The Carlisle independent., 1917-08-09

1 with a flood of important state pa pers which courier had brought from Berlin two hours before. Papers followed us daily wherever We might l be.
 About midday Doctor VOllerthun was ushered in to me-a short, stout, gut | tural-speaking man of about sixty, rather bald. and wearing big, round, | gold-rimmed spectacles. 1 quickly handed him over to the majordomo.
 About three o'clock that same after noon light tap came at the door and I saw my hostess standing upon the l threshold.
 She was quietly but elegantly dressed, presenting the true type of the l smart Parisienne, but in an instant 1 realized that she was very pale and agitated. Indeed. her voice trembled when she asked permission to enter.
 Since her marriage I had many times chatted with her. for she often came to the palace when her husband visited Berlin. 1 had danced with her; had l taken her into dinner at various houses where we met, always finding her q bright and very intellectual compan- ion.
 1 She quietly closed the door and ad- vanced to the table from which l had | risen.
 | Count von Heltzendorff '" she ex- claimed in a low. strained voice. IT | have come to seek your aid because I T. I know that you are my husbands l friend" she exclaimed in French.
 And yours also, madam I said ear nestly.
 | 'My husband is out with the emper- or." she gaSped in Ii curious, unnerved tone. And I fear: oh. fear that we are in great peril-deadly peril, every hour-eyery moment.'
 Really. madame. I hardly follow you' l said.
 My husband. whom 1 love devoted 1 ly, has done his best in the interests of his emperor. You. count, know the real aims of the kaiser in Turkey. l These last six months I have watched. and have learned the truth l know | how, when the emperor went to Con- stantinople five months ago in pre- tence of friendship toward the sultan, with Professor Vambery as interpre- ter. he practically compelled Abdul | Hamid to give him, in return for cer- | tain financial advances those wonder | ful jewels which the Empress Cath erine, wife of Peter the Great, gave In secret to the grand viZier to secure the escape of the Russian army across 1 the Pruth. 1 know. too, how he laughed with my husband at the clever ness by which he is fooling the too trustful Turks. T."
 Pardon. madame" I said, interrupt | ing her. and speaking in French. but is il really wise to speak thus of the emperor? Your husband is. I fear. guilty of great indiscretion in mention | ing such matters"
 'I am his wife. count and he con- ceals little, if anything. from me-" I looked the pretty young woman straight in the face in fear and re- l gret.
 
 ger of the secret being betrayed to France.
 Madame" said. If I may be per mitted, I would urge that the emper- or's diplomacy neither concerns your husband. as an official. nor yourself. Ii is his own private affair. and should neither be discussed nor betrayed" T know" she said. That is just why 1 have ventured to coihe here to consult you, monsieur, You have been my good friend as well as my hus- l bands. and here today while the em- I peror is our guest beneath our roof, l feel that I am in greatest peril !''
 Why" I asked with considerable surprise.
 The emperor has already learned that 1 know the truth regarding his secret" was her slow reply. By what means his majesty discovered it, I. alas, know not. But I do know from confidential quarter that I have in- cured the emperor's gravest displeas- ure and hatred"
 Who is your informant?" I inquired | sternly, eager to further investigate the great intrigue.
 "A certain person who must be name- less"
 1 Have you spoken to anybody of the emperor's secret plans in Turkey, or of his possession of the Empress Cath erines jewels?"
 Il have not uttered word to sin gle soul except my husband. l swear it."
 1 Your husband was extremely indis- erect in revealing anything" declared again quite frankly.
 'I fully admit that. But what can I do? How shall act?" she asked in a low. tense voice. Advise me, io." | For some moments I remained si- lent. The situation was difficult. Well, madame" I replied after re- | 1v f,