Williams news., 1917-08-16

(SlSuc0) day evening, and we will dine to- gether."
 "But I can't-I really can't do as you wish. You surely will not compel me toto commit a crimer'
 The Crown Princes Threat.
 "Hush I" he cried. "I have shown you these papers, and you know my in- structions. Remember that your fa- ther must know nothing. Nobody must suspect, or you will find yourself in equal peril with your brother"
 "You-you are cruel!" sobbed the girl.
 ''No, no," he said cheerfully. Don't cry, please. Think 1t all over, Miss King, and meet me in London on Thurs day night"
 After listening to the appointment, I on pretense of summoning a waiter, and when returned the pretty English girl was taking leave of "Mr. Rich ter"
 Her blue eyes betrayed traces of emotion, and she was, I saw, very pale, her bearing quite unlike her atti- tude when she had entered there.
 "We1l, good-by, Miss King" said his highness, grasping her hand. 'It was really awfully good of you to call. We shall meet again very soon-eh? Good by."
 Then, turning to me, he asked me to conduct her out.
 On returning to the crown prince, I found him in decidedly savage mood. He was pacing the floor impatiently, muttering angrily to himself, for 1t was apparent that some plan of his was be- ing thwarted by the girls refusal to conform to his wishes and obtain cer- tain information he was seeking.
 The crown prince, when in foreign country, was never idle. His energy was such that he was ever on the move, with eyes and ears always open to learn whatever he could. Hence it was at two o'clock that afternoon Knof brought round a big gray open car, and in it I sat beside the em- peror'S son while we were driven around the defenses of Plymouth, just as on previous occasions we had in- spected those of Portsmouth and of Dover.
 On the following Thursday evening we had returned to London, and the crown prince, without telling me where he was going, left the Ritz hotel, merely explaining that he might not be back till midnight. It was on that oc- casion, my dear LeQueux, you will remember, that I dined with you at the Devonshire club, and we afterward spent a pleasant evening together at the Empire.
 merely told you that his highness was out at dinner with a friend. You were, naturally, inquisitive, but did not satisfy your curiosity. Secrecy was then my duty.
 A Sample of German Preparedness.
 On returning to the hotel found the crown prince arranging with Knof a motor run along the Surrey hills on the following day. He had a large map spread before him-a German military map, the curious marks upon which would have no doubt astonished any war office official. The map indi- cated certain spots which had been se- cretly prepared by Germany in view of the projected invasion.
 To those spots we motored on the following day. His imperial highness, at the instigation of the emperor, actu- ally made tour of inspection of those cunningly concealed points of vantage which the imperial general staff had, with their marvellous forethought and bold enterprise, already prepared right beneath the very nose of the sleep ing British lion.
 From the crown princess jaunty man. ner and good spirits felt assured that by the subtle persuasive powers he pos sessed towards women he had brought the mysterious Miss King into line with his own plans-whatever they might be.
 We 1unched at the Burford Bridge hotel, that pretty, old-fashioned house beneath Box hill, not far from Dor king.
 After our meal in the long public room, we strolled into the grounds for a smoke.
 "Well, Heltzendorff,' g he said pres- ently, i've will return to the conti- nent tomorrow. Our visit has not been altogether abortive. We will re-