The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-06-28


| ference, and the Crown Princess be-
haved very coldIy towards her moth
er-in-law. But old Count Zeppelin
appeared delighted at the Kaiserin's
coming. There was, 1 thought,
serious, restless eagerness in his man
ner; and when my mistress inquired
for the children, Won Zeppelin struck
in:
"Ah, your Majesty, you are just in
time to see something interesting! I've
brought the little ones game have
invented. Permit me to show it to
| pou!"
We adjourned to the big nursery,
and found the Crown Princes little
boys engrossed in an extraordinary
and ingenious toy. 1t was NINA
fture model of London in relief, with
st. Paul's, Buckingham Palace. and
other principal buildings duly shown.
Above it suspended from wires, were
tiny Zeppelins, from which, by pulling
a string little pellets to represent
Sbombs could be dropped. The boys
were attempting to manipulate the toy
airships so that the bombs" might
fall on the most important points.
A Brutal Ambition.
I must confess that the Kaiserin be-
trayed keen interest as she looked on;
and 1 noticed that old Won Zeppelin
was observing this also with mock
satisfaction. And when we had with
drawn from the nursery, the reason
for his anxiety to display the mechan-
ical model to the Kaiserin became
clear to me.
THAT may be a mere game, your
Majesty, but it can be made stern
reality-the bombing and destruction
of London!" he exclaimed, with his
steely blue eyes agleam. ut is my
supreme ambition to strike a mighty
blow for the Fatherland in that way
against our worst enemies! We have
the airships ready, the scheme pre-
pared, and only one things prevents
it's execution-the lack of the En-
perors assent. But now your Majesty
has seen a demonstration of how eff
fectively it might be accomplished, 1
shall hope that you may persuade
him. =
1.-The Kaiser is the best Judge in
such matters" the Empress retorted
icily. "And 1 should not presume to
attempt interference with his decis-
ion!"
With that my mistress cut our visit
short, leaving old Zeppelin wrathful
and crestfallen. For he altogether
over estimated her influence with the
Kaiser, and feared now that she would
hinder rather than forward his de-
sires.
AS we drove back to the Neues
Palais the Kaiserin was still frowning
and annoyed.
Zeppelin is clever but detestable
old man." she exclaimed. 81 admit
that there is some foundation for the
belief that Wilhelm dislikes him-he
always did. One cause for it lies in
the fact that years ago Won Zeppelin
had the presumption to fall in love
with Wilhelm's sister, now Princess
Frederick Charles of Hesse. Mar
guerite was young and foolish, and
perhaps encouraged him but Wilhelm
J was very angry, and quarrelled hotly
with the Count over it.
But, apart from all this, Beth
mann-Hollweg has strongly advised
Wilhelm against permitting the Zeppe-
Inns to attack London. He urges that
the British will Immediately build air
ships also, and take reprisals upon
Berlin-and Wilhelm does not care to
risk that"
A BIackguard Prince.
Meanwhile Prince Joachim's regi-
ment, the 14th Prussian Hussars, had
| or he
Western front-although of course, as
the Kaiser's son he had not himself
been in any actual danger. But as a
consequence he was appointed to the
Staff of Won Kissing, then Governor
General of Belgium, at Brussels. Here
Joachim's duties were even more
ornamental than at the front leaving
ample time upon his hands, and be-
fore long he was gambling as reck-
lessly as ever.
He had become involved with an
INSCRIPTIONS, Manipulating set, who
met nightly in a fiat off the Rue Roy
ale in Brussels-it seems probably
they were composed of those who
knew the Princes weakness, and laid
themselves out to trap, and fleece this
foolish young sprig of Royalty.
Night after night Joachim lost
heavily to them; his debts were
: mounting up terribly, and in despera-
ton he stopped to cheating. Perhaps
thiss had been expected and watched
: for at least, he was promptly chal-
: lenged, the proof of his trickery laid
bare, and there was violent scene.
The other gamblers confronted the
trimbling livid-faced Princeling with a
choice of either being openly denounc-
: and disgraced or of purchasing their
of his losses.
Joachim grasped at the latter alter
! native, and willingly signed promis-
sorry notes to that anount-no doubt
rejecting, with true Hohenzollern
cunning, that mere pronafses; to pay
3 cost nothing. But his willy creditors
evidently knew their mani and his
/, breed and followed up with a threat
that unless the whole debt was dis
z charged within a month they would
S dispose of his I o US to firm OF
$ no scruples in suing for payment.
Joachim was plunged in acute alarm
and despair. He dared not risk this
e nor apply to the Kaiser for money
e but at least he thought himself of q
dastardly scheme for securing it.
T His friend, Franz Weberhardt, had
+ quarrelled with the Prince over the
, gambling affair and had obtained q
g transfer to the Air Service under
:. Count Zeppelin, an old acquaintance