The Washington times., 1917-05-06
tcontinusd from First Pase.)

ogltys
"oh, Ia, Ia! Well. she has told the
crown princess that you are her friend.
and In brief. has entirely fascinated
her imperial highness."
What the ErRnds maitresss had told
me was perfectly correct. for three
days later 4 dance was held, and as
entered the room ! saw amid that gay
assemolags the widow OF the long
forgotten military hero talking quite
familiarly with her imperial highness.
To my utter AmAxement also, his mai
esty, the Emperor, in the gay uniform
OF the Third Regiment OF Uhlans of
Saxony, advanced and smiled gra-
ciously upon her as she bowed as low
as rheumatism and old age allowed.
The fascination which the shriIl-
voiced old woman exercised over
"Cilli" (the crown princess) was
quickly remarked, and. OF course, gos-
sip became more rife than ever, es
pecially when, a week later, It was
announced that she had actually been
appointed q lady-in-waiting.
Puzzled About Prince.
The crown prince. too, soon became
on friendly terms with her, and many
times I saw them chatting together
as though exchangI Ing condolences.
Why?
His highness. usually so utterly pig
gish toward ladies. given to snub-
bing even the highest born in the en-
pire. was always smiling and gracious
toward her.
81 can't make It out" declared Won
Behr. the chamberlain du service. to
me one day two months later. THE
old woman has the most complete con-
troll over his 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" I replied. 1 had been dis
cussing II only q few hours before
with Major Won Amsberg, aide-de-camp
of the Prince Eitel Frederick, 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 / went to the count
ess' house in the Stulerstrasse to q
dinner party, at which there we're
present the crown prince, Admiral
Won Spec from Kiel. and Won Ilberg,
the Emperor's doctor. together with
the old Duke Won Trachenberg, who
held the honorary and out-of-date Of
flee of grand cup-bearer to the En-
peror, and the eternal Uncle" Yep
pelin. With US were a number Of
ladies, including their Ser'ne High
nesses the Princess Won Radolin and
the Duchess Won Ratibor, both ladies
OF the court Of the Kaiserin, and sew
eral others OF this ultra-smart set.
After the meal there was q small
dance, and about midnight, afte-
Waiting with q pretty girl. the
daughter OF the Baron Won Heintze-
weissenrode, we strolled together
into the fine winter garden with fts
high palms, Its splashing fountains.
and It's cunningly secreted electric
lights.
Two persons were approaching
somewhere behind us, conversing in
Italian man and a woman"
Hush" l whispered mischievously.
Listen! Do you know ltalian?"
ALIAS! No." was her reply. do
your"
did not answer, for I had already
recognised the voices as those OF our
hostess and the crown prince.
Next moment. however. my COM
panion's quick ears caught THAT un
mIstakable squeaky voice.
why, it's the countess she ex-
claimed.
His hiKhness and the little old
iady-In- waiting seated themselves out
of sight a short distance away, and
continued a very confidential discus
sion in an undertone In the Language
In which, after German, happened
perhaps to be most proficient.
About KarI krahI,
The pair were discussing some
body named Karl krahl.
"I saw the Emperor today" de-
clared the old woman in her sibllant
Italian, undoubtedly 80 that no one
should understand, for italian is sci
dom spoken in Germany. His majes-
ty shares my views now, though he
did not do so at FIRST. Indeed, l was
vary near being dismissed In Disgrace
when / first preached the AFFAIR. Bu'.
fortunately, he now knows tho truth
and sees the advantage Of-well, you
know, eh2"
"Certo. Contessa," replied tho crown
prince. who speaks Italian extremely
we'll, "I quite forsses the peril and
the force of your argument
"TIow shall we aotY" asked the old
woman. ut remains for you to devise
a plan, At any moment matters may
approach q crisis, One can never ac-
count for the condolences exchanged
by those who love saoh othey, And.
remsmbsr, KrahI Is in love-"
The crown prince grunted, but as
several couples entered at that mo
ment the pair broke OF their conn
Dental chat, and, rising. went out to.
gether.
Who was this Karl Krahi?
l searched various directories, lists
Of persons engaged in the government
Offices in the Wilhelmstrasse, the
lLeipziRerstrasss, and Inter den Lin
den, I consulted the director OF Ber
lin police, Won JagowI the wsll-known
Detective 6chunke, and Heinrich
| Wesener, assistant director Of the se
oret service OF the general staffi but
nobody knew Karl Krahl, There
seemed to be no record OF him any
where,
An Unexpected Caller.
In October ! accompanied his i'm
periaI highness to Ba!lenstedtr the
beautiful schIoss in the Harts noun
taIns. Here once or twice each sea
son the crown princes habit was to
| invite a few of his most intimate
chums TO shoot in the forests OF Steck-
IamanhRFR and