Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-11
They were Ignace Ward, Pach.

lhey were lgnace Ward, Pach-
mann, and the young man whom
he addressed habitually a
Prince Ward was on the divan
in the corner of the room, the
theirs lounged in two luxuriously
upholstered chairs which had been
wheeled in front of the divan.
Their attitudes suggested careless
unconcern, but their eyes were
glowing with repressed excite
ment. Cigars and liquors were on
a table between them, and the air
was blue with smoke.
The captain had been chatting
with a group of passengers when
Pachmanns card was handed to
him, but after a glance at it, he
excused himself at once.
SHOW the gentlemen to my
cabin" he said to the messenger,
and himself fastened to it. There,
a moment later, Pachman and the
prince appeared.
1T is necessary that we have a
conference tonight" said Pach-
mann, with this Ignace Yard. 1t
must be In a room where we can
not by any possibility be over
heard"
ut is, | suppose, an affair of
s%tate?' asked the captain.
Yes; of the first Importance"
My cabin. then, is at your dis
posal."
"Thank you, sir" said Pach-
mann. "There could be no bet
ter place. / was hoping that you
would offer it,"
"You will understand, SIR"
Hausmann went on, stroking his
beard nervously, chat an ex-
PLANTATION Of all this will have to
be made to my company"
II will see that a satisfactory
explanation is made, sir" Pach-
mann assented.
The captain nodded his relief.
THAT is what / desire. [ will
have Ward brought to you" he
said, saluted and withdrew.
He sent a messenger for the in
ventor, waited until he had en-
tered, and then summoned a sailor
and posted him as d sentry outside
The door, with instructions to per
NIT no n else to enter or even
knock. Then he had another man
stretch a rope across the deck
iome 20 feet abaft the door; and
finally mounted thoughtfully to
the bridge, considerably to the
surprise Of his subordinates, and
spent the whole evening there,
pacing slowly back and forth with
an appearance of restlessness the
other officers could not under
stand, for the weather was very
fine and the barometer high and
steady.
In the cabin below the confer
ence proceeded.
1t Is as we'll, Mr.. Yard" Pach-
mann was saying, "that we should
understand each other. The prince
and myself are here as the direct
personal representatives of the
emperor, who has given us his
fullest confidence and the most
complete authority. Any agree
ncnt we may make with you, he
will recognize as binding. 1t was
Il condition Of yours, | believe,
hat you would meet only with
persons so empowered"
81 should have preferred to
treat with the emperor HIMSELF -
laid Ward.
"You could scarcely expect him
10 make this trip to America
Pachmann pointed out, with a
smile. eff you had been content
to go to Berlin 8 y
"That was impossible" Ward
broke in. "It was stipulated that
the treaty should be signed in
America, and the emperor
agreed"
and we are here to carry out
I. that agreement" Pachmann add
ed. "But before we proceed to a
consideration of it, | will outline
the progress of affairs to the pres
ent moment, in order that the
prince may be thoroughly familiar
with the matter. If | am mistaken
in any detail, please correct me-"
| Ward nodded, and lay back in
his seat, watching the smoke from
his cigar, as it wreathed itself tow
ard the ceiling.
"About the middle of July
Pachmann began, "M,. Ward
called on Count Gutenberg, the
chief marshal of the imperial
! court, and asked for a pri <ate au-
dience with the emperor. The re-
quest vas SO preposterous that the
count was astounded when Mr..