The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-08-18


most erratic. We knew that If the
whim took him he would perhaps go
off In an opposite direction, or trudge
back to the castle with utter disregard
of our natural anxiety.
Lights were lit and we enjoyed
cigars awaiting KNOTS return. In an
hour he was back with the news that
nothing had been heard of his high
ness. Soon after we had left that
morning, however, a young man In q
gray suit had called and seen the ma
jor domo, who had directed him where
his highness might be found.
Upon Eckardt-the commissary of
police responsible for his highness'
safety-the onus rested. Yet, had he
not been sent out with the party, as
his highness had expressed to me a
wish to be left alone with the stranger,
whose name I alone knew?
While we were discussing the most
judicious mode of action-for l scent
ed much mystery in this visit of Karl
Krahl-one of the party discovered,
lying upon the ledge of the window, a
lady's small and rather elegant hand
bag of black moire silk.
"Halloa" I cried, when he held it
up for inspection. "This reveals to us
n fact-a woman has been here"
I opened the bag, and within found
a small lawn handkerchief with a coro-
net embroidered in it's corner, a tiny
tortoise-shell mirror and four one-hun-
, dred-mark notes, but no clue whatever
as to it's owner.
The mystery was increasing hourly,
but the gay party, knowing "Willie's"
susceptibility where the fair sex was
concerned, only laughed and declared
that his highness would assuredly turn
up before the evening was over.
Truth to tell, I did not like the situa-
ton. His highness' disappearance was
now known to fifty or SO persons,
heaters and others, and I feared lest
it might get into the Berlin papers.
With that object 1 called them together
and impressed upon them that most
complete silence must be maintained
regarding the affair.
Then Knot drove me alone back to
the schloss. 1 wondered if his high
ness, wishing to get away unobserved,
returning in secret there, had left me
a written message in his room. He
had done that on one occasion before.
| dashed up to the small, old-world
room which by day overlooked the ro-
| montfn ond nfafrrracCyra un1Iau h,1t
upon the table whereat l had been
writing early that morning there was
nothing.
The Countess Won kienitz.
AS l turned to leave I heard a foot
step, and next instant saw the little
deformed old countess facing me.
Her appearance quite startled me.
Apparently she had just arrived, for
she was in a dark blue bonnet and
warm travelling coat.
"Ah! Count Won HeltzendorffI she
cried in that squeaky, high-pitched
voice of hers. SIS his imperial high
ness here? I must see him Immediate
ly."
"No, countess. His imperial high
ness is not here" was my reply. "This
afternoon he mysteriously disappeared
from the forester's lodge at Neue
Schenke, and we are unable to trace
him."
Disappeared" gasped the old lady,
instantly pale and agitated.
eyes," I said, looking her straight in
the face.
"Do you know whether he had a WIS.,
itor today-a young, dark-haired
MANI"
"He had, countess. A man called,
and saw him. At his highness' request
l left him alone with his visitor at the
~forester's house. The mans name was
Karl Krahl."
"How do you know his name?" she
asked, staring at me with an express
sion of distinct suspicion.
"Because-well, because 1 happen
to have learnt it some time ago." l
! said. "And, further, on returning to
the house we found this little bag in
the oom wherein I had left the crown
prince"
"Why Ia lady's bag!" she ex-
claimed as l held it out for inspection.
"Yes," l said in a somewhat hard
tone. do you happen to recognize
it?"
me? Why?" asked the old
swell, because l think 1t is your own