Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-06-11
The Flight OF the
Princess
copyright. 1918. by W. G. Chapman
An Audacious Hazard of Nikoa Independent Agent as
Related by His Lieutenant, Summers
BY H. NJ EGBERT

II hope the princess will select my
automobile when next she goes rid
ing said Nikolai
The young mechanic burst into q
roar of laughter,
"Ho! ho! That's good one!" 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 rascal Of guardsman who
would elope with her, and though
banished from Cassel-WeXel is be-
lieved to be lurking in Hoch Cassel
NJ, my friend. you will never see the
princess, into your automobile, for II
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
one course for us to pursue. That
young Schmidt is a regular sentimen.
tai German, and 1t 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
wishes to escape to her lover. Under
that belief he will join us in our
possibly the princess will
herself willingly come with us-anG
we will drive into the country. Then
stopping the machine, we will fnduCh
young Schmidt to descend under some
pretext or other and will at once 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 princesss dislike for her
Polish suitor, Nikolai very cautiously
led up to his plan.
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 across the
room, sprang upon Nikolai and threw
his arms around his neck and kissed
him impet aously upon either cheek
God has sent you here he cried
II was the valet of the Herr Lieuten,
nffahlnch thA nriunacc' 1nunr
and he obtained this post for me,
through a mutual friend in the wild
hope that | could bring the princess
to him. And days have passed and
beyond the sending of little note,
have been unable to do anything"
Your note was received by the
Princess. Schmidt" said Nikolai, "and
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?'
"The princess knows" cried
Schmidt rapturously. IF we can gain
access to her suite ali will be easy.
| will see her this afternoon and slip
a note into her purse making an ap
pointment, for | drive the state car.
riage in which she rides with the Po'
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 cautiously
through a chink in the stable doors
closed by the chamberlain's orders
we saw slight, girlish figure with a
crown of fair hair, enter the carriage
upon the arm of her father. Then the
coachman whipped up the bays and
the carriage disappeared in the direc-
tion of the capitol
"All is arranged said Schmidt that
night. Il told her TO drop her hand.
kerchief in signal of acquiescence. To
morrow night at eleven o'clock we
climb-or climb, rather-to the win
dow of her room by means of the ivy
which clings to the wall. She will be
waiting for us. | atiix a rope, carry
her down-and all is done
And the automobile?" asked Niko
lai.
You can obtain a permit to stay
until midnight in the stable under pre-
tense of making repairs. At twelve
the castle gates are closed and armed
sentries parade the grounds. We
must take the risk Of passing ,hem
Surely we can gain the entrance be-
fore they have time to shut the gates
and they will not dare to fire on the
princess. Now you must have the au-
tomobile waiting, ready to start, and
the moment that we descend, we shall
make a rush for it and away we 60"
"The only undesirable feature of
that program" said Nikolai, lis that
the actual work will be performed by
another. That clod of a German is
our solo reliance.
'He will not betray us" said l. THE
clown is an admirable tool-and sim
Pile as child. Why, in America such
a man with latent ingenuity and re.
sources, would make his Million yet
here he Is content to remain clown"
God sends clowns to help the wise"
said Nikolai.
Our conversation had been in Eng
lish, and, though schmidt knew that
we bad spent years in America, he
was manifectly uneasy. Nikolai apol-
ogized for the use of the foreign
tongue, and we spent the remainder
of the evening discussing ways and