The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-07-12

grand fleet believed that war had been
| declared; and insignificant foreign di-
plOmats were under the impression
that the emperor had at last deigned
to notice them.
The whole thing was huge joke in
vented by the kaiser on the castle ter
race, and the court and the imperial
family were in fits of laughter over it
for a week.
A Message to the Emperor.
One afternoon when we were back
again at the palace at POtsdam the
emperor was explaining to me a GER
tain order he wished carried out. Pres
emily one of the flunkeys entered with
a private note for his majesty. The
emperor read it, and instantly l saw
that his cOuntenance grew pale and
his manner changed.
He read it again, and then re-read
it, his lips compressed, his eyebrows
narrowed, and his cheeks unduly pale
Afterwards he struck a match and
burned the letter in the CRATE.
That missive no doubt contained
some grave news, the nature Of which
could not guess, because he suddenly
abandoned his work, and, telling me to
meet him in the study at eight O'Clock
that evening, he strobe out.
When he had gone out l picked up
the blackened finder and examined it,
but it was so charred that l could not
read any word, though from the two
or three marks of the pen | realized
that it had been written by the hand
of a woman.
An hour later / learned that the en-
perOr had left Potsdam. He had by
receipt of that letter evidently become
seriously perturbed.
called the flunkey who had handed
him the missive and questioned him.
He had received it from another serv-
ant who had received it from someone
else, until at last l discovered that it
had been handed by a young girl to
one of the sentries on duty outside the
palace, who in due course had sent it
in to his majesty.
While passing along one of the cor
ridors that evening l met bald-headed
old Won Klupfel who was at that time
grand chamberlain, and he beckOned
me into his cozy room. Then, when the
door was closed, he asked
What has happenedt The emperor
has left incognitO and all of sudden.
The state ball tomorrow night has been
cancelled"
"Cancelled" l echoed. "Where has
the emperor gone"
Nobody knOwS-except Herman,
his personal valet, whom he has taken
with him"
Curious" l remarked, thinking of
the letter, though, of course, l told Won
Klupfel nothing of it. Whatever tran
spired within his majesty's study was
always regarded as a strict secret.
More than one serious family quarrel
had occurred there in my presence.
"Well, something serious has GER
tainly occurred. That is my belief"
declared the old chamberlain. "'Uncle'
Zeppelin was coming to the palace to-
morrow on a visit, and have just sent
him a telegram to postpone his jour
ney"
"But his majesty had two important
engagements tomorrow, and, in addi-
ton, a military parade in Berlin" l
said.
"All is Cancelled, my dear Won Helt-
zendorff," replied the old fellow. "The
emperor has left for destination I'M
known. l suppose l had better report
| his absence to the imperial chancel-
lOr?" he added.
mo, if were you I would say moth
ing" 1 replied. "For some private rea-
son his majesty has evidently been
forced to go on a journey. Without
doubt l shall hear from him tomorrow.
As soon as l do so l will tell you"
A Telephone Message From "Herr
Zeller."
My expectation was realized, for the
next day just after six o'clock in the
evening l received a telegram dispatch
ed from Harlem, in Holland, ordering
me to 90 to the Adlon hotel, in Berlin,
/ at once and register there. The con
Guiding words of the message, sent in
| English, were: you will receive a
telephone call at 1920 tonight" 1t
was signed "Zeller," one of the names
used by the emperor when he travelled
] incOgnito.
! l ordered the car and drove into Ber-
lin, taking with me a small bag, and
engaged a room in Herr Adlon's hotel,
in which was telephone.
Soon after ten O'Clock l told the
telephone operator that if anyone rang
me up l should be in my room.
Half-past ten came, and then slowly
the hands of the clock passed round to
eleven, and past.
Suddenly there was sharp ring,
and | took up the receiver.
A strange voice sounding far away
asked for me, and l replied in the af-
firmative.
Then in a few seconds another voice
which l instantly recognized as the
emperor in English
as that you, Won Hetzendorff?" and
having received my reply, he said: 81
am Zeller, speaking from the Hotel
des hides, at The Hague viii you
tell madame ! am here? Instruct