American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-08-24

the matter entirely In my hands," I
said.
That same night, about ten o'clock.
the emperor entered the room to which
/ had just returned to work.
"Send Frau Kleist to me-" he
snapped. "And l will ummon yoa
later when 1 want you, H~eltzendorf."
Frau Kleist l had nc idea the wom-
an had arrived at the castle. But I dis
patched one of the servants to search
for her, and afterwards heard her high
pitched voice as she assembled the
stairs to hold secret counsel with his
majesty.
Below I found the fat, f~air-haired
little doctor from Augsburg, who was
still an enigma, but eager to see his
imperial patient.
Suddenly one Of the imperial fun.
keys bowed at the door, commanding
the doctor to the royal presence, and
he left me, hot and aurried.
Had the emperor called the unknown
doctor into consultation with Frau
Kleist?
Inquiries I had made concerning the
doctor from Augsburg showed that he
was quite a well-known specialist on
mental diseases, and he had also writ
ten a textbook upon bacteriology and
the brain. Why had the kaiser sum-
moned him? He required no brain
specialist.
"We leave tomorrow at noon" the
emperor exclaimed %brusquely when, an
hour later, l was summoned to his
room. This amazed me, for our ar
rangements were to remain three days
longer. 1 recollected Madam Relt-
schel's words.
Il do not feel at all well" his majes-
ty added, "and this Doctor Vollerthun
orders me rest at Potsdam."
In silence l bowed, and then ven
tured to refer to what was uppermOst
in my mind.
May l be permitted to speak to your
majesty upon a certain confidential
subject?" 1 begged.
what s~ubject2" snapped the en-
peror.
"YOur majesty's negotiations with
the sultan Of Turkey. Frau Reit-
schel has learned of them, but she is
eager to cOme before you and take
an oath of entire secrecy"
The kaiser's eyes narrowed and
glowed in sudden anger.
A Woman's Oath.
"A woman's oath - he cried. Bah
Never have l believed in silence inn
posed upon any wOman's tongue
more especially that of a born enemy
l appreciate your loyalty and acumen,
Won H~eltzendorff, but 1 have, fortu-
nately, known this for some little time,
and in strictest secrecy have taken GER
tain measures to combat it. Remem-
Der that these words have never been
uttered to you. Remember that! You
are a%djutant, and l am emperor. I'm
derstand. l fully appreciate and note
your royal report, but it is nOt wOman's
sphere to enter our diplomacy, except
as u secret agent of our fatherIand.
Let us say no more"
Ten minutes later, being dismissed,
wandered back through the great s-
lent, echoing corridors of the ancient
castle to my W room. A great human
drama, greater than any ever placed
upon the stage, was now being en-
acted.
Inc emperor was plotting the down
fall of the Turkish empire and the
overthrow Of Islam in Europe. Be
tween the all-highest one and the real
lzation of those plans for world power
stood one frail little Parisienne, the
~vivacious, well-meaning Madam Reit-
schel!
Next day we left the Schloss Langen-
berg, but before doing so we heard
with regret that our charming little
hostess had been suddenly taken i'll
during the night, and the kaiser, as a
mark of favor, had ordered his doctor,
Nollerthun, to remain behind to attend
her. That Herr Reitschel was in great
distress saw from his face as he
stood on the little platform at umenau.
Back in Berlin, l wondered what was
IN progress in that far-off schloss in
lhuringia, but a week later the truth
became wildly apparent when l read
IN the Staats-Anzeiger an announce
ment that Frau Reitschel, the young
wife of the famous Anton ReitscheI Of
Constantinople, had been seized by a
sudden and mysterious illness and had
developed insanity to such a hopeless
degree that it had been necessary to
conhne her in the Rosenau private asy-
lum at Coburg.
In a second l thought of the dancing
mistress and the mental specialist
from Augsburg.
FOO Madam Reitschel! She died
early in 1913, a raving lunatic. Her
devoted husband, having served the
emperor's purpose, had been recalled
10 Berlin, where, bereft Of the kaisers
FAVOR he predeeeased her by about six
months, brOken-hearted.
Copyright. 1917. William LeQueux)