The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-11


away unseen 1 recollected the kaiser's
unrelenting vindictiveness.
Poor princess I knew that the red
talons Of the HohenzoIlern eagle would
sooner or later be laid heavily upon
her.
She left Berlin two hours later, but
half an hour before her departure I
found a hurriedly scribbled note upon
my table explaining that she had had
"a few unpleasant words with the en-
perOr," and that she was leaving for
Dresden day earlier than had been
arranged.
A fortnight passed. Twice Baron
Won Metzsch came to POtsdam, and
was on each occasion closely closeted
with the emperor, as well as having
frequent consultations with Judicial
Councillor Lohlein. 1 had strong sus-
picion that the conspiracy against the
lively daughter OF the Hapsburgs was
still in progress, for felt assured that
the kaiser would never forgive those
words of defiance from a wOman's lips,
and that his vengeance. slow and sub
tie, would assuredIy fall upon her.
did not know at the time-not, in
how the actions of Won Metzsch, who
was a creature of the kaiser, had from
the first been instgated by the all
highest, who, from the very day of the
princess marriage, had, notwithstand
ing his apparent graciousness toward
her, determined that a Hapsburg
should never become queen of Saxony.
For that reason, namely, because
the emperor in his overweening vanity
believed himself to be the heaven-sent
ruler of the deStinies of the German en-
pire, was much opposed to an Austrian
princess as a potential queen at Ores
den, and had set himself the task to ruin
the poor woman's Efe and love and to
arouse such a scandal concerning her
that she could not remain in SaxOny
with every finger pointing at her in
| OpprObrium and scorn.
I DeciPher a Message for the Kaiser
A fresh light, however, was thrown
upon what I afterward realized to be
an astounding conspiracy by the re-
| ceipt of a cipher message late one No
vember night at Potsdam. 1 was at
work alone with the emperor in the
| pale green upstairs room, reading and
| placing before him a number OF state
documents to which he scrawled his
scribbIy signature, when the telegram
was brought.
| ''Decipher that, Heltzendorff,' he
! commanded, and went on with the
work of reading and signing the docu-
| ments, while I sat down with the red
leather-covered code book, and pres
emily found that the message, which
was from Dresden, read:
Frau Won. Fritsch today had an in
terview with Giron, the French tutor
to the crown princess children, but
unfortunately the latter refuses to ad-
NIT any affection for Louisa. Giron
angriIy declared his intention to leave
Dresden, because of Won Fritsch's sug-
gestion. This course, saw, would be
unfortunate for our plans, therefore
urge the king to induce Louisa to re-
quest him to remain. She has done SO.
but to no avail, and Giron left for
Brussels tonight. May I be permitted
to come to discuss with your majesty
a further elaboration of the plans7-
Won Metzsch."
The emperor read the secret mes
sage twice.
I'VE go to Erfurt tomorrow, do we
not?" he said. Telegraph in cipher
to Won Metzsch to meet US there to-
| morrow evening at seven. And de-
stroy that message" he added.
1 obeyed his orders, and afterward
| continued TO deal with the state pa
| pers, much enlightened by the news
| transmitted by the emperor's creature.
1 confess that I felt the deepest
| sympathy for the helpless victim At
the Schloss, high above the Old-wOrld
town of Erfurt, Won Metzsch had a
long conference with the emperor, but
1 was unable to oyerhear any word OF
it. All 1 know is that the controller
| of the Saxon household left Erfurt for
Dresden by special train at midnight
Poor, defenseless Louisa You, my
| dear LeQueux, to whom the princess a
few months afterward fed for advice,
know well how sterling, how wOmanly
| and honest she was; how she was one
victim OF many OF the INSCRIPTIONS
| intrigues by which the arrogant war
lord of Germany has until the present
| managed to retain his throne.
Well, I watched the course OF
events; watched eagerly and daily.
Twice I had received letters from her
| imperial highness, short notes In her
firm, bold handwriting.
From Won Metzsch came several
cipher messages to the emperor after
| we had returned to Potsdam, but ZOrn
Won Bulach, my colleague, deciphered
all OF them, and, as he was not my
friend, I did not inquire as to their
purpOrt I knew, however, that mat
tiers in Dresden were fast approaching
crisis, and that the unfortunate
Hapsburg princess could no longer sus-
tain the cruel and unjust pressure be
ing put upon her undOing- That hun
dred Of Germany's spies and agents
proTocateurs were busy I realized
from the many messages by telephone
and telegraph passing between Berlin
and Dresden, and I felt certain that
the ruin OF poor Princess Louisa was
nigh.
a significant message came TO Pots
dam late one December night-a mes
sage which, when deeiphered it and
handed it TO the emperor, caused him