Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-06-23

whether 1t could be the correspondence
which the crown prince had been so
eager to show Count Won Zeppelin in
secret.
I drew the letter from the envelope
and scanned 1t rapidly.
What I read caused me to hold my
breath. The signature to the letters
was ENID Won Leutenberg."
Those letters Of hers had. it was
plain, been seized in the post on their
way to London. The countess either
had a traitor in her household or secret
watch was being kept by the secret
service upon her correspondence.
All three of those letters l read
letters which opened my eyes and
broadened my mind. Then, taking up
my bundle Of reports, crept away
from the room, carefully re-latching
the door. l intended that his highness
should return, discover the letters left
there inadvertently, and put them
away ere my arrival, in which case
he would never suspect that had any
knowledge Of their contents.
With the papers in my hand l passed
along the many carpeted corridors to
the south wing of the palace, where
found Tresternitz, marshal of the
princes court, in his room.
The crown prince initiated his IA
theirs sharp punctuality, therefore
knew that he would be there at seven
or soon afterward.
Tresternitz was always full Of scan
dial concerning those who lived in the
higher circles of Berlin, and it was to
one of these stories of court scandal
concerning one of the ladies-inwaiting
which / listened while l smoked one
Of his excellent Russian cigarettes.
Then, glancing at the clock, l rose
suddenly and left him, returning again
to the private room.
1 found his highness there, and as
entered noticed that he had hidden
those remarkable letters which he had
in secret shown to Count Zeppelin.
"You Will Introduce Me to Your Pref
ty Friend"
A fortnight went past. The kaiser.
with his mad love of constant travel,
had been rushing up and down the en-
pire-to Krupp's at Essen, to the trials
Of a newly invented howitzer, thence
to an inspection at Kassel, and after
ward to unveil monuments at Cologne
and at Erfurt. The crown prince and
princess had accompanied him, the
kaiserin being indisposed, and /, Of
course, had been included in "Willie's"
suite.
The week had been a strenuous one
of train travel, luncheOns, firing din
ners, receptions, dancing, and general
junketings, and was glad enough to
get back to my bachelor rooms-thOse
rooms in the Krausenstrasse that you
knew so well before the bursting Of the
war cloud. To dance attendance upon
an imperial crown prince, as we'll as
upon an autocratic emperor, becomes
after a time a wearisome business,
however gay and cosmopolitan a man
may be.
| had only been at home few hours
when a telephone message summoned
me at five o'clock to the crown princes
palace.
His imperial highness, who had,
knew, been lunching with the emperor
at the Konigliches Schloss across the
bridge, seemed unusually serious and
thoughtful. Perhaps the emperor had
again shown his anger at his peccadil-
loes, as he did so frequently.
"Count," he said, after few seconds
Of silence, during which 1 noted that
upon his table lay private letter from
| the German ambassador in London.
| 'You will recall my conversation re-
garding the Countess Won Leutenberg
| -eh?"
Perfectly" was my reply.
Il told you that 1 should require
you to introduce me-" he said. "Well
1 want you to do so this evening" She
has taken box at the Konigliche
| Opera tonight, where they are to play
'Falstaff.' 1 shall be there, and you
will be with me. Then you will in
troduce me to your pretty friend. I'm
derstand?"
| A PuzzIing Sentence.
That night, in accordance with my
| instructions, sat in the emperor's box
with the crown prince, Tresternitz,
and two personal adjutants, and, rec
ognizing the Countess Won Leutenberg
in box opposite, accompanied by an
elderly lady, took the crown prince
round, and there presented her to him,
| greatly to her surprise and undisguised
delight.
| The prince and the countess chatted
together, while I sat with her elderly
companion. Then, when we had with
drawn, my imperial master exclaimed:
"Ah! my dear Heltzeldorff. Why,
she is one Of the prettiest women in
all Berlin! Surely it is unfortunate
most unfortunate"
What was unfortunate? I was fur
Their puzzled by that last sentence, yet
l dare not ask any explanation, and
we went back to our own box.
After our return to the palace the
crown prince, who was standing in one
of the corridors talking with the slim,
| fair-haired Baroness Won Wedel, one
Of his wife's ladies-in-waiting, left her
and beckoned me into an adjoining
| room.
Il wish you, Heltzendorff, to call
upon the Countess Won Leutenberg at
nine o'clock tomorrow evening. She
will expect you"
I looked at his highness, much puz-
zled. How did he know that the pretty
countess would expect me?
But he gave me no time to reply,
merely turning upon his heel, and