Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-08-30


with a flood of important state pa
pers which a courier had brought
from Berlin two hours before. Papers
followed US daily wherever we might
be.
About midday Doctor VolIerthun was
ushered in to me-a short, stout. gut
tural-speaking man of about sixty,
rather bald, and wearing big, round,
gOld-rimmed spectaeIes. [ quickly
handed him over to the major-domo.
About three o'clock that same after
noon light tap came at the door, and
[ saw my hostess standing upon the
threshold.
She was quietly but elegantly
dressed, presenting the true type of the
smart Parisienne, but in an instant I
realized that she was very pale and
agitated. Indeed, her voice trembled
when she asked permission to enter.
Since her marriage | had many times
chatted with her, for she often came
to the palace when her husband visited
Berlin. | had danced with her; had
taken her into dinner at various houses
where we met, always finding her
bright and very intellectual compan-
ion.
She quietly closed the door and adj
vanced to the table from which l had
risen.
Count Won Heltzendorff she ex-
claimed.in a low strained voice II
have come to seek your aid because
well, because I'm distracted, and
know that you are my husbands
friend" she exclaimed in French.
"And yours also, madam" l said ear
nestly.
"Ny husband is out with the emper-
orr she gasped in a curious, unneryed
tone. And l fear; oh, l fear that we
are in great periodically peril, every
hour-every moment!"
Really, madame, I hardly follow
YOU" | said.
my husband whom 1 love devoted
ly, has done his best in the interests
of his emperor. You, count, know the
real aims of the kaiser in Turkey.
These last six months have watched.
and have learned the truth! / know
how, when the emperor went to Con-
stantinOple five months ago in pre-
tence of friendship toward the sultan,
with Professor Vambery as interpre-
ter, he practically compelled Abdul
Hamid to give him, in return for GER
tain financial advances, those wonder
full jewels which the Empress Cath
crime, wife of Peter the Great, gave in
secret to the grand vizier to secure
the escape of the Russian army across
the Pruth. l know, too, how he
laughed with my husband at the clever
ness by which he is fooling the too
trustful Turks. L"
Pardon, madame" said, interrupt
ing her. and speaking in French, ''but
is it really wise to speak thus of the
emperor? Your husband is, 1 fear,
guilty of great indiscretion in mention
ing such matters"
81 am his wife, count, and he con-
ceals little, if anything, from me-"
I looked the pretty young woman
greet.
Instantly I realized the serious dan
ger of the secret being betrayed to
France.
Madame" said. eff l may be per-
mitted, | would urge that the emper-
or's diplomacy neither concerns your
husband, as an official, nor yourself.
1t is his own private affair, and should
neither be discussed nor betrayed"
81 know" she said. "That is just
why have ventured to come here to
consult you, monsieur! You have been
my good friend as we'll as my hus-
bands, and here today, while the en-
peror is our guest beneath our roof, l
feel that I am in greatest peril !"
"Why?" I asked with considerable
surprise.
''The emperor has already learned
that I know the truth regarding his
secret" was her slow reply. "By what
means his majesty discovered it, /,
alas! know not. But I do know from
a confidential quarter that / have in
Cured the emperor's gravest displeas-
ure and hatred"
"Who is your informant?" I inquired
sternly, eager to further investigate
the great intrigue.
ga certain person who must be name
less"
"Have you spoken to anybody Of the
emperor's secret plans in Turkey, or
of his possession of the Empress Cath
crimes jewels?"
81 have not uttered a word to a sin
gle soul except my husband. 1 swear
it."
"YOur husband was extremely indis-
Greet in revealing anything" declared
again quite frankly.
II fully admit that. But what can
I do? How shall I act?" she asked in
low, tense voice. "Advise me, do"
For some moments I remained 81
lent. The situation was difficult.
'WeII, madame" l replied after re-
Election, eff you are really ready to
promise the strictest secrecy and leave
the matter to me, I will endeavOr to
find a way out of the difficulty-prOvid-
ing you-goOd German that you are
by arriage-will take, before the en-
perOr himself, an oath Of complete
secrecy"