The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-08-04


at a certain small ~stationer's shop
Lancry's. in the Boulevard Haussmann
close to the Printemps. One paper es
pecially is sold nowhere else in Paris
1t is this"
He held over a mirror a letter upor
a small sheet Of note paper bearing
the watermark of a bulls head.
"That paper was made at a mill In
the south of Devonshire, in England
destroyed by fire five years ago. Pa,
per of that make cannot be obtained
anywhere else in France he declared
1 at once realized how much patience
must have been expended upon the in,
| quiry, and said:
"Then you have actually fixed the
shop where the writer purchased his
paper?"
"Yes," he replied. "And we know
that the newly invented typewriter, O
specimen one, was sold by the Maison
Audebert, in Marseille. The purchaser
of the typewriter in Marseille pur.
chases his paper and envelopes at Lam
| cry's, on the Boulevard H~aussmann.'
"Splendidw I said, for it was clear
that the baron, with the thousand-and'
n secret agents at his beck and call
had been able, with the professors
aid, to fix the source of the stationery
But" I added, "what is wanted from
me?" Why, I wondered, had his maj
esty sent the baron that photograph
of Elise Rrpitaphach2
IT want you to go with me to the
central door of the Printemps at four
o'clock this afternoon, and we will
watch Lancry's shop across the way
the baron replied.
The Writer of the Letters.
This we did, and from four till six
o'clock we stood, amid the hustle OF
foot passengers, watching the small
stationer's on the opposite side of the
boulevard, yet without result.
Next day and the next I accompa.
MED the prosperous cinema proprietor
upon his daily vigil, but in vain, until
his reluctance to tell me the reason
why I had been sent to Paris annoyed
me considerably.
On the fifth afternoon, just before
five o'clock, while we were strolline
together, the baron's eyes being fixed
upon the door Of the small single.
fronted shop, I saw him start, and
then make p%retence of Indifference.
"Look" he whispered.
/ glanced across and saw a young
man just about to enter the shop.
The figure was unfamiliar, but
catching sight Of his face, / held my
breath. I had seen that sallow, deep.
eyed countenance before.
1t was the young man who had sal
eating his luncheon alone at the Espla'
made, apparently fascinated by the
beauty of Elise B~reitenbach.
WELL" exclaimed the baron. 81 see
you recognize him-eh? He is prob
ably going to buy more paper for his
scurrilous screeds."
eyes. But who is he?" I asked. II
have seen him before, but have nc
exact knowledge of him."
The baron did not reply until we
were back again In his house al
Neuilly. Then he said:
"That young man, the author of the
outrageous insults to his majesty, Is
known as Franz Seeliger, but he is the
disgraced, ne'er-do-well Sol of General
| Won Trautmann, captain general of the
| palace guard"
"The son Of old Won Trautmann 7"
| gasped. 'Does the father known"
The baron grinned and shrugged his
shoulders.
Then, after I had related to him the
incident of the Esplanade, he said:
"That is of greatest interest. Will
you return to Berlin and report to the
emperor what you have seen herei
His majesty has given me that instruc-
ton"
The baron told me of his long weeks
of patient inquiry and careful watch
ing of how the young fellow had been
followed to Anglers and other towns
in France where the letters were post
ed, and of his frequent visits to Berlin.
He had entered a crack regiment, but
had been dismissed the army for forg-
cry and undergone two years. impris-
Onment. Afterwards he had fallen in
with a gang of clever international
hotel thieves, and become what is
known as a rat d'hotel. Now, because
of a personal grievance against the
emperor, who had ordered his prose-
| %cution, he seemed to have by some
secret means ferreted out every bit of
scandal at Potsdam, exaggerated it, in