, 1917-07-12


at a certain small stationer's shop,
Lancry's, in the Boulevard Haussmann,
close to the Printemps. One paper es-
pecially is sold nowhere else in Paris.
II is this"
He held yer a mirror a letter upon
the watermark of a bulls head.
"That paper was made at a mill in
the south of Devonshire, in England,
destroyed by fire FIVE years ago.. Pa
per of that make cannot be obtained
anywhere else in France" he declared.
I at once realized how much patience
must have been expended upon the in
quiry, and said:
"Then you have actually fixed the
shop where the writer purchased his
pape-?"
YES" he replied. "And we know
that the newly invented typewriter, a
specimen one, vas sold by the Maison
Audebert, in Marseille. The purchaser
of the typewriter in Marseille pur-
chases his paper and envelopes at Lam
cry's, on the Boulevard Haussmann."
splendid !" I said, for It was clear
that the baron, with the thousand-and-
n secret agents at his beck and call,
had been able, with the professors
aid. to fix the source of the stationery.
But" i added, "what is wanted from
met" Why, 1 wondered, had his mai
esty lei the baron that photograph
of Elise Breitenbach?
81 want you to go with me to the
central door OF the Printemps at four
o'clock this afternoon, and we will
watch Lancry's shop across the way"
the baron replied.
The Writer Of the Letters.
This we did, and from four till six
O'Clock we stood, amid the hustle of
foot passengers, watching the small
%stationer's or the opposite side of the
boulevard, yet without result.
Next day and the next I accompa-
upon his daily vigil, but in vain, until
his reluctance to tell me the reason
why / had been sent to Paris annoyed
me considerably.
On the fifth afternoon, just before
five o'clock, while we were strolling
together, the baron's eyes being fixed
upon the door Of the small single
fronted shop, ] saw him start, and
then make p~retence of indifference.
Look !" he whispered.
] glanced across and saw a young
man just about to enter the shop.
The figure was unfamiliar, but,
catching sight of his face, / held my
breath. / had seen that sallow, deep.
eyed c~ountenance before.
1t was the young man who had sat
eating his luncheon alone at the Espla.
made, apparently fascinated by the
beauty of Elise B~reitenbach.
"Well," exclaimed the baron. al see
you recognize him-eh? He is prob
ably going to buy more paper for his
scurrilous screeds."
Eyes. But who is he?" ! asked. al
have seen him before, but have nc
exact knowledge of him."
The baron did not reply until we
were back again in his house at
Neuilly. Then he said:
"That young man, the author of the
outrageous insults to his majesty, is
known as Franz Seeliger, but he is the
disgraced, ne'er-do-well son of General
Won Trautmann, captain general of the
palace guard"
"The son of old Won Trautmann |" ]
gasped. docs the father known"
The baron grinned and shrugged his
shoulders.
Then. after ] had related to him the
incident of the Esplanade, he said:
THAT is of greatest interest. Will
you return to Berlin and report to the
emperor what you have seen herei
His majesty has given me that instruc.
ton"
The baron told me Of his long weeks
of patient inquiry and careful watch.
ing; Of how the young fellow had been
followed to Anglers and other towns
In France where the letters were post
ed, and of his frequent visits to Berlin.
He had entered a crack regiment, but
had been dismissed the army for forg.
cry and undergone two years impris.
onment. Afterwards he had fallen in
with q gang of clever international
hotel thieves, and become what is
known as a rat d'hotel. Now, because
Of a personal grievance against the
emperor, who had ordered his prose
cutiOn, he seemed to have by some
secret means ferreted out every bit of
scandal at Potsdam, exaggerated it, in