The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-03-21

L nope Jne princes Will SELECT my
automobile when next she goes rid
ing said Nikolai.
The young mechanic burst into a
roar of laughter.
"Hol hol That's a good onel" he
laughed. why don't you know that
she never stirs from the castle unless
an armed servitor accompanies her?
Why, it is said that she is in love
with a rascal of a guardsman, who
would elope with her, and, though
banished from Cassel-Wexel, is be- ,
lieved to be lurking in Hoch Cassel.
No, my friend, you will never see the
princess, into your automobile, for If
you so much as turn your head when
driving her you receive a months
wages and dismissal on the spot"
Summers" said Nikolai to me on
the following morning, as we sat to-
gether in the stable, there is only
n course for us to pursue. That
young Schmidt is a regular sentimen-
tai German, and it is evident that, in
his clownish way, he has fallen in love
with the princess and would die to
serve her. Now to unfold our scheme
to him would mean immediate disclos-
ure and our arrest. We must enlist
his aid under the pretense that we
are secret agents of the princess, who
wishes to escape to her lover. Under
that belief he will join us in our
scheme-possibly the princess will
herself willingly come with us-and
we will drive into the country. Then
stopping the machine, we will induce
young Schmidt to descend under some
pretext or other and will at one start
her again and leave him behind US.
Could anything be simpler?'
The plan did indeed seem feasible.
On the following night, having re-
ceived many condolences from Schmidt
as to the princess's dislike for her
Polish sutton, Nikolai very cautiously
led up to his plan.
1 was not prepared for what follow
ed. Schmidt had been sitting upon
his cot, half undressed, listening with
open mouth. OF a sudden he sprang
to his feet, and leaping cross the
room, sprang upon Nikolai and threw
his arms around his neck and kissed
him im%petdously upon either cheek.
God has sent you here" he cried.
II was the valet of the Herr Lieuten-
ant Won Offenbach, the princess lover,
and he obtained this post for me,
through a mutual friend in the wild
hope that l could bring the princess
to him. And days have passed and,
beyond the sending of a little note, l
have been unable to do anything"
your note was received by the
Princess, Schmidt" said Nikolai, land
she has communicated with her lover,
who lies hidden in an old castle across
the frontier. He sent US here; but
now, how can we help?"
1.-THE princess knows" cried
Schmidt rapturously. IF we a gain
access to her suite all will be easy.
l will see her this afternoon and slip
a note into her purse making an ap-
pointment, for I drive the state car
riage in which she rides with the Pc
lax to the cathedral for the ceremony
of the betrothal."
On the next afternoon We saw
Schmidt, seated motionless upon the
, box of the carriage, holding in the
princes bays; and, peering cautiousl!
: through a chink in the stable doors
closed by the chamberlain's orders
. we saw a slight, girlish figure with
crown of fair hair, enter the carriage
: upon the arm of her father. Then thu
! coachman whipped up the bays an
= the carriage disappeared in the direc
: ton of the capitol.
, "All is arranged" said Schmidt tina
. night. 81 told her to drop her hand
kerchief in signal of acquiescence. TIC
: morrow night at eleven o'clock w
climber l climb, rather-to the win
dow of her room by means of the iv,
which clings to the wall. She will b
waiting for us. / aff1X a rope, carr,
> her down-and all is DONE
"And the automobile?" asked Nike
lai.
you can obtain a permit to sta
until midnight in the stable under pre-
tense of making repairs. At lively
g the castle gates are closed and arme,
sentries parade the grounds. W
must take the risk of passing them
! Surely we can gain the entrance be
fore they have time to shut the gate
= and they will not dare to fire on tn
princess. Now you must have the at
tomobile waiting, ready to start, ant
the moment that we descend, we shal
r make a rush for it and away we go.
e THE only undesirable feature c
d that program" said Nikolai, sis tina
the actual work will be performed b
It another. That clod of a German
# our sole reliance"
s. "He will not betray us" said I. 9Th
It clown is an admirable tool-and sin
pie as a child. Why, in America sue
o. a man with latent ingenuity and r
sources, would make his million; "
here he is content to remain a clown
God sends clowns to help the wise
said Nikolai.
d Our conversation had been in EN-
ID lish, and, though Schmidt knew thu
l. we had spent years in America, h
was manifestly e Nikolai apo
ogized for the use of the foreig
tongue, and we spent the remaindt
of the evening discussing ways an
did creature who, in return for NOR
ID money, blows the whistle once for
IS cab for me, said that Il was a mic