Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-08-18

| SECRET u Tie SFtlnu NlZloF u SEIZURE
the escape Of the Russian army across
the Pruth. 1 know, too, how he
laughed with my husband at the clever
ness by which he is fooling the too
trustful Turks. L"
Pardon, madame" said, interrupt
ing her, and speaking in French. 'but
is it really wise to speak thus of the
emperor? Your husband is, fear.
guilty of great indiscretiOn in mention
! ing such matters"
Il am his wife, count, and he con-
ceals little, If anything, from me-"
l looked the pretty young woman
straight in the face In fear and re-
greet.
Instantly realized the serious dam
ger Of the secret being betrayed to
France.
Madame said eff 1 may be per-
mitted, l would urge that the emper-
or's diplomacy neither concerns your
husband, as an official. nor yourself
1t is his own private affair. and should
neither be discussed nor betrayed"
Il know" she said. THAT is just
why have ventured to come here to
consult you, monsieur! You have been
my good friend as we'll as my hus-
bands, and here today, while the en-
peror is our guest beneath our roof, l
feel that 1 am in greatest peril !"
'Why?" l asked with considerable
surprise.
''The emperor has already learned
| that l know the truth regarding his
secret" was her slow reply. "By what
means his majesty discovered it, l,
alas know not. But l do know from
a confidential quarter that l have in
Cured the emperor's gravest displeas-
ure and hatred"
"Who is your informant?' inquired
sternly, eager to further investigate
the great intrigue.
"a certain person who must be name
less"
"Have you spoken to anybody Of the
emperors secret plans in Turkey, or
of his possession of the Empress Cath
crimes jewels?"
81 have not uttered a word to a sim
gle soul except my husband. l swear
it,"
"YOur husband was extremely indis-
Greet in revealing anything" l declared
again quite frankly.
Il fully admit that But what can
I do? How shall act?" she asked in
low, tense voice. advise me, do"
For some moments l remained 81
lent. The situation was difficult.
"Well, madame" l replied after re-
Election, eff you are really ready to
promise the strictest secrecy and leave
! the matter to me, I will endeavOr to
find a way out of the difiiculty-provid-
ing you-good German that you are
by marriage-will take, before the en-
peror himself an oath of complete
secrecy"
81 am ready to do anything-any-
thing for my dear husbands sake" the
handsome young woman assured me,
tears yelling in her fine dark eyes.
"In that case, then, please leave
the matter entirely in my hands," l
said.
That same night, about ten o'clock.
the emperor entered the room to which
l had just returned to work.
"Send Frau Kleist to me-" he
snapped. "And l will summon you
later when IGwant you, Heltzendorff."
Frau Kleist! had no idea the wom-
an had arrived at the castle. But dis
patched one of the servants to search
for her, and afterwards heard her high
pitched voice as she assembled the
stairs to hold secret counsel with his
majesty.
Below I found the fat, fair-haired
little doctor from Augsburg, who was
still an enigma, but eager to see his
imperial patient.
Suddenly one of the imperial fun
keys bowed at the door, commanding
the doctor to the royal presence, and
he left me, hot and Hurried.
Had the emperor called the unknown
doctor into consultation with Frau
Kleist?
Inquiries had made concerning the
doctor from Augsburg showed that he
was quite a well-knOWn Specialist on
mental diseases, and he had also writ
ten a textbook upon bacteriOlogy and
the brain. Why had the kaiser sum-
moned him? He required no brain
specialist.
eve leave tomorrow at nOon," the
emperor exclaimed bruSQuely when, an
hour later, l was summoned to his
room. This amazed me, for our ar
rangements were to remain three days
longer. 1 recollected Madam Reit-
schel's words.
81 do not feel at all WELL" his majes-
ty added, land this Doctor VOllerthun
orders me rest at POtsdam."
In silence 1 bowed, and then ven
tured to refer to what was uppermost
in my mind.
"May 1 be permitted to speak to your
majesty upon a certain confidential
subject?" 1 begged.
"What subject?" snapped the en-
peror.
"Your majesty's negotiations with
the sultan of Turkey. Frau Reit-
schel has learned of them, but she is
eager to come before you and take
an oath Of entire secrecy"
The kaiser's eyes narrowed and
glowed in sudden anger.
A Woman's Oath.
ga woman's OATH" he cried. bah
Never have I believed in silence i'm
posed upon any wOman's tongue
more especially that of born enemy!
1 appreciate your loyalty and acumen,
Won Heltzendorff, but I have, fOrtu-