Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-08-03

Krahl-one of the party discovered,
lying upon the ledge of the window,
lady's small and rather elegant hand
bag of black mOire silk.
''Halloa !" I cried, when he held it
up for inspection. ''This reveals to US
one fact-a woman has been here"
I opened the bag, and within found
a small lawn handkerchief with coro-
net embroidered in it's corner, a tiny
tortoise-shell mirror and four one-hun-
dred-mark notes, but no clue whatever
as to it's owner.
The mystery was increasing hourly,
but the gay party, knowing "Willie's"
susceptibility where the fair sex was
concerned, only laughed and declared
that his highness would assuredly turn
up before the evening was over.
Truth to tell, 1 did not like the situa-
ton. His highness' disappearance was
now known to fifty or so persons,
beaters and others, and 1 feared lest
it might get into the Berlin papers.
With that object called them together
and impressed upon them that most
complete silence must be maintained
regarding the affair.
Then Knof drove me alone back to
the SchlOSs. / wondered if his high
ness, wishing to get away unobserved,
returning in secret there, had left me
a written message in his room. He
had done that on one occasion before.
dashed up to the small, old-world
room which by day overlooked the ro-
mantle and picturesque valley, but
upon the table whereat 1 had been
writing early that morning there was
nothing.
The Countess Won kienitz.
AS turned to leave heard foot
step, and next instant saw the little
deformed old countess facing me.
Her appearance quite startled me.
Apparently she had just arrived, for
she was in a dark blue bonnet and
warm travelling coat.
"Ah! Count Won Heitzendorff !" she
cried in that squeaky, high-pitched
voice of hers. SIS his imperial high
ness here? I must see him Immediate
ly."
mo, countess. His imperial high.
ness is not here" was my reply. "This
afternoon he mysteriously disappeared
from the forester's lodge at Neue
Schenke, and we are unable to trace
him."
Disappeared! !" gasped the old lady
instantly pale and agitated.
"Yes," said, looking her straight ir
the face.
do you know whether he had Wis
itor today-a young, dark-haired
man?"
"He had, countess. A man called
and saw him. At his highness' request
l left him alone with his visitor at the
forester's house. The mans name wa:
Karl Krahl."
How do you know his name?'' sht
asked, staring at me with an expires
sion of distinct suspicion.
"Because-wen, because 1 happel
to have learnt it some time ago."
said. "And, further, on returning II
the house we found this little bag il
the room wherein had left the crow
prince"
"Why Ia lady's bag!" she ex
claimed as 1 held 1t out for inspection
"Yes," said in q somewhat har,
tone. do you happen to recogniz
itY
"Me? Why?" asked the old woman
swell, because think it is your owl
property" said. II have some recol
lection of having seen it in you
hand"
She took it, examined it well an
then, with an artificial laugh, declared
'It certainly is not mine. 1 ono
had bag very similar, but mine wa
not of such good quality"
"Are you really quite certain, coun
ess" / demanded.
"Quite," she declared. "But VIII
trouble about that bag while there is
point much more important-the safet
and whereabouts of his imperial higf
ness?" she went on in great state 9
/ agitation. 'Tell me, count, exactl
: what occurred-as far as. you know
, 1 recounted to her the facts Just q
: they have already been written dow
and as did so I watched her face, NJ
ticing upon it an expression full of SUI
piciOn of myself. She was, it SCENE
/ to me, undecided as to the exact exter
Of my knowledge.
"How did you know that the youn
t mans name was Krahl?" she aske,
4 eagerly. you had perhaps met hi
= befOre-eh?"
e The Search.
To this leading question 1 maintaine
f a sphinxlike silence. That the littl
: old woman who had so unexpected
e become a lady-in-waiting was playin
S some desperate double game l fe
a sure. but it's exact import was still q
:, enigma.
''In any case," she said, "would
t not be as well to return to the Net
: Schenke and make scarcely
Il