The Washington times., 1917-04-15

i
funkey in pink silk stockings, and a
moment later the tall officer clicked
his heels together and saluted smartly
on the threshold.
81 thought yod would be pleased at
your well-merited promotion" said his
highness in quite a genial tone. THE
Emperor wishes you to leave for Lon
don by the 10 o'clock express for
Flushing tonight, so as to report to
his excellency, the ambassador, before
he departs on leave. Hence the
urgency. The countess, OF course, will
| remain in Berlin. You will, naturally,
wish for time to make your arrange
ments in London and/dispose of your
house here"
81 think she will wish to accompany
me, your imperial highness." replied
the fond husband. London is her
home" .
"Ah! That is absurd" laughed
willie" "Why, you who have been
| married two whole years are surely
not still upon your honeymoon" and
his close-set eyes glinted strangely.
you will be far too busy on taking up
your new appointment to see much of
her. No. Let her remain comfortably
at home in Berlin until you are quite
settled. Then will see that Kiderlen
grants you leave to return to put your
house in order"
From the counts manner I could
see that he was very much puzzled at
his sudden promotion.
Indeed, on entering he had stam-
mered out his surprise at being sin
gled out for such high distinction
A Command From the Crown Prince.
Won Leutenberg's hesitation was the
crown princes opportunity.
''Good!" went on his Highness In
his imperious,' impetuous way. you
will leave for London tonight, and the
countess will remain until you have
, settled. I congratulate you. most
heartily upon your weIl-deserved ad-
yRncement, which I consider is an
honor conferred by the Emperor upon
my regiment, ] know, too, that you
will act to the honor of the Father
land abroad"
And with those words the major
| was dismissed
"a charming man. remarked the
Prince, after the door had closed. "He
has only been brought to my notice
quite recently. An enthusiastic Of
! ficer. he will be OF great use to US at
Carlton House Terrace. There IL
much yet to be done there, my dear
Heltzendorff. Fortunately. we have
put our friends, the English, comfort
ably to sleep. 1t has cost US money,
but money talks in London, just as
IL does in Berlin.
"Heltzendorff," he exclaimed a few
moments later, after he had reflected
deeply Between the whiffs of his
cigarette. "Heltzendorff, / wish you
to become acquainted with the Count
ess Won Leutenberg. and you must
afterwards introduce me. have a
fixed and distinct reason. could
obtain the assistantance Of others,
but 1 trust you only
But ! do not know the lady" I
protested, for had no desire whatso-
ever to become implicated in any
double-dealing.
"Hohenstein knows her well. will
see that he introduces you" replied
the Kaiser's SON "She's uncommonly
pretty, SO mind you don't fall in love
with her! I've heard, too. that Count
Georg is a highly jealous person,
but, fortunately. he will be very
busy writing secret reports at Carl
ton House Terrace. So go and see
Hohenstein at once, and get him to
introduce you to the pretty little
Englishwoman- But. remember. not
a word of this conversation is to be
breathed to a single soul"
4.His Majesty Only Gives Reward
When IL Is DUE
What did it all mean? Why had
the Emperor singled out for advance
ment the husband of that woman,
the sight of whom had so greatly
annoyed him? 1 confess that / be-
came more than ever puzzled over the
curious affair.
Within a week, however, thanks to
the introduction Of Hohenstein. had
dined at Count Won Leutenberg's
pretty house in the Lennestrasse in
a fine room, the long windows of
which commanded delightful view
over the Tiergarten and the Siege
sale.
The Countess. extremely charming
and refined. having the misfortune of
being English, had not been taken up
warmly by Berlin society. She was,
found, a most delightful hostess.
The party included Laroque, the ele-
CANT first secretary of the French
embassy, and his Partisan wife, to-
gether with Baron Hoffman,, the
burly, round faced minister of the in
terror, and Doctor Paulssen, under
secretary at the Colonial office. HOh-
enstein was, however, not there, as
he had been suddenly dispatched by
the Emperor upon a mission to Corfu.
At the table the talk ran upon Leu
tenberg's sudden promotion, where
upon the Minister Hoffman, de-
clared:
"His majesty only gives reward
when IT is due. When he discerns
talent he Is never mistaken.
A week later the Crown Prince had
returned from a surprise visit the |
Kaiser had made to Stettin. The EN- |
peror had played his old game OF |
rousing the garrison in the middle OF |
the night, and then laughing at the
ludicrous figures cut by his pompous |
generals and colonels rushing about |
in their night attire eager to greet |
their sovereign.
was In the Princes private room |
arranging the details of q military
program at Potsdam on the following |
day when he suddenly entered and
exclaimed:
"weIl, HeltZendorff. and how are /
you proceeding in the Lennestrasse,
eh?" and he looked at me with those
crafty eyes of his. 81 hear you were
at the house last night"
started. Was being watched? 1t /
was quite true that ! had called on
the previous evening, and. finding the