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

/ Krahl-One of the party discovered.
lying upon the ledge of the window. a
lady's small and rather elegant hand
! bag of black MORE silk.
'Halloa !'' I cried, when lie held it
up for inspection. This reveals to US
one fact-a woman has been here"
L opened the bag, and within found
! a small lawn handkerchief with a cOro-
| net embroidered in its corner, a tiny
! tortoise-shell mirror and four One-hun-
dred-mark notes, but 10 clue whatever
as to its owner.
The mystery was increasing hourly,
but the gay party, knowing ''WiIlie's'
susceptibility where the fair sex was
concerned, only laughed and declared
| that his highness would assuredly turn
up before the evening was over.
Truth to tell, did not like the situa-
ton- His highness' disappearance was
now known to fifty or so persons,
beaters and others, and I feared lest
1t might get into the Berlin papers.
With that object called them together
and impressed upon them that most
complete silence must be maintained
regarding the affair.
Then Knot drove me alone back to
the schlOss. I wondered If his high
ness, wishing to get away unobserved,
returning in secret there, had left me
a written message in his room He
had done that on one occasion before.
l dashed up to the small, oId-world
room which by day overlooked the ro-
mantle and picturesque valley, but
upon the table whereat I had been
writing early that morning there was
nothing.
The Countess Won Kienitz.
As turned to leave heard foot
step, and next instant saw the little
deformed old countess facing me.
Her appearance quite startled me.
Apparently she had just arrived, for
she was in a dark blue bonnet and
warm travelling coat.
"Ah! Count Won HeItzendorff ~ she
cried in that squeaky, high-pitched
voice Of hers. ''Is his imperial high
ness here? I must see him Immediate
Iy."
mo, countess. His imperial high
ness is not here" was my reply. This
afternoon he mysterfously disappeared
from the forester's lodge at Neue
Schenke, and we are unable to trace
him."
disappeared :" gasped the old lady,
instantly pale and agitated-
Eyes" said, looking her straight in
the face.
DO you know whether he had a Wis
itor today-a young, dark-haired |
MANI"
"He had, countess. A man called. |
and saw him. At his highness' request |
I left him alone with his visitor at the |
forester's house. The mans name was |
Karl Krahl'
Glow do you know his manner" she |
asked, staring at me with an express
sion of distinct suspicion
tBecause-weII, because 1 happen
to have learnt it some time ago." |
said. 'And, further, on returning to
the house we found this little bag in /
the room wherein had left the crown |
prince"
"Why Ia Iady's bagl" she ex-
claimed as held it out for inspection. |
: eyes" I said in q somewhat hard
tone. DO you happen to recognize
it?"
Me? Why7" asked the old woman.
"WelI, because think it is your own
1 said. 81 have some recol-
lection OF having seen it in your
handI'
She took 1t. examined it well and
then, with an artificial laugh. declared
'It certainly is not mine. I once
had bag very similar, but mine was
not Of such good quality"
''Are you really quite certain, count
ess?' 1 demanded.
Quite" she declared. "But why
trouble about that bag while there is a
point much more important-the safety
and whereabouts OF his imperial high
ness?' she went on in great state of
agitation Tell me, count, exactly
what occurred-as far as you know"
1 recounted to her the facts just as
they have already been written down.
and as did so I watched her face, no.
dcing upon it an expression full CT sus-
piciOn Of myself She was, IL seemed
to me, undecided as to the exact extent
Of my knowledge.
Glow did you know that tie young
mans name was Krahlg's she asked,
eagerly. You had perhaps met him
The Search.
To this leading question I maintained
gphinxiike silence. That tie little
bid woman who had so Unexpectedly
become a Iady-iR-waltIng was playing
some desperate double game felt
sure, but its exact import was still an
enigma.
''In any case" she said. would 1t
hot be as wei to return to the Neue ,
Schenke and make searchP
smiled. Thens In order % LET her