Middletown transcript., 1917-07-14

perial communication officers tore
open the envelopes eagerly expecting
high appointments; the admiral OF the
grand fleet believed that war had been
declared; and insignificant foreign d.
plomats were under the impression
that the emperor had at last deigned
to notice them.
The whole thing was huge joke In
vented by the kaiser on the castle ter
race, and the court and the imperial
family were in fits of laughter over it
for q week.
A Message to the Emperor.
One afternoon when we were DacK
again at the palace at Potsdam the
emperor was explaining to me GER
tain order he wished carried out. Pres
emily one of the flunkeys entered with
private note for his majesty. The
emperor read it, and instantly l saw
that his countenance grew pale ana
his manner changed.
He read it again, and then re-read
it, his lips compressed, his eyebrows
narrowed, and his cheeks unduly pale.
Afterwards he struck match anu
burned the letter in the CRATE.
That missive no doubt contained
some grave news, the nature OF Whlcn
I could not guess, because he suddenly
abandoned his work, and, telling me TO
meet him in the study at eight O'Clock
that evening, he strobe out.
When he had gone out I picked up
the blackened finder and examined IL,
but it was so charred that could not
read any word, though from the two
or three marks of the pen l realized
that it had been written by the hand
of a woman.
An hour later learned that the EN-
peror had left Potsdam. He had by
receipt Of that letter evidently become
seriously perturbed.
called the turnkey who had handed
him the missive and questioned him
He had received it from another serv'
ant who had received it from someone
else, until at last discovered that II
had been handed by young girl to
one Of the sentrieS on duty outside the
palace, who in due course had sent II
in to his majesty.
While passing along one of the cor
ridors that evening I met bald-headec
old Won Klupfel, who was at that time
grand chamberlain, and he beckoneC
me into his cozy room. Then, when the
door was closed, he asked
"Whut has happened! The emperor
has left incognito and all of sudden
The state ball tomorrow night has beer
cancelled"
"Cancelled!" 1 echoed. "Where ha:
the emperor gomez"
"Nobody knows-except Herman
his personal valet, whom he has taker
with him."
Curious" l remarked. thinking o.
the letter, though, of course, l told Vor
Klupfel nothing Of it. Whatever tran
spired within his majesty's study wa'
always regarded as a strict secret
More than one serious family quarre
had occurred there in my presence.
"Well, something serious has Ger
tainly occurred. That is my belief,
declared the old chamberlain. "'Uncle
Zeppelin was coming to the palace to
morrow on visit, and have just sen
him a telegram to postpone his jour
ney."
"But his majesty had two importan
engagements tomorrow, and, in add
ton, military parade in Berlin"
said.
GAIL is Cancelled. my dear Won Helt
zendorff," replied the old fellow. "Th
emperor has left for destination un
known. suppose 1 had better repor
his absence to the imperial chancel
lor?" he added.
"No, if 1 were you would say moth
ing" 1 replied. "For some private req
son his majesty has evidently bee
forced to 60 on journey. Withou
doubt l shall hear from him tomorrow
AS soon as do so will tell you"
Telephone Message From "Herr
ZeIler."
MY expectation was realized, for tn
next day just after six o'clock In tn
evening 1 received telegram dispatch
ed from HARLEM, in Holland, orderin
me to go to the Adlon hotel, In Berlil
. at once and register there. The COZ
Guiding words Of the message, sent
English, we're: "You will receive
telephone call at 10 80 tonight"
was signed "Zeller," one Of the name
used by the emperor when he travele
incognito.
: I ordered the car and drove into Be
: lin, taking with me small bag, an
engaged q room in Herr Adlon's hOte
in which was telephone.
. Soon after ten o'clock told til
: telephone operator that If anyone ran
[ me up should be in my room.
4 Half-past ten came, and then slow
, the hands of the clock passed round
t eleven, and past.
: Suddenly there was sharp rim
and I took up the receiver.
8 A strange voice sounding far awe
s asked for me, and replied in the q
flrmative.
Then in few seconds another volt
o which l instantly recognized as tt
e emperor's-asked in English
! SIS that you, Won Heltzendorff?" ar
n having received my reply, he said:
y am Zeller, speaking from the Hot
dos Indies. at The Hague. Will yC
t tell madame 1 am here? Instru
! Klupfel to cancel all my engagement
d for the next fortnight, and tomorro
night come here and bring any pape
/ that I have to attend to. 1t would
i as well-to tell them at my Office TIL
b I have been called to Hamburg. Ca
q Won hear me?"