The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-06-29

once, L urged, Iuli OF wonder.
/ could plainly see that his imperial
highness had been much upset at men,
ton Of the mysterious person called
Minckwitz. What could the emperor
know of him? Was there some scan
dial at the root Of 1t all, some facts
which the crown prince feared might
be revealed?
Travel-stained and without changing
his tunic, willie" went to the tele-
phone and ordered Knot to bring back
the car. In it he drove across to the
Neues Palais to see the emperor.
had an appointment in Berlin that
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 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 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,w who was
noted raconteur and bonvivant, with
Major Won Heidkamper of the Fourth
Bavarian Light Cavalry, a constant
companion of 'Willie," and Karl Won
DonDanhoiv, n oop+afn af +ho pr,tsa.ian
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 great landowner of Erfurt, and
the pair had for the past month been
| inseparable. He was shrewd, keen
eyed man, who seemed ever on the
alert, but, of course, obsessed by mill
tary dignity. He had sister, Marga-
rete, a pretty girl, a 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'
house, we went forth again, and con
cealed myself at point of vantage
lying behind a screen of ferns ant
branches specially constructed al
cover.
I was alone, at some considerable
distance from the others, and had beer
there waiting for nearly an hour will
my gun in readiness, when suddenly
heard the cracking of dried wood no
far away.
Something was moving. raised my
gun in GREATNESS eagerness.
Next moment, however, heard thu
voices of two men-"Willie" and hi:
friend, Won Pappenheim. They were
approaching me, speaking in low, con
fidential tones.
''You quite understand" willie
was saying. my position is terri
BILE one. l don't know how to extri
cate myself. If dare reveal the truth
then 1 know full well what their ven
geance will be-"
'But, my dear Caesar" was Kar
Won Pappenheim's reply, for he was o.
such intimate terms that he called hi
highness by the name Won Hochber
had bestowed upon him, sis it not you
duty to risk all and tell the truth?"
The pair had halted only few yard
| from me and taken cover behind
| dead bush which had been cut dow
e and placed conveniently at the spo
: in case the shooting party were larg
one and the screen behind which ha
t concealed myself was insufficient. S
|, near were they that could hear a
e that was said.
r "The emperor would neither believ
e nor forgive me-" "Willie" sal
v "Minckwitz is a clever devil. =
would bring manufactured evidenC
e which must implicate me-"
d Minckwitz That was the nan
s. which the emperor had uttered, askir
me if knew himl
/ "But can he bring evidence?" askt
n his companion
/ 'Yes, curse him The cant"
$. "You can refute it, surely?"
IL "No, I can't. If / could, shou
re make a clean breast of the whole ma
a. ter" Willie declared.
he ale Holds Me in the Hollow OF +
S. Hand"
It, "But cannot I help you? Cannot
lie see Minckwitz, and bluff him?"
Ut friend suggested.
eYou don't know him." was the
ply. "He holds me in the hollow
IN his hand"
1 "Ahl Then you have been horrit
,e. indiscreet-eh?"
Ill II have. / admit have, Karl; a
d. do not see my way out of it."
.e- 'sBut, my dear Caesar, think of
danger existing day by day-hour
1 hour !" cried Won Pappenheim. "Thi
M what there is at stake That lett
en- you showed me this morning reve'
he only too plainly what is intended"
at is letter of defiance, admit.
sand q catastrophe must inevital