The Washington times., 1917-06-17

/ ihAOA AAAdAiOIAs 4 asked SUSPICIOUS
ly, half believing that she might be a
secret agent OF France.
"Payment-of course, not" she an
swered, half Indignantly. show that
photograph to the crown prince. and
tell him that l apply for an inter
view"
| Then, rather abruptly. she rose and
walked away. leaving me with her
photograph in my hand.
! The crown prince was out motoring,
and did not get back to the Villa until
after o'clock.
As soon as I heard Of his return
went TO his room and recounted nv
strange adventure with the dark
haired young woman in black. He
became keenly Interested. and the
more so when told him OF her secret
knowledge OF the Kaiser's intended
estaohshment OF bogus entente with
Great Britain.
she wishes to see you" I said.
And she told me to give you her pho
| togrsph."
/ handed It to him.
InPressed By Photo.
At sight OF It his face instantly
changed. He held his breath, and then
examined the photograph beneath the
light.
Next second. however. he had recov-
cred his self-possession. and said:
yes. or course, know her. She
wants me to write to Julie de Rou-
Vile at the Post Restante at Mar
sellles, eh? Hm-I'n think IL over
Late in the afternoon, two days
later, His Highness, who had been
walking alone, returned to the Villa
/ GfE
fair-haired man, undoubtedly a Ger
man, and the pair were closeted to-
gether. holding counsel evidently for
a considerable time. Where His High
ness met him l knew not, but when
later on l entered the room ! saw that
the pair were on quite friendly terms.
! His Highness addressed him as Herr
Schafer. and when he had left he told
me that he was from the Wilhelm
strasse. and had been attached to the
embassy at Washington. and after
wards in London, "fOr affairs OF the
press"
| Whatever was in progress was a
strict secret between the pair. The
more l saw OF Hans Schafer the more
I disliked him. He had cruel eyes
and l could see that he was a very
clever and cunning person.
For a full fortnight the Crown
Prince and the man Schafer were al
most inseparable. Was II for the
purpose OF meeting Schafer that we
had gone to Nice? The man had been
back from London about two months.
and had. l learned, been lately living
in Paris.
Encounters Girl Again.
One evening while strolling along
the tree-lined promenade des Ang-
Isis, l suddenly encountered Julie de
Rouville, dressed in mourning, a
quiet, pathetic figure, just as we had
| last met.
1 Instantly recolIected that since
the evening when had given her
photograph to the Crown Prince he
had never mentioned her.
"Ah. count" she cried, this Is. in.
/ deed. a welcome meeting! have
been looking out for you for the past
two days"
1--WE been staying over at Cannes"
was my reply. "Well?"
II have to thank you for giving my
photograph and message to his high
ness" she said.
II trust that the crown prince has
written to you, eh?"'
| well. no" was her rather
vague reply.
Then how are you aware that /
gave your MESSAGE
She shook her head and smiled.
II had my own means OF discovery.
| BY certain signs knew that you had
carried out your promise" she said.
But as I have heard nothing, wish
you to deliver another message-a
very urgent one. Tell him I must see
him. for l dread daily lest the truth
OF the Kaiser's real intentions be
known at the Quai d'Orsay."
In Imperial Interest.
Certainly" was my reply. "I will
deliver your message this evening"
Tell him that my sole desire T. to
| act in the interests OF the Emperor
and himself" she urged.
But. forgive me-" said. "I can
not see why you should interest your
self in the crown prince II he de
clines to communicate with you"
"I have my reasons, Count Won
Heltzendorf." was her rather naughty
reply. please tell him that the mat
ter will not brook further delay"
had seen in the London news
papers during the past week how
eagerly the English journalists. with
the dust cast into their eyes. were
| blindly advocating that the British
| public should welcome the great Ger
man national movement. headed by
/ Baron con Gessler. supported by Bal
] lin. Delbruck, and Won WedeI. with
the hearty cooperation OF the EN-
| peror and the imperial chancellor
| the movement to establish better re-
| lations with Great Britain.
! knew that the secret should at all
hazards be kept. and that night I
| told the crown prince OF my second
meeting with the pretty woman in
black and her urgent request.
He laughed but made no remark.
| Yet | knew by his tnne that he was
/ not so easy in his mind as he desired
me to believe.
| 1t also seemed strange why, IL the
young Frenchwoman was 50 desirous
or meeting him. she did not call at
the villa.
Really Irene SperOni.
About a week later 1t suddenly oc-
| Cured to me to endeavOr to discover
the real identity Of the lady in black.
hut as | was not certain whether she
actually lived in Nice 1t was rather
diffAIlt. Nevertheless, by invoking
the aid Of my friend Belabre. inspec-
! tor Of the Surete Of Nice, and after
waiting a few days ! made an as
founding discovery. namely, that the
lady who called herself DE Rouville