The Ordway new era., 1917-06-22

is referring to-
His majesty wishes to see you at
once" | urged, full of wonder.
| could plainly see that his imperial
highnesS had been much upset ut men
tion of the mysterious person called
Minckwitz. What could the emperor
know of him? Was there some scan
dial at the root of it all. some facts
which the crown prince feared might
be revealed?
Travel-stnined and without changing
his tunic, willie" went to the tele-
phone and ordered Knot to bring back
the car. In it he drove across to the
NeueS Pnlais to see the emperor.
had an appointment in Berlin that
night, and waited until quite late for
"Willie's" return. As he did not come,
left for the capital, and on arrival
at my rooms. rang up WOlff's agency,
and gave out Il paragraph to the press
that his imperial highness, the crown
prince, had been compelled to abnn-
don his journey to Thorn, owing to
having contracted a chill.
At the Schloss Oels.
Several weeks went by. and one day
we We're at the ancient Schloss at OelS,
in far Silesia,
The guests included old Count Won
Reisenbach. court chamberlain of the
prince of SchambOurg-L Lippe. who was
a noted racOnteur and bonvivant. with
Major Won Heidkamper of the Fourth
Bavarian Light Cavalry. constant
companion of willie" and Karl Won
Pappenheim. n captain of the Prussian
guard. who had been educated at OK
ford. and who was so English that ii
was often difficult for people from
London to believe that he was PruS
sian.
Won Pappenheim was one of "Wil-
lies" new friends. He was the son
of great landowner of Erfurt. and
the pair had for the past month been
inSepnrable. He was a shrewd, keen
eyed man. who seemed ever on the
alert. but, of course. obSessed by mill
tary dignity. He had a sister. Marga-
rete, pretty girl, a year or so his
junior, who had been TO the Mariner
palace on one occasion.
One day l had accompanied the
party out after stag. Soon after lunch
con, which we took at a forester's
house, we went forth again, and l con-
cealed myself at point of vantage,
lying behind screen of ferns and
branches specially constructed as
cover.
l was alone. at some considerable
distance from the others and had been
there waiting for nearly an hour with
my gun in readiness. when suddenly l
heard the cracking of dried wood not
far away.
Something was moving. I raised my
gun in breathleSS cngerness.
Next moment. however. I heard the
voices of two men-"Willie" and his
approaching me, speaking in low. con-
tidential tones.
You quite understand" willie"
was saying. MY position is terri
BILE one. I don't know how to eXtri
cate myself. If dare reveal the truth,
then I know full well what their ven
geance will be-"
But, my dear Caesar" was Karl
Won Pnppenheim's reply. for he was on
such intimate terms that he called his
highness by the name Won Hochherg
had bestowed upon him. sis it not your
duty to risk all and tell the truth?"
The pair had halted only few yards
from me and taken cover behind a
dead bush which had been cut down
and placed conveniently at the spot,
in case the shooting party were large
one and the screen behind which I had
concealed myself was insufficient. So
near were they that I could hear all
that was said.
"The emperor would neither believe
nor forgive me-" "Willle" said.
"Minckwitz Is a clever devil He
would bring manufactured evidence
which must implicate me-"
Minckwitz. That was the name
which the emperor had uttered, asking
me if knew him!
But can he bring evidence?" asked
his companion.
yes, curse him he CAM
you can refute it, surely?''
mo, I can't. If I could. I should
make a clean breast of the whole mat
ter" Willie declared.
"He Holds Me in the Hollow Of His
Hand"
But cannot I help you? Cannot I
see Minckwitz, and bluff him!" his
friend suggested.
you don't know him." was the re-
ply. "He holds me in the hollow Of
his hand"
"Ah! Then you have been horribly
indiscreet-eh?"
~ have. 1 admit I have, Karl and
do not see my way out Of It,"
"But, my dear Caesar, think of the
danger existing day by day-hour by
hour!" cried Won Pappenheim. think
what there is at stake! That letter
YOU showed me this morning reveals