Tombstone epitaph., 1917-08-19

| big. circular. old-world room In one
| of the towers of the castle. dealing
with a food of important state pa.
pers which a courier had brought
from Berlin two hours before. Papers
followed US daily wherever we might
be.
About midday Doctor vollerthun was
ushered In TO me-a short. stout, gut
tural-speaking man of about sixty,
rather bald. and wearing big, round
gold-rimmed spectacles. / quickly
handed him over TO the major-domo.
About three O'Clock that same after
| noon a light tap came at the door, and
I saw my hostess standing upon the
threshold.
She was quietly but elegantly
dressed, presenting the true type of the
smart Parisienne, but In an instant
realized that she was very pale and
agitated. Indeed. her voice trembled
when she asked permission TO enter.
Since her marriage had many times
chatted with her. for she often came
| TO the palace when her husband visited
Berlin. / had danced with her; had
taken her into dinner at various houses
where we met, always finding her q
bright and very intellectual compan.
Ion.
She quietly closed the door and ad.
vanced TO the table from which / had
risen.
aCoup. ,op uaI,1apJorH che ax
claimed in a low. strained voice. IL
have come TO seek your aid because
| well, because I'm distracted. and
know that you are my husbands
friend" she exclaimed in French.
And yours also, madam" said ear.
nestly.
MY husband is out with the emper.
or" she gasped In a curious. unnerved
tone. And fear; oh, fear that we
are Ia great peril-deadly peril, every
hour-eyery moment"
Really. madame. I hardly follow
you" l said.
My husband, whom love devoted.
ly. has done his best in the interests
of his emperor. You, count, know the
real aims OF the kaiser In Turkey
These last six months have watched
| and have learned the truth! / know
how, when the emperor went 10 Con,
| stantinople five months ago in pre-.
tence OF friendship toward the sultan
with Professor Nambery as interpre.
ter. he practically compelled Abdul
HarnFd W ,,i 20 him fn r.-trrp for cor,
tain financial advances, those wonder,
| full jewels which the Empress Cath,
/ crime. wife of Peter the Great, gave in
secret to the grand yiZier to secure
the escape Of the Russian army across
the Pruth. l know, too, how he
laughed with my husband al the clever
ness by which he is fooling the toe
trustful Turks. L"
Pardon. madame" said, interrupt.
ing her. and speaking in French, 'but
| IS ii really wise to speak thus of the
emperor: Your husband is, l fear
| ing such matters"
u am his wife, count, and he con
ceals little, If anything. from me-
/ looked the pretty young woman
straight in the face in fear and re
greet.
Instantly I realized the serious dan
ger Of the secret being betrayed tC
| France.
Madame" said. 'If may be per.
mitted. would urge that the emper
or's diplomacy neither concerns your
husband, as an official, nor yourself
/ II is his own private affair, and should
neither be discussed nor betrayed"
Il know" she said. THAT is just
| why I have ventured to come here to
consult you. monsieur! You have been
my good friend as well as my hus'
bands, and here today, while the en-
| peror is our guest beneath our roof,
feel that I am In greatest PERIL"
"Whyf" ! asked with considerable
surprise
The emperor has already learned
that 1 know the truth regarding his
| secret" was her slow reply. by what
means his majesty discovered 1t, /
alas. know not. But do know from
confidential quarter that have in
CURED the emperor's gravest displeas.
ure and hatred"
"who is your informantT I inquired
sterniy, eager to further investigate
the great intrigue.
"a certain person who must be name.
less"
Have you spoken to anybody OF the
emperor's secret plans In Turkey, or
of his possession Of the Empress Cath.
crimes jewelsT
Il have not uttered a word to a sin
gle soul except my husband. 1 swear
It."
"Your husband was extremely indls-
Greet in revealing anything" I declared
again quite frankly.
81 fully admit that. But what can
do? How shall ! act" she asked In
a low, tense voice. advise me, DO"
For some moments ] remained ST.
lent. The situation was difficult.
swell, madame" I replied after re-
Election, eff you are really ready to
promise the str,ctest secrecy and leave
the matter to me. I will endeavor to
| find a way out of the difficulty-p.ovid-
| uonI Carvnan that Won 70