The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-12-04
TNENTY-FlRST INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER Lxxul.
The Encounter at Sea.

The Encounter at Sea,
Over the sea, up into the stars, sped
the distress call of the ship at sea
IS. o. s, Gretzhotfen! S. o. S. Gretz
hoffen!"
Broken, incoherent at times. but i'm
perative, the strident wall of the wire.
less clamoring out into the empty air
asking for ears fNr away to listen to
what 1t said. And ears did hear-the
ears of friends
The prime minister of Gretzhoffen,
as has been said had by this time
succeeded in making some sort of a
clearance of the unwelcome guests OF
the Gretzhotfen palace He had got
the king to bed, some of his officers to
horse, and few of his servants to
work. AS for himself, he felt him
self unable to establish the broken
machinery Of the government on any
lasting basis Frederick-Count Fred
erick--the man with the strong brain
and arm--where was he?
Bent upon answering for himself
this somewhat imperative question,
the prime minister made search here
and there for some clue to the miss
ing nobleman. His agents ran the
trail to the dock whence Count Fred.
erick had sailed so many days ago.
He learned that at the time the kings
yacht had put out there had been seen
the line of smoke of a passing steam
er, far below. toward the mouth OF
the bay. Apparently the kings yacht
had set out with the purpose of inter
cepting this steamer What then had
happened none could tell Some
where out on the sea the nobleman
OF Gretzhoffen had disappeared.
Therefore, said the prime minister
to himself, 1t might well be true that
Count Frederick, having been gone a
certain period of time might now be
ready to return These long absences
were usual with him. but always he
had come back. Hitherto that had
meHnt his return by land. Now it
must mean his return by sea. 1t
might be quite as well. reasoned the
prime minister, to have one of tho
earliest interviews with Count Fred
erick on his return. 1t was well, sure
ly, to be well established with those
who would take control of affairs in
the distracted kingdom of Gretz-
hoffen.
Il shall even take our other yacht,
the Adelina." said the prime minister
to himself and put myXelf in the way
OF the royal yacht, should it now be re.
turning. And even so he did.
The Adelina was a stout little steam
ing craft, of good lines, and well
enough armed
The prime minister did not hasten
in his errand, for indeed he had no
definite purpose in view. Only having
put the Adelina into commission. he
pushed out quite beyond the bay, un-
til he felt the long roll of the Med
iterranean under him. Then, as it
.chanced, at a point not so far from
the late shipwreck of the Prinz Ad-
ler he slackened speed and kept him
self barely under way Having moth
ing better to do. he waited.
1t was night now, and the stars were
shining brightly above. The gentle
airs of the South European sea were
soft and languorous. But, to the prime
minister, as he restless'y paced the
deck Of the Adelina these things
were lost He was engaged in rehec-
tons OF none too pleasant nature.
Signing, he said to himself There is
no use in this l might as well put
back
He turned as the boats wireless op
orator fastened TO him now. a paper
in his hand He had not noticed the
crackle OF his own wireless masts OF
late, although from time to time he
had sent out signals in the hope OF
somewhere some information
regarding the missing craft
Il beg pardon, sir said the messen- /
ger excitedly. but we have just got ,
an 8 o. S. Someone is calling the s
AdeIina' c
Calling us--where is it-who is d
~" demanded the prime minister
They are calling Gretzhoffen and q
signing Frederick It is S. o. S. n
hey are in trouble somewhere. Who r
9 It, excellency?'
The prime minister started as &
.hough struck by an electric shock o.
Frederick Who but the very man
want-Couut Frederick and calling
10! Tell me-what is it that he says:' G.
only the same thing eXcellency- g
S. o. S.-Gretzhoaen-Adeliua-
And, yes-he says One X
hundred and seyenty-hyo miles south s.
"One hundred and seyeutyhve miles /.
that, OF course, must mean from the C..
,ort whence he sailed. We are more ri