Williams news., 1917-08-23

 most cratic. We knew that if the whim took him he would perhaps go off in an opposite direction, or trudge back to the castle with utter disregard of our natural anxiety.
 Lights were lit and we enjoyed cigars awaiting Knof's return. In an hour he was back with the news that nothing had been heard of his high ness. Soon after we had left that morning, however, young man in a gray suit had called and seen the ma jor domo, who had directed him where his highness might be found.
 Upon Eckardt-the commissary of police responsible for his highness' safety-the onus rested. Yet, had he not been sent out with the party, as his highness had expressed to me a wish to be left alone with the stranger, whose name alone knew?
 While we were discussing the most judicious mode of action-for I scent ed much mystery in this visit of Karl Krahl-one of the party discovered, lying upon the ledge of the window, a lady's small and rather elegant hand bag of black moire silk.
 "Halloal" I cried, when he held it up for inspection. 'This reveals to us one fact-a woman has been here."
 I opened the bag, and within found a small lawn handkerchief with a coro- net embroidered in its corner, a tiny tortoise-shell mirror and four one-hun- dred-mark notes, but no clue whatever as to its owner.
 The mystery was increasing hourly, but the gay party, knowing "Willie's" susceptibility where the fair sex was concerned, only laughed and declared that his highness would assuredly turn up before the evening was over.
 Truth to tell, did not like the situa- tion. His highness' disappearance was now known to fifty or so persons, beaters and others, and I feared lest it might get into the Berlin papers. With that object I called them together and impressed upon them that most complete silence must be maintained regarding the affair.
 Then Knof drove me alone back to the schloss. I wondered if his high ness, wishing to get away unobserved, returning in secret there, had left me a written message in his room. He had done that on one occasion before.
 I dashed up to the small, old-world room which by day overlooked the TO- mantle and picturesque valley, but upon the table whereat I had been writing early that morning there was nothing.
 The Countess Won kienitz.
 As I turned to leave heard a foot step, and next instant saw the little deformed old countess facing me.
 Her appearance quite startled me. Apparently she had just arrived, for she was in dark blue bonnet and warm travelling coat.
 "Ah! Count von Heltzendorff l" she cried in that squeaky, high-pitched voice of hers. 'Is his imperial high ness here? I must see him immediate ly."
 "No, countess. His imperial high ness is not here," was my reply. "This afternoon he mysteriously disappeared from the forester's lodge at Neue Schenke, and we are unable to trace him.
 Disappeared !" gasped the old lady, pale and agitated.
 ''Yes," said, looking her straight in the face.
 ''Do you know whether he had wis., Itor today-a young, dark-haired | man?"
 "He had, countess. A man called, | and saw him. At his highness' request | left him alone with his visitor at the forester's house. The mans name was Karl Krahl.'
 "How do you know his name?" she asked, staring at me with an express sion of distinct suspicion.
 "Because-well, because I happen to have learnt 1t some time ago." I said. "And, further, on returning to he house we found this little bag in he room wherein had left the crown orince."
 "Why!-a lady's bagl" she ex- claimed as held it out for inspection.
 "Yes," I said in a somewhat hard one. "Do you happen to recognize t?"
 "Me? Why" asked the old woman.
 "Well, because I think 1t is your own