The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-05-15

fort"
"Then," asked one Of the agents
"these are not your clothes?"
"They are his, SIR"
The agent produced flash light and
inspected the garments. Before thu
chancellOr's eyes button by button
strap on the sleeve. star on the cuff
came into view the uniform of cap
tain of his own regiment, the grena-
ders. Then one of his own men had
done this infamous thing, one of his
own officers, indeed.
go through the pockets" he or
dcred sternly.
Came into view under the flash a
pair of gloves, box of matches, silk
handkerchief, a card case. The agent
said nothing, but passed a card to the
chancellor, who read it without COM
ment.
There was silence in the car.
At last the chancellor stirred. "This
mamie took your car onT
"Yes. And he has not returned. No
other machine has passed"
The secret service men exchanged
glances. There was more to this than
appeared. Somewhere ahead, then,
was Milky Larisch, with a motor that
did not belong to him, and wearing
clothing which his victim described as
a chauffeur's coat of leather, breeches
and puttees, and a fur greatcoat over
all.
| urIal .ho .,ou, oop,pannad uhan
this happened?"
Not then, sir. Shortly after"
$50 out with the driver" the
chancellor ordered one of his men,
"and watch the road for the tracks of
another car. Go slowly"
SO it was that, after an hour or so,
they picked up Nikky's trail, now
twenty-four hours old but still clear,
and followed it. The chancellor was
awake enough by this time, and bend
! ing forward. When ut last the trail
turned from the highway toward the
shooting box at Wedding, Mettlich fell
back with something between a curse
and a groan.
"The foolw he muttered. "The
young fool 1t was madness"
AT last they drew up at an inn in
the village on the royal preserve, and
the chancellor, looking rather gray,
alighted. He directed that the man
they had rescued be brought in. The
chancellor was not for losing him just
yet. He took room for him at the
a., lonlya1 him
in it.
The chancellor slipped hot milk and
considered. Milky Larisch a prisoner
in Karls hands caused him less
anxiety than it would have a month
before. But what was behind it all?
At little before five 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. There was no
installing it, the sleep of a man warm
after long cold and exhaustion, weary
after violent effort. The agent went
out again, and locked the door behind
him.
And as the door closed, trap door
from the kitchen below opened softly
under the sleeping mans bed. With
great caution came the landlord, head
first, then shoulders. The space was
cramped. He crawled up, like snake
out of hole, and ducked behind the
curtains of the bed. All was still quiet,
save that the man outside struck
op1 IiobtaJ o nina
Half an hour later, the chancellOr's
prisoner, still stiff and weak, was max
ing his way toward the hunting lodge.
Kaiser saw him first, and found the
story unenlightening. 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 Is here!" he said. "a
hasty journey. They must be eager"
"They must be In trouble" Kaiser |
observed dryly. And on that uncom-
plimentary comment King Karl slept, |
his face drawn into weary smile.
But he received the chancellor of
AT'''hi" wi uiuis the HtAt lllOTnllS, go /
ing himself to the lodge doorstep to
meet his visitor, and there shaking
hands with him.
u am greatly honored, excellency,"
he said, with his twisted smile.
sand |, 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
It indicated.
Karl himself led the way to his
study, ignoring the chamberlain, and
stood aside to let Mettlich enter.
Then he followed and closed the door.
ut Is long time since you have
lonored Karnla with a visit" Karl OBJ
served. "Will you sit down"
Karl himself did not sit. He stood
legllgently beside the mantel, an arm