The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-07

| OOSSSSSSSSSeSSSA
got back to Ekersund; hence the SEN
sationaI report which appeared in the
! Globe in London, a report which, OF
| course, was promptly denied by the
Wolff bureau.
Three days later we were winding
our way in the smooth water between
the island of Smolen and the Hatlerns,
that rocky archipelago a little north of
| Christiansund The emperor. whom
his royal spouse regarded with great
est concern, seemed to have recovered.
1 had had a most strenuous time, for
his majesty had dictated all sorts of
wild dispatches and made all sorts
of extraordinary dismissals of high Of
ficials, together with the most amazing
| appointments.
| Beneath his eye I had been COM
PEELED to seal up the papers in the
/ heavy leather dispatch bag, and they
had been landed with the imperial
courier, one Natzmer, at the little fish
ing village of FOsnaes, at the entrance
to the Folden ford.
| Another matter which greatly per-
| turbed me was the fact that my as
sistant, the personal adjutant, young
Rudolph Won Lantzsch, had, while
listening to the kaiser's astounding
sermon, exclaimed in his Amusement,
and loud enough for all TO hear:
THAT man is no emperor; he is
crazyr
The kaiser had heard him, and had
turned his eyes towards him for an in
slant without pausing. But well did I
know the fierce imperial vindictive-
ness.
In desperation I sought the en-
press in her pale-blue-and-gold salon.
l found her seated alone. 1 referred
to the unfortunate events, and begged
her to allow me TO use the wireless
and sign an imperial order in her au-
gust name.
1 could see that the poor lady was
greatly upset and extremely nervous.
'It is all most unfortunate. Count
Won HeItzendorff," she said. 81 only
hope that we may be able to prevent
the people from hearing of his majes-
tvs actions. 1t was truly regrettable
that Captain Won Lantzsch should have
made that very untimely remark. The
emperor is absolutely furious regard
ing it,
every naturally" I said. 'Lantzsch
showed a great want of tact. But, your
majesty" I went on, 81 am more per-
turbed regarding the contents of the
dispatch bag now on its way to Ber-
lin. Natzmer is now travelling by road
to Trondhjem, where he is due at noon
tomorrow. Thence by rail he will go
| Nv DO
stroyer awaiting him to Hamburg. He
will be in Berlin on Thursday"
81 agree. The bag should be
stopped" said the empress. ''Yet ]
fear what the emperor may think if ]
assume his authority. Cannot you eff
feet it by any other means?'
Stopping the Dispatch Bag.
1 revealed to her some of the dis
! missals. There were insulting notes
, addressed TO the imperial chancellor
and also to the crown prince, and an
, open declaration of war to the French
: ambassador in Berlin.
Her majesty, in her gray silk gown
sat there, pale and nervous. Somebody
> tapped at the door, but she replied
81 am engaged. Come later"
: 'T will endeavor to do my best"
went on, providing that your majesty
will support me-"
81 certainly will. These dispatches
, must be stopped at all hazards" she
, said. Cannot yoa yourself land and
: overtake the courierY
! It was a wild suggestion. Natzmel
8 had gone off in the steam pinnace ar
hour before, and the boat, returning
4 had already been hauled up. I could
: not step ashore for at least couple
: of hours, and then at some point Oh
+ that rugged coast where I might be-
Y compelled to drive by some circuitou:
rout by carriole down to Trondhjem
Further, the emperor would miss me
4 and would consequently suspect.
In a few brief sentences I pointed
d all this out to the empress.
q "Try-do try-for our EMPIRE
o sake" she urged. 81 viii assist vol
+ with all my efforts You must arriv,
at the imperial chanceIlery prior Il
!. those dispatches. The emperor is no
d himself. Count Won Heltzendorf, yol
e are a trusted servant OF our house
o Into your hands I place the solution
u of this most difficult problem"
e "WiI not your majesty allow me {
is wire in your name to our legation Il
Christiania to recall the courier7"
n suggested. al viii send a wireless mes
r sage which the minister, Won PetscL
lie will receive within q couple OF hours
r and watch VIII then be kept for hi
arrival by train To overtake hin
D. now is, feel sure, impossible
let For the next few seconds the kais
&c erin was undecided To reverse tn
OF orders Of her imperial husband wa
ae almost more than she dared In he