The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-02-25
TWENTY-FlRST INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LxxIil.
The Encounter at Sea.

The Encounter at Sea.
Over the sea, up into the stars, sped
the distress call of the ship at sea /:
g. o. s. Gretzhoffen! s. 0. s. Gretz.
hoffen!"
Broken, incoherent at times, but inn
perative, the strident wall of the wire
less clamoring out into the empty air,
asking for ears far away to listen to
what 1t said. And ears did hear-the
ears OF friends.
The prime minister of Gretzhoffen,
rs has been said, had by this time
succeeded in making some sort of a
clearance of the unwelcome guests of
the Gretzhoffen 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 anywhere 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
mad 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, it might well be true that
Count Frederick, having been gone
certain period of time, might now be
ready to return. These long absences
were usual with him, but always he
mad come back. Hitherto that had
meant his return by land. Now it
must mean his return by sea. II
might be quite as we'll, reasoned the
prime minister, to have one of the
earliest interviews with Count Fred
erick on his return. 1t was well. sure
iy, to be well established with those
who would take control of affairs in
fhe distracted kingdom of Gretz-
hoffen.
Il shall even take our other yacht.
the Adelina," said the prime minister
to himself, .and put myself in the way
or the royal yacht, should it now be re-
turning" And even so he did.
The Adelina was stout little steam
Eng 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. UNI
Ill he felt the long roll of the Med |
lterranean under him. Then, as it |
CHANGED, at point not so far from |
the late shipwreck of the Prinz Ad-
Ter, he slackened speed and kept him
self barely under way. Having moth !,
ing better to do, he waited.
II was night now, and the stars were
shining brightly above. The gentle
lirs OF the South European sea were
'oft and languorous. But, to the prime
minister, as he restlessly paced the
ieck of the Adelina, these things
we're lost. He was engaged in reflec-
ions OF none too pleasant a nature.
he said to himself. There is
10 use in this. | might as we'll put
Jack
He turned as the boats wireless OPP
rator fastened to him now, a paper
n his hand. He had not noticed the
rackle of his own wireless masts of
ate, although from time to time he
ad sent out signals in the hope of
triking somewhere some information
egarding the missing craft.
Il beg pardon, sir" said the messen-
er excitedly, but we have just got
n s. o. S. Someone is calling the
idelina"
Calling us-where is it-who is
~ demanded the prime minister.
They are calling Gretzhoffen and
igning Frederick. 1t is S. o. S.
hey are in trouble somewhere. Who ,
! ii. excellency?" ,
The prime minister started as [
,ough struck by an electric shock. {
Frederick! Who but the very man Z
want-Count Frederick-and calling
5, Tell me-what is it that he says?" s
Only the same thing, excellency- 6
!. o. S.-Gretzhoffen-Adelina-
frederick And, yes-he says One /
andred and seyenty-five miles south y
,uthwest.' "
One hundred and seventy-five miles f
thai of course, must mean from the t
ut whence he sailed. We are more a