The Ordway new era., 1917-06-22


most certainly carry out his threat
against me-"
"Contrive to have him arrested upon
some charge or other" Karl suggested.
"If did he would produce the evil
dence against me-" declared the crown
prince.
A silence then fell between the pair
| suddenly Karl asked:
Does Won Heltzendorff knowF"
He knows nothing" was "Willie's'
answer "The emperor questioned him.
bur he was in ignorance of MinckwitZ's
existence. He was naturally surprised
but | did not regard it as judicious to
enliGhten him"
"He is your confidential adjutant. If
| were you. I should tell him the
truth. No time should be lost, re-
member"
Then, after few seconds of silence,
Won Pappenheim went on:
"Why, l never thought of 1t! My
sister Margarete knows Minckwitz
She might perhaps be useful to us
eh?"
"Why. yesI" cried "Willie," "a wom-
an can frequently accomplish thing
where man would fail. A most ex-
cellent idea. Let us leave the Others
to their sport and get back to the
schloss and discuss line of action
eh?'
And in agreement. the pair emerged
from their ambush. and retraced their
steps along the path they had come.
A Message From the Emperor.
Next evening Won Pappenhem's sis
ter Margarete. fair-haired, petite and
rather doll-like. arrived at the castle.
During dinner an imperial courier
arrived from Berlin with letter from
the emperor, and willie" opened 1t,
read it, and then, excusing himself,
left the table. I rose and followed
him, as was my duty. but when outside
the room, his highness sent me back,
saying in thick. husky voice:
81 shall not want you, Won Heltzen-
| dorff will write the reply myself"
On my return the guests were dis
cussing the effect of the emDerors
message upon their host, Won Pappen-
helm being particularly anxious. He
said something in II low voice to his
| sister, when the latter became at once
| thoughtful. Indeed. the remainder of
| the meal was n very dull affair, and
1t was with relief that We rose and
went out into the big ancient hall.
with its vauIted ceiling, where coffee
was always served.
The courier had left on his return
| journey to the capital. yet willie did
not again reappcar. At eleven O'Clock
I found him lying in heavy sleep
upon the sofa in the room set apart
for me for my writing.
| I called his faithful valet, and to-
gether we half-carried him to his ROOM
where he was undressed and put to
bed Hardly had I returned to my
room, when Won Pappenheim entered
in search Of his host.
"Hs highness Is not well, and has
retired to his ROOM" I said. HE ex-
pressed desire to see nobody to-
pight."
"Oh" he cried in despair. "Why
| did he not see me and tell me the
| lEutH ui' hh"
we must act If the situation Is to be
saved"
"What situation?" I asked, in pre-
tended ignorance.
you know nothing, Won Heltzen-
dorff, eh?" he asked, looking me
straight in the face.
Nothing" was my reply.
"You have no knowledge of the trap
into which the crown prince fell when
he was in Paris with you six months
ago, and when he and l first metz
"a trap! What do you mean?"
HAS he told you nOthing?"
"Not syllable"
"Ah! Then I cannot be frank with
you until I obtain his highness' per-
mission. He told me that you knew
nothing, but did not believe it. Know
ing well what implicit confidence he
places in you, I believed that you knew
the ghastly truth"
Into what trap had "Willie" fallen
during our last visit to Paris could
not conceive. His constant absences
alone, his terrible craving for excite
ment, his wild and reckless search for
pleasure had ever been source Of
anxiety to me. Times without number
had lifted = warning finger, only to