The Ordway new era., 1917-07-13

f1cult. I will see what can be don
But hope that II am successful 20
will accompany your mother"
When I looked in ut the court ma
shals room in the palace next morr
ing, I scribbled down the name c
mother and daughter for cards.
A week later the crown prince an
princess gave n grand ball at the MAJ
NOR palace at Potsdam, and the en-
peror himself attended.
| Frau Breitenbach. gorgeously al
tired. made her bow before the all
highest, and her daughter did the same
I spoke with Elise, and afterwnrd
when danced with her. I saw how i'm
pressed she was by the glitter ant
glamour Of the POtsdam court circle
and by the fact that she was In tn,
presence of the all-highest one. From
words she let drop that night as She
hung upon my arm I wondered wheth
er she was really as ingenious as she
pretended. She was, I found. an ex,
tremely discreet and clever little per.
son, n fact which further increased my
official interest in her.
Questioned by the Emperor.
One night about two months later
had an appointment with Max Rein
hardt ut the Deutsches theater. In Ber-
lin. to arrange royal visit there, and
after the performance l went back to
the palace, prior to retiring to my
rooms In the Krausenstrasse. The
guards saluted as I crossed the dark
courtyard. and having passed through
the corridors to the private apart
ments. I entered with my key the
crown princes locked study.
To my surprise. l found "Willie"
seated there with the emperor In ear
nest discussion.
With apology. I bowed instantly and
withdrew. whereupOn the kaiser e1-
claimed:
Come in. Heltzendorfr; want you"
Then he cast quick glance at the |
young man, who had thrown himself |
IN n lazy attitude into long cane
Ounge chair. 1t was as though his
majesty was hesitating to speak with .
ne, or asking his sons permission to
10 so.
''Tell me. Heltzendorff." exclaimed
mis- majesty suddenly. "do you know
this personf" and he placed before my
gaze cabinet photograph of the pretty
Elise
Yes" I answered frankly. at is
Frauelln Breitenbach.
And what do you know of herr" In
Quired his majesty. you introduced
her and her mother to court, believe"
I saw that the emperor had discov-
cred something which annoyed him.
What could 1t be?
At once I was compelled to admit
that I had set down their names for
Invitation, and, further, explained all
that knew about them.
you are certain you know nothing
more? asked the emperor. "Under-
stand that no blame attaches to you"
assured him that had revealed all
that I knew concerning them.
Hold no further communication
with either mother or daughter" his
majesty said. leave for Paris by the
eight o'clock train tomorrow morning
and go to Baron Won Steinmetz, the
chief of our confidential service ir
France"
Then, turning to the crown prince. ht
said "You have his address"
"Yes" said the younger man. III,
is passing as Monsieur Felix Reumont
and is living at ia bis. Avenue d.
Neuilly, close to the Pont."
scribbled the name and address
upon the bnck of an envelope, where
upon his majesty said:
Garry my verbal orders to Stein
metz, and tell him to act upon the or
ders I sent him by courier yesterday
And you will assist him. He will eS
plain matters fully when you arrive.
Then, crossing to the crown prince
writing table. his majesty took larg
envelope, into which he placed the pho
tograph with several papers, an
sealed them with the crown prince
seal.
"Give this to Won Steinmetz froI
me-" his majesty said.
I bowed as I took 1t from his maje.
tvs hand. my curiosity naturally e,
cited regarding Frau Breitensach an
her daughter. What, wondered, wa
in the wind?
"And, Heltzendorff, please report I
me-" remarked the heir, still loungin
lazily in the chair.
Bowling. I took leave of my imperi,
master, and next morning Mt eigl
o'clock, set out upon my mission.
Baron Won steInmetz.
| I found the Baron Won Steinmetz IL
| ing in good-sized house in the Av
nue. de Neuilly, not far from the bridg
One of thu cleverest and most astut
officials that Germany possessed, ar
a man high In the kaiser's favor, l
had, in the name of Felix Reunion
purchased, with government funds (
course, cinema theater in the RI
Lafayette, and ostensibly upon Il
proceeds Of that establishment live
comfortably ont at Neuilly.
At eleven o'clock In the morning h
valet, evidently a German. showed n
in.