The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-01-10

~ I'll blOOu b0lOl6 hlIl III lhb IL
Ib&I S& brary of his mansion on
NGEl Park lane, London. 81
- learned some time ago
that you had ceased to be
associated with the League. Sit down
and tell me precisely why"
Paul Lane answered with some We
hemence:
Il was, as you probably know, in
duced to place my services and my for
tune at the Leagues disposal by Her
Highness Princess Clothilde," he be-
gan. IL say service and fortune al
though / believe that only the latter
was required by the minds at the
back of the organization. At first l
was unaware of this. l threw myself
with enthusiasm into the cause"
That enthusiasm of you Americans
will yet be the cause of your country's
downfall" answered Lord Claude. But
please pardon the interruption. You
found things different from what you
had been led to expect?"
Yes. L had been told that the
League was an international associa-
ton for promoting the principles of
monarchy. l found it to be an anarch-
istic body. controlled by men of
whose identity | was never informed.
1 worked in the dark, and they spent
my money-some three millions of dol
lars-also in the dark. Finally, when
the princess proposed that / should or
ganize a conspiracy against my own
country, which would have led to the
absorption of all the Pacific coast
states by a hostile power, l severed my
connection. And So"
You have come to me to offer to
place your services and your knowl-
edge of affairs at the disposal of the
counter-organization?" said Lord
Claude. Il think you have acted wise
Iy, Mr.. Lare. The League is nothing
but a criminal society, led by some of
the younger and least influential of
Europe's rulers. Under the cloak of
devotion to monarchy-and no one be-
lieyes more in that principle than I,
for l am secretary Of what is called, I
believe, the Black Cabinet of Rulers
as | was saying, Mr.. Lane, under this
pretense the League has united all the
criminal and anarchistic elments in
Europe against the established order
of society. l welcome you and trust
that we shall deal with you more frank
iy than your late friends did"
Lord Claude dismissed Paul Lane
cordially soon after, promising to call
upon him as o as the need for his
services developed.
The from Lord Claude
came more speedily than either man
had anticipated. When, a few morn.
ings after, Paul went to the s%ecretary's
house by invitation, he found him pac-
ing the floor of his study in what in
any other man would have been mark.
ed agitation. In Lord Claude, how.
ever, this mood evinced itself only by
a sharper manner Of speech than his
habitual drawl and certain nervous
movements of the hands.
Il am glad you have come so prompt,
Iy, Mr.. Lane said Lord Claude. 81
want you to go upon a mission of the
utmost delicacy. l have not forgotten
how you outwitted me in the matter Of
the kaiser's visit to Paris, when you
were with our enemies, and if any mar
can clear up this situation, l know you
can"
He handed Paul a cigarette, lit it
and resumed.
Trouble is brewing in Holland
very serious trouble. Her Majesty
Queen Wilhelmina, as you doubtless
are aware, when she assembled the
throne at the age of eighteen, became
fascinated by the ideals of the League
and for a time assisted in it's councils
Later, when her eyes had been opened
to the true nature of this body, she
withdrew from all participation in iti
schemes, thereby mourning the dead
ly hostility Of the society. You ar
aware, of course, that her majesty Wis
its Berlin on the fifth, in order to dis
uss with the kaiser the proposed forti
fication of Flushing, a measu which
ne has inspired, and which gives cause
for considerable anxiety to England,
Certain patriots of Holland, consid
ering that the queen, in visiting Der
lin, has betrayed her country, are plan
ming a conference.-the, aided, o
curse by the ubiquitous League. VIVA
this is we do not know. We know onl!
one fact-that it is to center arount
the Princess J%uliana, her majesty
i~ve-year-old daughter, and heir to tn
Dutch throne. 1t may be the plan /
proclaim her queen in her mother
place; it may be something more das
tardly. That is what we have to dis
cover-and we rely on you to do it.
There is no fear Of a coup d'etat
for, during the queens absence, tt
gether with her husband, the palac
will be guarded by two regiments @
loyal troops. What ~treachery /
planned must be consummated b
stealth. Your ask will be to 6
o the palsce, arriving on the fifth, In
mediateiy after her majesty has lief
You will remain there until the eightl
n hour before the queens return
She, of course, knows nothing of thii
You will deliver your credentials t
Herr Won Grobelaar, the Dutch mimi
tetr for home affairs, who will be /
attendance at the palace; you wi
take up your quarters there and wi