The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-30

| schIoss and discuss a 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 Pappenhefm's Sis
ter Marguerite, fair-haired, petite and
rather doll-lfke, arrived at the castle.
During dinner an imperial courier
arrived from Berlin with letter from
the emperor, and willie" opened it,
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 a 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 emperor's
message upon their host, Won Pappen-
helm being particularly anxious. He
said something in a low voice to his
sister, when the latter became at once
thoughtful. Indeed, the remainder Of
the meal was a very dull affair, and
it was with relief that we rose and
went out into the big ancient hall,
with its vaulted ceiling, where coffee
was always served.
The courier had left on his return
journey to the capital, yet willie" did
not again reappear. At eleven o'clock
I found him lying in a heavy sleep
upon the sofa in the room set apart
for me for my writing.
1 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.
'eHis highness is not well, and has
retired to his ROOM" said. "He ex-
pressed a desire to see nobody to-
uight."
"Oh!" he cried IN despair. "Why
did he not see me and tell me the
truth Precious hours are flying, and
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.
'eYou 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 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 1t. Know
ing well what implicit confidence he
places in you, believed that you knew
the CHASTITY 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 a source of
anxiety to me. Times without number
had lifted a warning finger, only to
be derided by the son of the all-highest
one.
On a Secret Mission for the Crown
Prince.
Next day, soon after his highness
was dressed. he entered my room.
''Heltzendorf," he said, 'rI have been
chatting with Won Pappenheim and
his sister upon little matter of bust
ness which closely concerns myself.
I want you to leave in an hours time
and go to Hanover. In the Kirchroder
strasse, No. 16, out at K1eefeId, there
lives a certain man named Minckwitz
"a Pole by birth. He has two nieces
one about twenty and the other two
years older. With them you have no
concern. All want is that you en-
gage a photographer, or, better, your
Minckwitz, and bring it to me. Be
discreet and trust no one with the Sc
cret Of your journey"
Exactly. There is a doubt as to
the mans identity, eh?"
willie" nodded in the Affirmative
Satisfied that I should at last see
the mysterious person whose identity
the emperor wished TO establish, I set
out from Gels on my long journey right
across Germany.
In due course I arrived in Hanover,
and found the house situated in the
pleasant suburb Here 1 found that
'fWillie's" suspicious were correct, and
the man MinckWitz was living under
the name OF Sembach and pretending
| TO be a musician. watched, and very
soon, with my own camera, In secret
took a snapshot of the mysterious In
| divfdua1 as he walked in the street
With this LETT, two days later. on my
j return TO Gels.
The photograph was that OF a thin
narrow-faced, deep-eyed man, with {
scraggy. pointed beard-a typical Pole
and when handed It to willie be
! held his breath.