The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-25

| SAsOSSsAsAAAAA
dent had sent his compliments through
his representative, the bristly-haired
little project.
AS departed from the crown prince,
who yawned and declared that he was
tired, he said:
"Ah! Heltzendorff. How good it is
to get a breath of soft air from the
Mediterranean We shall have port
on this pleasant sea one day-if we
live as long-eh?'
That remark showed the trend Of
events. 1t showed how, hand in hand
with the emperor, he was urging prep
arations for war-a war that had for
its primary object the destruction OF
the powers which, when the volcano
erupted, united as allies.
The Mysterious Lady.
After we had been at the villa Lilas
about ten days 1 was one afternoon
seated outside the popular Cafe de
POpera, in the Place Massena, when a
lady, dressed In deep mourning and
wearing the heavy veil In French style,
passed along the pavement, glanced at
me, and then, hesitating, she turned,
and, coming back, advanced to the lit
| tie table In the corner Whereat 1 was
| sitting.
May 1 be permitted to have a word
with you, monsieur she asked in
French, in q low, refined voice.
Certainly" was my reply, and, I
rose and drew a chair for her.
She glanced round quickly, as
though to satisfy herself that she
would not be overheard. I saw that
she was about twenty-four, handsome,
! dark-haired, with well-cut features.
| SCI know, monsieur, that am COM
pIete stranger to you," she exclaimed
with a smile, but to me you are quite
familiar by sight. I have passed you
many times In Berlin and in Potsdam,
and know that you are Count Won
Heltzendorff, personal adjutant to his
highness the crown prince-or Count
Won Grunau, as he is known here in
France"
''Yon know thatI" exclaimed.
She smiled mysteriously, replying ::
yes. well, I happen to be a
friend Of his highness.''
held my breath. So this pretty
young Frenchwoman was one Of my
imperial masters friendsI
''The fact is" she went on, 81 have
z travelled a considerable distance to see
/ you. I said that was one Of the
crown princes friends Please do not
misunderstood me. I know that he
has a good many friends, but I have
never been introduced to him, and he
does not know me. I am his friend
/ 81
ward him.
Really, madame, I don't quite IN
| derstand," I said.
'Of course not" she answered, and
then, glancing round, she added: ''This
place is a little too public. Cannot
we go across the garden yonder?"
rose and walked with her to a
quiet spot in the gardens.
She told me that her name was
Julie de Rouville, but she would give
no account of where she lived.
81 have ventured to approach you,
because I cannot approach the crown
prince" she said presently. 'You prob
ably do not know the true reason Of
his visit here to Nicer
"No," I said ST admit that I do
not. Why is he hereF'
ct is a secret OF his own. But, 1
am aware Of the reason, and that is
why have sought you. Would it sur
prise you if I told you that in a Ger
tain quarter in France it will, In a few
days, be known that the German en-
peror is establishing a movement for
an entente between Germany and Brit
| ain, and that the whole affair is based
upon a fraud2 The emperor wants no
entente, but only war with France and
with Britain The whole plot will be
exposed in a few daysT
From what source have you de-
rived this knowIedge7' I asked, look
ing at her in amazement.
But she again smiled mysteriously,
and said:
ST merely tell you this In order to
prove to you that am in possession
of certain facts known to but few peo-
pie"
sYou evidently are" I said. @But
who intends to betray the truth to
France?''
81 regret, count, that cannot an
swer your question"
IF you are, as you say, the crown
princes friend, 1t would surely be g
friendly act to let US know the truth,
so that steps may be taken. perhaps,
to avoid the secret OF Germany's diplo-
macy from leaking out TO her enc
mics"
"An can tell you, count, is that the
matter is one OF the gravest impor-
tance''
But win you not speak openly, and
give as the actual factsF'
Il wiIE-but to his imperial highness
alone" was her answer.
! Elf his highness wiz honor nae with