The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1915-11-25
Copyright, 1915. by w. G. Chapman.)

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Copyright, 1915. by
The life of Emperor Franz JOSEF OF
Austria Hungary has always scenes
TO me like one of those representa-
tSons of the Greek dramatists, in
which the hero, pursed by an aveng-
srg fate, struggles in vain against
tragic destiny that leaves him, in the
sind, utterly bereft of all that life has
held dear for him.
Never has a monarch suffered so
many blows from fortune. Called to
the throne at eighteen, it was his fate
to lose his Italian provinces, to suffer
defeat from France and then from
Prussia, to see Hungary become quasi
independent. His son, Prince Rudolf,
died by his own hand under circum-
stances of the utmost pathos; his
queen. Empress Elisabeth, fell the VIC
tim of an assassin's dagger; his heir
and nephew, Archduke John, resigned
his Inheritance and disappeared; yet
Gate had still In store for him the muir
der of Sarajevo, war, and its ensuing
miseries.
In my capacity as private and conf
Genital emissary for the British gov
brnment, with a commission to deter
mine what forces were making LOT
war in Europe, had fixed my head
quarters in Vienna, the pivot-capltal
pf European politics. Although my
mission was not generally suspected,
pr. rather, because Of this, l was IN
close touch with political affairs and
men.
was returning to Vienna after a
short trip home to England when my
carriage was invaded, about ten in the
evening, somewhere beyond the SWISS
frontier, by a man whom l knew very
veil indeed, escorting a woman Whom
/ had never seen before.
twas evident that they had taken
the adjoining sleeping section, ana
had Inadvertently entered mine at the
little station. A few words OF explain
ation, and I had stepped into the cor
Yifaor and shown them to their quar-
eers. The man had not recognized
me, but the sight Of his face Whlch l
could not possibly have mistaken, 1or
reasons connected with bygone ex-
Derience when was an attache at VI
emma aroused in me the utmost aston
aEhment and keenest curiosity. for
I knew him perfectly we'll as being the
missing archduke and heir TO the
throne, who, when he resigned MS
rank and inheritance, had sailed on
tramp ship as Johann Ortiz, able sea
man, to find his grave, as everybody
believed, in the depths of the Sargasso
sea.
The story Of Johann Ortiz Is common
pOperty. 1t is also known that per
SONS have asseverated, from time 10
time, that they had met the archduke
i'm distant parts of the world; but no.
body Of responsibility had ever be-
licved the tale had not.
The man was SO like his cousin,
Archdulle Franz Ferdinand, and heir
apparent, that, but for the experience
In which | have referred, l should
have mistaken him for the heir appar-
ent himself. What was he doing mere:
Who was his companion?
AS I stood at the door Of my Sec
ton the man opened the door OF MS
and stepped into the corridor. he
cav me, stared at me, and suddenly
srasped me by the shoulders ana
dragged me into my compartment and
shut the door behind him. Then ne
thrust out a huge, sunburned, toll
calioused hand, and gripped mine Win
the clasp of steel wise.
well nett" he shouted, calling me
BY name. Il could not have had
more fortunate encounter You know
ma. eh? You are ambassador at VI
Emma now? Never mind! You VIII
vuueh for me in case my uncle has
crown near-sighted? You will stand
hv me. as an old friend ought to-?
I did not know what answer TO re-
tuYn to this outburst. The mans ap-
nsarance was that of one who had
heen on a protracted debauch, and yet
thore was no smell of alcohol upon MS
breath. And soon began to realize
That It was excitement and apprehen-
x5un that gave him his wild appear
ance, not liquor.
He poured out story in a flood OF
words that left me gasping. And
l,d not the least doubt of him at any
time.
He had escaped from the wrecked
ship In one of the boats and landed
an the shore of Brazil. In that coun'
inv he had become successful coffee
rsanter and none of his neighbors had
xuessed his identity. But to one who
had lived so full life the monotony
lsncame uncomfortable. Under various
names he had travelled with his wife
In many countries Of the world. occa'
slonally recognized and challenged,
but always managing to conceal his
Mentity, until the year 1912 found him
rsnching in California. There the
woman for whose sake he had sacri-
feed his rank had died.
He had married again, an ambitious