Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-29

Won UIOUClddI COulu HOJ uclp
This was the first allusion made in
the palace. except in his own talk with
Paul that morning, to what everyone
knew.
But let me say, Mynheer," went on
Clothilde, that |, for one, hope with
all my heart that the German treaty
will be ratified, and that tomorrow
night we shall hear the good news by
telephone. And in proof of my own
good intentions, request that as soon
as the news is verified, Her Highness
the Princess Juliana may be permitted
to play the Dutch National anthem
upon the old state harpsichord in the
royal museum"
"Thank you, mademoselle,' said
Von Grobelaar coldly. Il am sure that
the museum can be placed at your dis
posal if you desire it.
Nov, | wonder what deviltry is
afoot," said Won Grobelaar thought.
fully.
You do not trust her?' asked Paul,
shaken with miserable doubt.
Won Grobelaar advanced and placed
his hand in kindly fashion upon the
shoulder of the younger man. Per
haps he surmised the true condition OF
Pauls feelings.
my boy" he said-"for you are
only boy compared with an old IlAn
like myself trust few men and 40
women in matters of state. A man Ia
bound by certain social codes. A
woman has no code in such matters.
Love them, worship them, serve them
but do not trust them, Paul
And how about her majesty the
oueen?" asked Paul with some indig-
nation.
Won Grobelaar smiled YEARLY Her
majesty is-Holland," he answered.
And Holland must be preserved.
Come, Mr. Lane, forgive an old mans
outburst, and let me see you to your
sleeping quarters. You were not, |
think, informed that they are those oc-
cupied by her majesty herself when
she is in residence here, and that
they command the approach to the
Princess Julianas room. Lock your
door and take this pistol He drew a
serviceable weapon from his pocket
and handed It to Paul. But you are
not likely to be called upon to use 1t"
he added, for two thousand loyal SOL
diers are at this moment under arms
in The Hague and command all ap-
proaches to the palace
It would be difficult for any man to
sleep soundly after receiving such In
formation, and Paul was no more
phlegmatic than most men. He did
not even undress, but resolving to be
faithful to his trust. he started In to
spend a watchful night. His first step
was to assure himself that Won Gro
belaar's statement as to the location
of the princess room was accurate.
His first search was for the royal mu-
scum, and this he found to be upon the
| floor below his, and almost Immediate
! lv beneath his apartment, except that,
being of considerably larger size, it
extended beneath the apartments OF
| the princess and her nurses 1t was
devoted to the storage of articles and
| objects of no special intrinsic value.
but much priced on account of their
historical associations. Among these
was the old harpsichord which was
said to have been used by William of
Orange, afterward William Ill. Of
| England, and to which Clothilde had
evidently referred
But why had the Princess Clothilde
al in
which her infant charge was to play
the Dutch national anthem?
He resolved to examine the harpsi-
chord in order to determine whether 1t
could be reasonably associated with
the design of Clothilde For that, de-
spite her denial, she was the center of
the conspiracy, he entertained no
doubt whatever
He half expected to encounter Clo-
| thilde, bent upon the same nocturnal
| errand, 1t seemed incredible TO him
that she would not be watching for
| just such a visit on his part, IT, in
deed, there lay some sinister design
| beneath her project. But the corri-
doris were deserted, and when he
reached the museum, he found that
the door was unlocked. Inside a sin.
gle electric light, burning over the
door, showed him the switch And
in the center of the room stood the old
harpsichord, wide open, its strings,
though still serviceable, rusty with
age.
1t stood between one Of the old
state coaches and a curious wooden
statue which, according to the printed
story, which Paul spelled out with
some difficulty, had once stood In tho
assembly house in the days of the
Dutch republic. 1t was grotesquely
carved figure of Justice, Of heroic size,
and the finger Of the uplifted hand
reached to within two or three inches
of the low ceiling. The statue absorb
ed Pauls attention but a moment. He
turned to open the harpsichord. Some
body had evidently been playing on 1t
at no remote date, for the dust which
lay on 1t thickly had been carefully
wiped away from the keyboard and
sheet of modern music lay on the
square stool beside 1t. Paul picked
this up and examined 1t. 1t was the
Dutch national anthem. But 1t was
written in G major.
This fact alone interested Paul con-
siderably. The Dutch national song,
like most such, is extremely simple.
and is almost invariably played in the
key of C major. The change from the
key of C to that of G interested him
at first as a musician.
Upon closer examination Paul per
ceived that the work was not printed
at all, but written in ink, and SO finely