The Ely miner., 1914-02-13

ant, IerIlI6 plaluS Oh SdXOuy.
What would deter you, Summers"
he said, "is the rank of the persons
most intimately concerned. Now to
my mind that is the best guarantee
OF success for our undertaking. You
can strike at kings and queens where
you cannot with impunity attack those
of lower rank. Why? Because these
persons, being themselves outside the
law, are loath to have recourse to it
We take our lives in our hands. it is
true, but we revert to the old cOndi-
tions when each man was law unto
himself. / think we can succeed just
because of the improbability of such
an attempt. And We can hold her to
heavy ransom for the cause"
But a princess!" urged. Where
can we hold herr"
IF once we get her into our auto
mobile" said Nikolai, mo power on
earth can hinder us. We take her
direct to the old castle that we have
rented for the summer; it is two miles
from any habitation and escape would
be impossible.
But admit" he added, meditative-
ly, that an accomplice within the cas-
tie would help us materially" He fell
to thinking and would speak no more.
Our plans were as follows: The
Princess of Cassel-Wexel was to be
married to the Polish Prince Ponia-
towski. The marriage was viewed
with great aversion by the subjects
of the tiny principality of eastern
Germany, while the princess herself
was rumored to cherish no unkindly
feeling toward a handsome but impe-
cunious guards officer, whose aspira-
tions were, of course, destined to re-
main unfulfilled Possibly, in these
days of democracy, the king might
In the end have given his consent;
but the Polish marriage was necessary
In the interests of state, and cZar and
kaiser had set their hearts on it. So
it seemed improbable that anything
could avert the approaching nuptials.
But two weeks were to intervene
before their consummation. Nikolais
scheme was to obtain admittance to
the castle in the guise of an under-ser-
want or OF an American chauffeur, the
supply OF whom, for the many royal
automobiles, was constantly beneath
the demand. Then, with me as his as
sistant, we were to entice the prin-
cess for a ride, to kidnap her, and to
secrete her in our castle. twenty-four
miles away, and well within the bor-
ders of an unfriendly state. until ran
som could be arranged.
We pat up at the little capital town,
dominated by the castle of the king
OF CasselWexel, which seemed entire
ly to oVershadow the narrow streets
that engirdle it. In spite of the popu-
lar prejudice against the marriage,
Hoch Cassel was en- fete, and flags,
bearing the Russian and German arms,
hung from every window. Neverthe-
less, scraps of conversation that we
overheard, Contemptuous references to
"the Polak." whose carriage driven by
magnificent bays, raced through the
streets at all hours to the imminent
danger of worthy citizens necks, bore
witness to the condition of the public
mind.
"A chauffeur and a mechanician!"
exclaimed our landlord, when we
broached to him the fact that we de-
sired a position. And Germans born,
returning from America to the father
land? Young men. your fortunes are
made. His Highness Prince Rudolph
loves all Americans since his return
from that country last spring And
he is installing innumerable automo-
biles In place of his old carriages. Go
up to the castle at once and ask for
the Herr Chamberlain; he will take
you on. Oh. the salary Is liberal; two
marks day and everything found"
That morning we succeeded in OBJ
tanning an interview with the Cham
berlain. Both Of us were thoroughly
proficient In the running of automo-
biles and we were Immediately as
signed positions in the royal stables
-Nikolai as chauffeur, | as clean
er.
Each OF the chauffeurs had two au-
tomobiles in his charge; it was his
. duty to have them always in good re-
pair, and when any of the royal family
desired to ride, the chauffeur went
with the vehicle that was selected.
The other men were of the mechanic
type and regarded US with animosity.
except young Schmidt, splendid spe-
cimen of man, and Of bearing
which would have consorted rather
with patrician stock than with the
humble family from which he had
sprung. We three roomed together
in quaint. old-fashioned apartment at
the back of the stable, and all night
long when our confidence had been es-
tablished he raved of the princess. 1t
would have become exceedingly mo-
notonous, but for the fact that Niko-
Iai and l saw in him possible tool
for the fuifllment OF our design,
You have not seen herr" he ex-
claimed. as he got into bed. "Ah, the
universe was not completed until God
made her. Such eyes-they would
melt the candles upon our ladys al
tar. Such hair-radiant as the SUM-
And when she smiles! And they |
would n AIRY her to an insolent low |
proved Polak. whom she despises."
Il hope the princess will select my
automobile when next she goes rid |
Ing" said Nikoiai.
The young mechanic burst into q
roar Of laughter.
no! no! That's a good one!" he