The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-04


gish toward ladies, given to snubbini
even the hmighesth-bOrn in the empire
was always smiling and gracious to
wards her.
81 can't make it out" declared Vol
Behr, the chamberlain du service, tx
me one day two months later. ''Tht
old woman has the most complete con
troll over her highness. Because she
was averse to the journey we are not
going to Norway this year. Besides
since her appointment, she has sue
ceeded in plotting the dismissal of both
! Countess Won Scheet-Plessen and
| Countess Won Brockdorff''
81 know" replied. had been dis
cussing it only a few hours before with
MajOr Won Amsberg, aide-de-camp of
the Prince Eitel Frederic, and he, too,
had expressed himself mystified with
the mysterious power exercised by the
old woman In the yellow wig.
A Conversation in italian.
One evening I went to the coantess'
house in the Stulerstrasse to a dinner
party, at which there were present the
crown prince, Admiral Won Spec from
Kiel and Won nberg, the emperor's doc
tor, together with the old Duke Won
Trachenberg, who held the honorary
and Out-Of-date Office of grand cup
bearer to the emperor, and the eternal
Uncle" Zeppelin. With US were a
number of ladies, including their Sc
rene highnesses, the Princess Won Ra-
dOlin and the Duchess Won Ratibor,
both ladies of the court of the kaiser
in, and several others of the ultra
smart set.
After the meal there was a small
dance, and about midnight, after
waltzing with pretty girl, the daugh-
ter of the Baron Won Heintze-W eissen-
rode, we strolled together into the fine
winter garden, with it's high palms.
its FLASHING fountains and it's cunning
~ secreted electric lights.
Two persons were approaching
somewhere behind US, conversing in
Italian-a man and a woman.
Hush % 1 whispered mischievously.
''ListenI Do you know Italian?"
"AlasI no." was her reply. "Do
your"
I did not answer, for had already
recognized the voices as those Of our
hostess and the crown prince.
Next moment, however, my compan-
ions quick ears caught that unmistak-
able squeaky voice.
"Why, it's the countessl" she ex-
claimed.
His highness and the little old lady
fn-waiting seated themselves out of
sight short distance away and con-
tinued a very confidential discussion
in an undertone in the language in
which, after German, I happen per-
haps to be most proficient.
The pair were discussing somebody
named Karl Krahl.
81 saw the emperor today" declared
the old woman, in her sibilant Italian,
undoubtedly so that no one should IN
derstand, for Italian is seldom spoken
in Germany. His majesty shares my
views now, though he did not do so at
first. Indeed, 1 was very near being
dismissed in disgrace when I first |
preached the affair. But, fortunately, |
he now knows the truth and sees the |
advantage Of-well, you know, eh?"
"CertO, contessa." replied the crown |
prince, who speaks Italian extremely |
well. Il quite foresee the peril and |
the force of your argument"
''How shall we act2" asked the old /
SIT remains for you to devise |
q plan. At any moment matters may |
approach a crisis. One can never ac-
count for the condolences exchanged by
those who love each other. And, re-
Krahl is in love-
The crown prince grunted, but as /
several couples entered at that mo-
ment the pair broke of their confiden-
gether.
Who was this Karl Krahl?
searched various directories, lists
Of persons engaged in the government |
offices In the WfIhelmstrasse, the
Liepzi gerstrasse and Inter den Lin
den; consulted the director of Berlin
police, Won Jagow; the weIl-known De-
tective Schunke and Heinrich Wese-
ner, assistant director of the secret
service of the general staff; but no
body knew Karl Krahl. There seemed
to be no record of him anywhere.
An Unexpected Caller.
In October accompanied his i'm
Derial highness TO BalIenstedt. the
beautiful SchlosS in the Harz noun
tains. Here once or twice each season l.
the crown princes habit was to invite
4 few of his most intimate chums to
shoot in the forests of Stecklenberg
and the Lauenberg, and along that
curious sandstone ridge known as the
Teufelsmauer, or Devils WALL
The guns consisted of five we'll
known officers from Berlin, together
with Doctor Zeising. the master gen
eral of forests, and Lieutenant Gen
eral Won Oertzen, the fat old inspector
general of cavalry. As usual, we all
had most enjoyable time.
On the third day, after a champagne
luncheon taken at the forester's little
house at Neue Schenke, we were about
to resume our sport. Indeed. all the
guests had gone outside, preparing to
go to their allotted stations, when the
head forester entered and. addressing
the crown prince, said:
There is man to see your imperial
highness and refuses to leave. He
gives his name as Karl Krahl.''
His highness' brows narrowed for q
second, which showed his annoyance;