The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-30

night, and waited until quite late for
''Willie'S" return. As he did not come,
[ left for the capital, and on arrival
at my rooms, rang up VOLTS agency,
and gave out a paragraph to the press
that his imperial highness, the crown
prince. had been compelled to aban-
don his journey to Thorn, owing to
having contracted a chill.
At the SchIoss Gels.
Several weeks went by, and one day
we were at the ancient schloss at Gels,
in far Silesia,
The guests included old Count Won
Reisenbach, court chamberlain of the
prince of Schambourg-Lippe, who was
a noted racOnteur and bOnvivant, with
Major Won Heidkamper of the Fourth
Bavarian Light Cavalry, a constant
companion of "WilIie," and Karl Won
Pappenheim, a captain of the Prussian
guard, who had been educated at Ok
ford, and who was so English that it
was often difficult for people from
London to believe that he was Prus-
sian.
Won Pappenheim was one Of Evil
lies" new friends. He was the son
of a great landowner of Erfurt, and
the pair had for the past month been
inseparable. He was a shreSt keen
eyed man, who seemed ever on the
alert, but, of course, Obsessed by mill
tary dignity. He had a sister, Marga-
rete, a pretty girl, year or so his
junior, who had been to the Mariner
palace on one occasion.
One day I had accompanied the
party out after stag. Soon after lunch
con, which we took at a fOrester's
house, we went forth again, and con-
cealed myself at a point of vantage,
lying behind a screen of ferns and
branches specially constructed as
cover.
was alone, at some considerable
distance from the others, and had been
there waiting for nearly an hour with
my gun in readiness, when suddenly I
heard the cracking of dried wood not
far away.
Something was moving. I raised my
gun in breathless eagerness.
Next moment, however, 1 heard the
voices of two men-"Willie'' and his
friend, Won Pappenheim. They were
approaching me. speaking in low. con-
fdential tones.
you quite understand" 'Willie"
was saying. my position is a terri
cate myself. If dare reveal the truth,
then know full well what their ven
geance will be-"
"But, my dear Caesar" was Karl
Won Pappenheim's reply, for he was on
such intimate terms that he called his
highneSs by the name Won Hochberg
had bestowed upon him. sis it not your
duty to risk all and tell the truth?''
The pair had halted only few yards
from me and taken eeyer behind a
dead bush. which had been cut down
and placed conveniently at the spot,
in case the shooting party were large
one and the screen behind which had
concealed myself was insufficient. So
near were they that L could hear all
that was said.
''The emperor would neither believe
nor forgive me-" 'fWillie" said.
''Minckwitz is a clever devil. He
would bring manufactured evidence
which must implicate me-
MinckwitzI That was the name
which the emperor had uttered, asking
me if knew him!
But can he bring evidence?" asked
his companion.
Eyes, curse him he cant"
"You can refute it, surely?"
mo. 1 can't If I could, I should
make a clean breast Of the whole mat
ter" Willie declared.
"He Holds Me In the Hollow of His
Hand"
'But cannot I help you? Cannot
see Minckwitz, and bluff him?" his
friend suggested.
"You don't know him." was the re-
ply HE holds me In the hollow of
his hand"
"Ah! Then you have been horribly
indiscreet-eh?"
"I have I admit I have, Karl; and
I do not see my way out of it."
''But, my dear Caesar, think of the
danger existing day by day-hour by
hour!'' cried Won Pappenheim. Think
what there is at stakeI That letter
you showed me this morning reveals
only too plainly what is intended"
TT is letter Of defiance, admit"
"And a catastrophe must inevitably
occur, If you do not act"
But how can't act?" cried the crown
prince. Suggest something cannot
If I utter a syllable. Minckwitz will
most certainly carry out his threat
against me-"
"Contrive to have him arrested upon
some charge or other" Karl suggested
IF I did he would produce the evil
dence against me-" declared the crown
prince
a silence then fell between the pair.
Suddenly Karl asked:
'Does Won Heltzendorff known"
HE knows nothing was ''WiIne's'
answer. 1.-The emperor questioned him.
but he was in ignorance of Minckwitz's
existence. He was naturally surprised,
but did not regard it as judicious to
enlighten him."
''He is your confidential adjutant. If
were you, should tell him the
truth. No time should be lost, re-
member"
Then, after q few seconds OF silence,