenb0d look up the
register, Schlangenbad Ia mineral
watering place In Prussia near tho
Black Forest, and within easy distance
Of our ultimate meeting place, tho
hunting lodge that Won Wodoll had
mentioned.
The Secret gnVoys Gather
was alone at the hotel for several
days, Then, travelling noognIto tho
dignitaries began to drift in First
eamo the Austrian, Gen, MorIts Ritter
Won Auffonborg, A distinguished, quiet
unassumIng gentleman, he Ia known
TO be high In tho confidence OF Fran.
els Joseph found the war minister
very fond OF salmon Ashlng, and got
quite into HIS good graGea by enthu.
eIaate taloa OF ny fishing In New zea
land,
Admiral Won Tlrpitg and General
Won tleorlngon came noxt Tho nd
mlral In typical Of the German sailor
n big man, ak feet wide Of shoulder
blueeyed and full bearded, llla man.
ner found genial and courteous, His
exact opposite was Won lieerihgen
thin, almost crooked OF body, stoop.
shouldered unusually taeiturn, aud
possessing deep.sunken, smolderng
black eyos, lie struck me as MI ami
mated mummy Of tho RamoBes dynasty
come TO think OF IL, he much re-
aembles RameeeB H.
The exact date Of the meeting, ~ |
recall H. was october 10, and the place
A shooting lodge named lGhfonkfug