The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-11-21

| own odicers, indeed.
60 through the pockets" he or
dered sternly,
Came into view under the lash q
pair Of gloves, . box Of matches, q silk
handkerchief, q card case. The agent
said nothing, but passed q card to the
chancellor, who read It without COM
ment.
There was silence In the car.
At last the chancellor stirred. This
man-he took your car oar
Yes. And he has not returned. No
other machine has passed"
The secret service men exchanged
giances. Thsfe was more to this than
appeared. Somswhers ahead, then.
was Milky LArisch, with q motor that
did not belong 10 him, and wearing
clothing which his victim described a.
q chauffeur's coat Of leather, breeches
a4d puttees, and Q fur Greatcoat over
III.
"Had the snow commenced when
this happenedr'
"Not then. sir. Shortly after"
"Go out with the driver" the
chancellor ordered one Of his men.
"and watch the road for the tracks of
another car. Go slowly." '-
So 1t was that, after an hour or -.
they picked. up Nikky's trail, now
twenty-four hours old but still clear.
and followed 1t. The chancellor was
awake enough BY this time, and bend
ing forward. When at last tbs trail
turned from the highway toward the
shooting box at Wedding. AsttlicA fell
back with something between q curse
and . groan. lL
'-The foolI" he m9ttersd. The
young feoli Il was Madness"
At last they drew up ut an Inn In
the village on the royal preserve, and
the chancellor. looking rather gray.
alighted. He directed that the man
they had reecued be brought In. The
chancellor was not for losing him Just
yet. He took . room for him at the
inn, and rather .cavallerly locked him
in It
Tie chancellor sipped hot milk and
considered. Milky Larisch Q prisoner
In Kari's hands caused him less
anxiety than 1t would have . month
/ OU4OG9s AoVb WAAAS wA0 O0AAAA4S4 A. ~
At . little before nvs the man out
side the prisoners door heard some
thing inside the room. He glanced in
All was quiet The prisoner slept
heavily, genuine sleep. Thsrs was n
installing II the sleep Of man warn
aftsf long cold and sxhAuDttoA, WeaFy
amer violent effort. The agent went
cut again. and locked th9 door behind
him.
And ~ the door closed. . trap doos
from tho Kitchen below opened softly
under the sleeping mans bed. With
great caution came the landlord. lead
00G then shoulderA 1he space was
cFampsd. He crawlsd up, Ike q snake
out Of hols, and ducked behind the
curtains Of the bed. An was still quiet.
save that the man outside struck Q
match and lighted pipe.
Halt an hour later, the chancellors
prisoner. still stiR and weak, was max
ing his way toward the hunting lodge.
Kaiser saw him first, and found the
story unenlishtsning. Nor could Karl.
reused by . terrified valet, make much
more Of It When the man had gone,
Karl lay back among his pillows and
eyed his agent.
$50 Mettlich II here r. he said. "a
hasty journey. They must be eager"
'They must be in trouble" Kaiser
observed dryly. And on that uncom-
plimentary comment King Kari slept.
his face drawn into a weary smile.
But he received the chancellor Of
Lvonia cordially the next morning, 60
ing himself to the lodge doorstep to
meet his visitor, and there shaking
hands with him.
II am greatly honored. excellency.s
he said. with his twisted srrile.
"And !, SIRE"
But the chancellor watched him
from under his shaggy brows. The
messenger had escaped. BY now Karl
knew the story, knew of his midnight
ride over the mountains, and the haste
1t indicated.
Karl himself led the way to his
study, ignoring the chamberlain, and
stood aside to let Aettlich enter.
Then he followed and closed the door.
1T II . long time since you have
honored Karnia with VISIT" Karl OBJ
served. l"Win you sit DOWN.
Kari himself did not sit. He stood
negligently beside the mantel, an arm
stretched along It.
mot since the battle Of the Ar,
Sire" replied the chancellor dryiy. He
had headed an army of invasion then.
Karl smiled. II hope that now your
errand is more peaceful"
For answer the chancellor opened q
portfolio he carried, and fumbled
among its papers. But, having found
the right one. he held 1t without open
ing It. Before We come to that. sire.
you have here, believe. detained for
some strange reason, Captain Lar
isch, aide-de-camp"-he paused for eff