The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-11-21

two reasons. First, the chancellor was
afraid Of motors. He had q horsesnan's
hatred, and fear Of machines. Second.
he was not Of . mind to rouse King
Karl from q nights sleep, even to bring
the hand Of the Princess Hedwig. his
intention was to put up at some nm
In village not far from the lodge and
to reach Karl BY messenger early In
the morning, before the hunters left
for the day.
Then, all being prepared duly and In
order. Nettiich himself would arrive.
and things would 20 forward With
dignity and dispatch.
The valley Of the Ar despensd. The
cliff rose above them, Q wall broksa
here and there BY ths ofltake Of mar
row ravines, dllsd with forest trees.
There was pause while the chains
ON the rear wheels wsFs supplemented
By others In front, fer there must be
NO danger Of . skiA. And another
pause. whers tho road slantsd peril
oua1y toward the brink oe the chasm,
and caution dictated rat the chancel-
lor alight, and make hundred feet or
20 Of dangerous curve afoot.
Il required diplomacy 10 Get him out
But It WAS finally done. and his heavy
figure, dfaped in its military cape.
went on ahead, outlined BY the lamps
Of the car behind him. s.E
He was well around the curve, and
the cli6 was broken BY q wedge Of
timber, when q curiously shaped OBJ
ject projected itself over the edge Of
the hank. and rolling down, lay almost
at his feet. The lamps brought It into
sharp relief-a man, gagged and tied,
and rolled. cigar shaped, in an auto
mobile robe.
The chancellor turned, and called 10
his men. Then he bent over the bua-
die. Tho others ran up. and cut the
bonds. What with cold and long In
action. and his recent drop over the
bank, the man could not speak. One
Of the sscret service men had . flask.
and held It to his lips. An amazing
situation, indeed. increased BY the dis
covery that under the robe he wore
only his undergarments, with . col
dier's tunic wrapped around his shoul-
ders. They carried him into the car
where he lay with head lolling back,
and his swollen tongue protruding.
Half dead he was. with cold and long
anxiety. The brandy cleared lis mind
long before he could gpeak. and hs
saw BY the uniforms that he was In
tho hands Of the enemy. He turned
sullkily silent then. convinced that hs
had escaped ono death but to meet an
other. Twenty-fouf hours now hs had
faced eternity. and he was ready.
He preferred, however, TO die fully
clothed, and when, In response b his
pointing up the bank and b his In
articulate mouthings, one Of tAs secret
police examined the bit Of woodland
With his pocket fash, he found pair
Of trousers where Milky had left them.
neatly folded aad hung over the branch
Of q tree. The brandy being supple
mented BY hot coffee from . patent bot
tie, the man revived further. made an
effort. and eat up. His tongue was
still swollen. but they made out what
he said. He had been there sinee the
night before. He was Of Karnia, and
q kings messenger.
II was coming back from the bar.
rier," he said thickly. where had
carried dispatches to the omcer In
charge. On my return a man hailed
mo from the side Of the road, near
where you found me. thought that
he desired to be taken On, and stopped
my car. But he attached me. he was
armed and I was not. He knocked me
senseless, and when I awakened was