The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-14

DeriaI communication officers tore
open the envelopes eagerly expecting
high appointments; the admiral Of the
grand fleet believed that war had been
declared; and Insignificant foreign d.
pIOmats were under the impression
that the emperor had at last deigned
TO notice them.
The whole thing was a 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 1T
for week.
A Message to the Emperor.
One afternoon when we were back
again at the palace at POtsdam the
emperor was explaining to me GER
tain order he wished carried out Pres
emily one of the flunkeyS entered with
q private note for his majesty. The
emperor read it, and instantly 1 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
1 could not guess, because ne 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 1 picked up
the bIackened finder. and examined 1t,
but it was so charred that could not
read any word, though from the two
or three marks of the pen I realized
that it had been written by the hand
of a woman.
An hour later I learned that the en-
peror had left Potsdam. He had by
receipt of that letter evidently become
seriously perturbed.
called the turnkey who had handed
him the misSive and questioned him.
He had received 1T from another serV-
ant who had received it from someone
else, until at last 1 discovered that it
had been handed by young girl to
one of the sentries on duty outside the
palace, who in due course had sent 1t
in to his majesty.
While passing along one of the cor
ridors that evening I 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 happened? The emperor
has left incognito and all of a sudden.
The state ball tomorrow night has been
cancelled"
Cancelled =" I echoed. where has
the emperor gone?'
Nobody knOws-except Herman,
his personal valet, whom he has taken
with him.
Curious" I remarked. thinking Of
the letter, though, of course, 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 I have just sent
him q telegram to postpone his jour
ney."
''But his majesty had two important
engagements tomorrow, and, in add
ton, military parade in Berlin"
said.
"AIl Is Cancelled, my dear Won Helt-
zendorff,'' replied the old fellow. ''The
| emperor has left for a destination I'M
known. I suppose I had better report
lor?'' he added.
mo, if I were you would say moth
ing" 1 replied "For some private rea
son his majesty has evidently beer
forced to go on a journey. Without
doubt 1 shall hear from him tomorrow
AS soon as do so will tell you"
A Telephone Message From "Herr
ZeIIer."
Nv expectation was realized, for thu
/ next day just after six o'clock in tn
evening received a telegram dispatch
ed from HARLEM, in Holland. ordering
me to go to the Adlon hotel, in Berlin
\ at once and register there. The con
Guiding words Of the message, sent il
English, we're: You will receive
telephone call at 10 80 tonight"
7 | was signed ''Zeller," one of the name
f used by the emperor when he travels
incognito.
: 1 ordered the car and drove into Ber
= lin, taking with me a small bag, an
engaged a room in Herr Adlon's hote
in which was telephone.
|. Soon after ten o'clock I told tn
: telephone operator that if anyone ran
t me up should be in my room.
n Half-past ten came, and then slowl
q the hands of the clock passed round t
It eleven, and past.
l. Suddenly there was a sharp ring
and I took up the receiver.
8 A strange voice sounding far ava
s asked for me, and replied in the a
firmative.
l Then in few seconds another voiC
20 which instantly recognized as til
re CONGRATULATED in English
J. as that you, Won Heltzendorff?'' an
u having received my reply, he said
y am Zeller, speaking from the Hot
1es Indies. at The Hague. Win yo
Dc tell madame am here2 Instru
L Klupfel to cancel all my engagement
ID for the next fortnight, and tOmorro
night come here and bring any pape
u that I have to attend to. 1t would |