Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1918-01-24
CHAPTER xxx.-(continued).

chard, at last. "The Germans are
no doubt already on their guard"
Delcasse smote his forehead
with his open palm.
"That is it!' he cried. "Lepine,
that is the explanation! 1t is not
for war they prepare; it is in ter
ror they withdrew their fleets into
mid ocean and throw cordons of
soldiers about their forts! At this
moment, in spite of their bold
front, the emperor and his minis
teys are trembling! For Of course
they know that Pachmann failed
and that we succeeded,!"
Undoubtedly" Crochard
agreed. "Pachmann would notify
the emperor of his failure as soon
Is he regained consciousness!"
Net a pleasant task" chuckled
Deleasse. "He has my pity. What
happened to the prince3"
THE prince was released next
morning"
You have friends, then, in New
York; asked Lepine, curiously.
II have friends everywhere"
answered Crochard quietly.
when I think Of the kaiser
tremblingI' cried Delcasse. "Ah,
what anguish must be his! / have
tasted it, and / know!"
GY0chard took from his coat a
long pocket book.
This belonged to Admiral
Pachmann," he said. 1T paused
long enough to secure it, because
1t contained a document which I
was most anxious to possess. 1t
will interest you, SIR" and he
drew out a black sealed envelope
and passed it to Delcasse.
The latter opened it, took out
the stiff sheet of paper he found
within, read it, re-read it, and then
stared at Crochard stupefied.
That is what one might call an
imperial power of attorney" said
Grochard, with a little laugh. cit
Is sufficiently comprehensive, is it
not1'
1T is unbelievable - cried Del
casse, and handed the paper to Lee
pine. "And this was really given
by the emperor to Pachmann?"
II e no reason to doubt Il.
Though" Crochard added, with a
smile, II am of the opinion that
Pachmann put it to uses and went
to lengths which the emperor did
not contemplate-perhaps would
have forbidden"
Delcasse's eyes were glowing
with an internal joy.
THAT does not matter" he
said. THAT was because his hand
wasforced. It is the emperor who
IS responsible-it is a risk he took.
1f he chose his instrument badly,
# is he who must suffer. for it.
You permit me to retain this
paperf"
Certainly. Use it as you think
best for Francel"
Delcasse was out of his chair,
striding upands down the room.
$50 the wheel has turned!', he
cried. "You may not remember
~ M. Crochard-to you it may
have seemed small thing-but
six years ago, the emperor caused
me to be driven from the foreign
office because I did and said Ger
tain things which displeased him.
Such was his power even here in
Parisl You will scarcely credit it,
but so it was. And now it is my
turn! With this in my hand, all
things are possible! He must have
been mad to put his hand to such
q paper--but, after all, it does not
sastonishs me. He is always doing
mad things he has no balance, no
self control. Ten years ago, with
an imprudent telegram, he almost
plunged his country into war with
srk ENE ,f-N-
England-and at a moment, too,
when it was wholly unprcpared!
Two years ago, q wild speech of
his brought Germany to the brink
yof revolution. Last year, he near
" upset his empire by an indis-
Greet interview which was sup
pressed just: IA time, He is always
'i6Sh0t water, but heretofore his
\ rood fortnne has been amazing.
HeshasalwsW succeed in extricat-
inghimself. This time, it seems,
"a has tempted the gods once too
often-&he game ID il our hands.
ur nltimatum I will prepare to-
dy,andI will invite to my office
hesGerlnan ambassador, and / will
hind him that ultimatnm, and ]
Nill ~ certain things TO him
ybieh I've been biting at my
4orSuteeraance, and then
sIEiII SIIiiSvlee him Z glimpse Of this doc
NExIE&fM SHsET - sS%EcsSS &c. sr~ .TeSr : = ! III