Tombstone epitaph., 1917-07-29

ou uTflNdl tftre we whit 10 tiit
Royal hotel, where the crown prince
registered as Mr.. Richter, engaging a
private suite of rooms for himself
and his secretary, myself. For three
days we remained there, taking motor
runs to Dartmocr, and also down into
Cornwall, until on the morning of the
fourth day the crown prince said:
Il shall probably have a visitor this
morning about eleven o'clock-s young
lady named King. Tell them at the
bureau to send her up to my sitting
room"
At the time appointed the lady came.
I received her In the lobby Of the self
contained fiat, and found her to be
about twenty-four, well-dressed, fair
haired and extremely goodlooking.
Miss King. I learned, was an Eng
fish girl who some years previously
had gone to America with her people.
and by the heavy travelling coat and
close-ftting hat she wore I concluded
that she had Just come of one Of the
incoming liners.
One thing which struck me as
looked at her was the brooch she wore.
II Was a natural butterfly Of rare
tropical variety. with bright golden
wings, the delicate sheen of which was
protected by small plates Of crystal
one OF the most charming ornaments
had ever seen.
As 1 ushered her In she greeted the
crown prince as Mr.. Richter" being
apparently entirely unaware OF his
real identity. I concluded that she was
somebody whom his highness had met
in Germany, and 10 whom he had been
introduced under his assumed name.
"Ah. Miss King he exclaimed
pleasantly in his excellent English,
shaking hands with her. your boat
should have been In yesterday. fear
you encountered bad weather-ehf"
"Yes, rather" replied the girl. But
it did not trouble me much. We had
almost constant gales ever since We
left New York" she laughed brightly.
She appeared to be quite a charming
little person.
"Heltzendorf, would you please bring
me that sealed packet from your dis
patch boxT" he asked suddenly, turn
ing to me.
The sealed packet! I had forgotten,
all about 1t ever since he had handed
II to me at the door Of the Marmor pal
ace. / knew that 1t contained some
secret reports prepared for the eye Of
the emperor. The latter had no doubt
seen them, for the crown prince had
brought them with him from Berlin.
As ordered, l took the packet into
the room where his highness sat with
his fair visitor, and then I retired and
closed the door
81 Can't; Il Would Be oishonest!"
Hotel doors are never very heavy, as
a rule, therefore, / was able to hear
conversation, but unfortunately few
words were distinct. The interview
had lasted nearly half an hour. Find
ing that / could hear nothing, con-
tented myself in reading the paper and
holding myself In readiness should ''Mr.
Richter" want me.
OF q sudden / heard his highness'
voice raised in anger, that shrill. high
pitched note which is peculiar both to
the emperor and to his son when they
are unusually annoyed.
"But I tell you. Miss King. there Is
no other way" / heard him shout. 1T
can be done quite easily. and nobody
can possibly know"
Never" cried the girl. "what would
people think of meT
you wish TO save your brother" he
said. "very well, / have shown you
how you can effect this. And ! will
help you If you agree to the terms
II you will find out what I want to
know"
II can't- cried the girl In evident
distress. Il really can't! II would be
dishonest-criminal!
Bah! my dear girl. you are looking
at the affair from Tar too high a stand
point" replied the man she knew IS
Richter. 1T Is q mere matter Of
business. You ask me to assist you
to save your brother, ar have simply
stated my terms. Surely you would
not think that would travel from Ber-
lin here to Plymouth in order to meet
you IL were not ready and eager to
help Jour
Il must ask my father. can speak
to him in confidence"
"YOur fafherr- cried Mr.. Richter.
by no means. Why, you must not
breathe q single word to him. This
affair is q strict secret between us.
Please understand that" Then, after
a pause: your brother is, quite adj
NIT, In direst peril. and you alone can
save him. Now, what IL your de-
cisionT'
The girls reply was In a tone too
low for me to overhear. Its tenor,
however. was quickly apparent from
the crown princes words:
"You refuse! Very well, then, can
not assist you I regret, Miss King,
that you have your journey to England
for nothing"
But won't you help me, Mr.. Rich
teri" cried the girl appealingly.
"No." was his answer. II viii, how
ever, give you opportunity to recon-
slider your decision. You are, no
doubt, going to London. So am L
You will meet me in the hall Of the
Carlton hotel at seven O'Clock on Thurs