The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-07-20


ed to put 1t In execution. Her first OBJ
ject was to obtain a disguise. Going
to a colffeur's. she bought face paint
and a wig. Having changed her COM
p.exion from pink and white to olive,
she painted rosy tint In each cheek.
Her own hair was a light blond; her
wig raven black; her hands. too, she
gave an Give tinge. This was all that
was needed to make her unrecogniz-
allie.
Count Herman frequently dined at
restaurant In the Inter der Linden.
Nina went there hoping to find him.
but failed. On several different days
hhe dlned In the place where she had
often dined with him, and one evening
she was about to leave 1t when the
count entered. He took seat at
table and ordered his dinner. Minna
went back, sat down at table near
him and ordered dinner.
Presently the proprietor was attract
ed to commotion In the vicinity Of
the counts table. A woman had ac-
cused him of having insulted her. The
count protested. The woman declared
he had said to her that In entering
restaurant without an escort she had
placed herself without the pale Of
treatment as lady, She said that she
was an American and simply followed
the custom Of her country. The pro-
prietor at first sought to quiet her and.
falling, asked her to leave the place
She appealed to an army officer sitting
near for protection till her husband
could be summoned.
There is no need Of that" said the
count. II am perfectly willing to give
you my address and shall be ready for
any message your husband chooses to
send me-" And he threw a card on
the table occupied by the lady, who
tool, 1t up and Immediately left the
restaurant
The same evening while Count Her
man was at work in his office-for In
wartime he never rested-a messenger
brought him note, which read as fol
lows:
Count Herman Burnhardt:
Sir-My wife informs me that you insult
ed her in restaurant on the Inter den
Linden this evening / desire that you
will give me satisfaction at once. | am an
American and a stranger In Berlin, with
no acquaintance whatever; consequently
have no one to call upon to act as my Sec
ond. l am therefore compelled to fight
YOU without one. You are welcome to as
many attendants as you like. Yours.
ELIHU WAGSTAFF,
Little Rock, Ark, u. s. A.
The count, though vexed could
scarcely restrain a smile at this I'M
couth way Of entering upon a combat.
Tell Mr. Wagstaff," he said to the
messenger. that will meet him to-
morrow morning and will name the
time and place later. l will provide
him with a second. AS the challenged
party, | choose pistols, but If he pre-
fers any other weapon l will cheerful
ly give way to him."
When an hoI-. ,atcr captain in the
army, acting for tie count. notified
Mr.. Wagstaff of the time and place Of
meeting he was received by Mrs. Wag.
staff. who said that her husband had
gone to bed and. since his nerve de-
pended on his sleep. she would not
awaken him. She would say, however,
that since the count was pleased to
give up the choice of weapons her hus-
band would fight with foils.
When the captain reported this to
the count the latter expressed some
concern that he had not seen Mr.
NaOStaff Ho would hova v,ithd ro x,-,,
from the matter, bur his second ex-
pressed dissatisfaction at such a pro-
ccdure, stating that he was bound to
fight or suffer the consequences.
Count Herman was on the ground,
attended by surgeon, at the ap-
pointed hour and also with two sec
onds, the one for himself, the other
for his opponent. A bundle of fois
had also been brought. A few min
utes after his arrival a carriage drove
up. and out stepped Frau Weber. Her
hair and her complexion were her own.
She wore q cloak that reached to her
feet. Advancing To the party, she
threw open her cloak and revealed her
figure in fencing costume. The count
on seeing her was paralyzed; the 9th
ers were amazed.
Count" she said, you are doubtless
aware of the reason for this encounter.
viii you send your attendants out of
hearing, or shall | make my demands
I'm their presence"
The count was silent for moment,
then motioned the others 10 retire
When they had gone Minna said to
him:
You have acted a shameful part in
lodging a false charge against my hus-
band under circumstances that you
know full WELL
The count essayed to speak, but she
stopped him.
EITHER you must sign paper re-
tracing your charge or you must kill
me or l will kill YOU"
Once more the count attempted to
argue, but the woman, drawing foil
from beneath her cloak, stopped Linn
with, ION guardv
Where is the paper you wish me to
signT he asked.
Minna drew a document from q belt
she wore and handed it to him. 1t
read:
II have been mistaken In my charge
against Heinrich Weber and withdraw
10