Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-06-29


too intent in her conversation with |
Minckwitz, whom she met as though |
accidentally, to notice my presence.
Then, at last, the musician raised |
his hat and left her, rejoining the |
young man, Brosch.
The pair went to a bookshop in the |
Herschedstrasse, and presently, when |
they came forth again, Brosch was car
rying a good-sized volume wrapped in
brown paper.
My curiosity was aroused. Therefore
l went into the shop, made purchase,
and learned from the shopman that the
younger of the pair had purchased
well-known German reference book,
Professor Nebendahl's Dictionary of
Classical Quotations"
Strange that such book should be
purchased by an under-valeti
Leaving the detective, Hartwieg, to
watch, took the next train to Pots
dam, where was fortunate enough to
find the emperor giving audience to
the imperial chancellor. At the conclu-
sion of the audience, sought, and was
accorded, private interview, at which
1 recalled his majesty's anxiety to as
certain something regarding the man
Minckwitz.
"Well-and have you found him?"
asked the emperor, very eagerly.
The Emperor Showed Me Letter.
I replied in the affirmative. Then
he told me something which held me
breathless, for, unlocking a drawer, he
showed me an anonymous letter of
warning he had received, a letter
which, posted in Paris, stated that an
attempt was to be made upon his life,
and limiting that the crown prince
might be aware of it.
'Of course" he laughed, 81 do not
regard it seriously, but 1 thought we
ought to know the whereabouts of this
man Minckwitz, who is probably an
anarchist"
"Will your majesty leave the mat
ter entirely in my hands?" 1 suggested.
''The police must not be informed"
''It shall be as you wish. 1 give you
authority to act just as you deem
|
81 do anticipate it," replied, and
a few minutes later bowed myself out
of the imperial presence.
During that day 1 idled about the
palace, gossiping with the officials and
danes du palais, awaiting the return
of the young man Brosch. That night
he did not come back, but he arrived
| at the palace about seven o'clock on
the following morning. The head valet
was furious at his absence, but the
young man made a very plausible ex-
cuse that his sister out at Lichtenberg
was very dangerously i'll.
l had no sleep that night, but as
soon as was Informed of the under
Wallets return, repaired to the en-
peror's study and secreted myself be-
meath a great damask-covered settee
which runs along the wall opposite the
door. For nearly an hour remained
there, when the door was opened
stealthily, and there entered the young
man whom I had seen in Hanover on
the previous day. He carried book
in his hand. This he swiftly exchanged
for another similar book of the same
appearance and a moment later crept
out again, closing the door noiselessly.
Quickly I came forth and took up
the classical dictionary. copy of
which was usually upon the emperor's
table. 1t presented just the same ap-
pearance as the book that Brosch had
taken away, only it was considerably
heavier.
A Narrow Escape.
Without delay, I dashed out, sought
the emperor's valet, and was admitted
to his majesty's presence.
Three minutes later we were both In
the study. I took up the book and held
it to his ear. Just as had heard, he
could detect the faint ticking of a
watch within.
The book had been followed out ani
a bomb inserted! 1t was, no doubt
set to explode between eight and nine
o'clock, when the emperor would be
at his desk.
stake it out quickly!'' shrieked the
kaiser, in terror, when he realized the
true import Of the plot.
In obedience, handling the book very
carefully, I rushed with it downstairs
out into the open. placed it on the
grass some distance away, while the
emperor followed me, utterly astound
ed at the discovery.
Having deposited it, I dashed bach
to where the emperor was standing
upon the steps, greatly to the surprise
of the sentries, when hardly had
reached him than there showed {
blood-red flash, followed by terrific
report and concussion-an explosion
which would have blown the emperor's
head off as he sat.
His majesty stood white and rigid
instantly realizing what a narrow es
cape he had had, while the noist
caused the greatest alarm, and people
began rushing hither and thither t.
ascertain the cause.
In a few seconds his majesty wa
calm again.
"Say nothing of this, Heltzendorff,
he said. LET it remain a mystery
Come upstairs, and will speak on tn,
telephone to the police"
"Your majesty gave the matter un
reservedly into my hands," I reminded
z him.
: "Ah, that is so; forgot" he ex
, claimed, and after thanking me h
added: "Take what steps you like
4 but have the offenders punished, ant
5 also try to find out who sent me tha
r anonymous warning"
The young valet, who had been, n,
i doubt, heavily bribed by Minckwitz t,
substitute the book, had already dis
2 appeared, and, as a matter of fact, ha
never been seen since in Germany.
t The man Minckwitz had also, /
, seemed, suddenly left Hanover on tn,