The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1916-07-27
TWENTY.FlRsT lNsTALLMENT
CHAPTER Lxxiii.
Tho Encounter at Sea.


Over the sea. up into the stars. sped
the distress call OF the ship at sea:
rs. o. 8. Grctzhoffen! s. y. s. Gretz.
hofYen!"
Broken, incohercnt ut times, but i'm.
perative, the stridcnt wall OF the wire.
less clamoring out into the empty air.
asking for ears far away to listen to
what II said. And ears did hear-the
ears of friends.
The prime minister OF Gretzhofen,
as has been said. had by this time
succeeded in making some sort of
clearance of the unwelcome guests of
the Gretzhofren palace. He had got
the king to bed. some Of his officers to
horse. and q 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 80 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.
or, far below. toward the mouth Of
tho 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 we'll 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 no
had come back. Hitherto that had
meant his return by land. Now 1t
must mean lis return by sea. It
might be quite as we'll. reasoned the
prime minister. to have one OF the
earliest interviews with Count Fred
erick on his return. It was well. sure
ly. to be we'll 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. land put myself In the way
OF tho royal yacht. should 1t now be re.
turning" And even 80 he did.
! The Adelina was 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 nc
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, AZ II
CHANGED, at q 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
airs OF the South European sea were
soft and dangerous. But. to the prime
minister. as he restlessly paced the
deck OF the Adelina, these things
we're lost. He was engaged In refiec
lions OF none too pleasant a nature
Signing. he said to himself: There II
NO use In this. might as well pu
back"
He turned as the boats wireless op
orator FASTENED to him now. q paper
In his hand. He had not noticed thu
crsckle of his own wireless masts o.
late. although from time to time h
had sent out signals In the hope o
striking somewhere some information
regarding the missing craft.
Il beg pardon. sir" said the messen
cor excitedly, but We have Just 60
an 8. o. 8. Someone Is calling tn
Adelina."
Calling us-where Is it-who 4
III" demanded the prime minister.
They are calling Gretzhoffen ant
signing Frederick II IL 8. o. s.
they are in trouble somewhere. VIII
10 It. excellency?'
The prime minister started q
though struck by an electric shock
Frederick! Who but the very maj
I want-Count F'rederick-and callin
US! Tell me-what is 1t that he says?
only the same thing, excellency-
g. o. - S.-Gretzhoffen-Adelina-
Frederick And, yes-he says On
hundred and seventy.ive miles south
southwest.
One hundred and seventy-five mile
that, of course. must mean from tn
port whence no sailed. We are NOR