Tombstone epitaph., 1917-08-26

the commissioner Of secret police for
his highneSs' personal protection.
After a restless nisht-for there
were many stoppages-I spent next
day with the crown prince In long and
firing discussions on military affairs.
cndeavored to obtain from him some
reason why We were proceeding TO
Nice, but 10 all my inquiries he was
smilingly dumb.
Only fortnight before he had had
| a quarrel with his wife.
"CilH is a fool" he had declared
] openly TO me. after she had left the
room in anger.
/ We had been busy arranging a pro-
gram of official visits In eastern Ger
many. when suddenly the crown prin-
cess entered, pale with anger and de-
{ manded fiercely an explanation of n
certain anonymous letter which she
held in her hand.
Kindly read that!' she said haugh-
lilly, and explain what it means"
The crown prince grinned. that cold
| sinister expression overspreading his
marked characteristic of his.
Then. almost snatching the letter
from his young wife'S fingers. he read
il through. and with sudden move
ment tore it up and flung it upon the
carpet, saying:
Il refuse to discuss any unsigned
letter, Really, II we were to notice
D., ~
scum we should, indeed, have sufficient
10 do"
HIS wife's arched brows narrowed.
Her face betrayed fierceSt anger.
Il happen to have inquired, and !
now know that those allegations are
correct :" she cried. This dark haired
singer-woman, Irene Speroni. has OBJ
tanned great success on the variety
strge in Italy. She is the star of the
Sala Ma-gherita in Rome"
'WellE" he asked in defiance. "And
what Of it, pray?"
That letter. you have destroyed tells
me the truth. / received IL 4 few
days ago. and sent an agent to Italy
in order 10 learn the truth. He has
returned tonight. See! :" And sud
denly she produced crumpled snap
shot photograph of the crown prince
in his polO-playing garb. and with him
smartly-dressed young woman,
whose features were in the shadow.
Yes" she cried bitterly. You re-
| fuse. OF course, TO look upon this piece
Of evidence! l now know why you
went TO Wiesbaden. The woman was
singing there, and you gave her pair
of emerald and diamond earrings
which you purchased from Vollgold
in Inter den Linden. See! Here is
the bill for them!"
And again she produced a slip of
I paper.
The scene ended in the poor woman,
4 in a frantic paToxysm of despair, tear
I ing of the splendid necklet OF dia-
monds at her throat-his present to
her on their marriage-and casting it
I full into his face.
Then, realizing that the scene had
I become too tragic, l took her small
I hand, and. with u word of sympathy,
[ led her out of the room and along the
( corridor.
As left her she burst into a sudden
/ torrent of tears; yet when / returned
I again TO the crown prince l found his
manner had entirely changed. He
| treated his wife's natural resentment
and indignation Us q huge joke, and il
was then that his imperial highness
| declared 10 me:
"CilH is fool!"
|
Listen, Heltzendorff," his highness
/ exclaimed suddenly. I'm Nice / may
disappear for a day or two. l may be
/ missing. But If l am, please don't
/ raise q fuss about II. I'm incOgnito,
and nobody will know. / may be ab-
sent for seven days. II l am not back
. by that time then you may make in
quiry."
But the Commissary of Police Eek
ardt! He will surely known l re-
marked in surprise.
mo. He won't know. shall evade
| him as I've often done before" re-
piled his imperial highness. Il tell
/ you of my intentions so that you may
curb the activities of our most estima-
BILE friend. Tell him not TO worry, and
he will be paid a thousand marks on
the day Count Won Grunau reappears.
smiled, for l saw the influence Of
the eternal feminine
'No, HeItzendorn- You are quite
mistaken" he said, reading my
thoughts. There is no lady in this
case. / am out here for secret pur-
poses of my own. For that reason
take you into my confidence rather
than that unnecessary inquiry should
be made and some Of those internal
journalists get hold of the fact that
the Count Won Grunau and the crown
prince are one and the same person. /
was a fool to take this salon. / ought
to have Travelled as an ordinary pas
senger, / know. but" he laughed. this
Is really comfortable and, after all,
what do we care what the world thinks
-ehf Surely we can afford to laugh
at ii when all the honors Of the game
are already In our hands,"
His words mystified me, but ! be