Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-14

W OulCer0y lnOeeO
"Go through the pockets" he or.
dered sternIy.
Came into view under the flash q
pair Of gloves, a box Of matches, a silk
handkerchief. a card case. The agent
said nothing, but passed q card to the
chancellor, who read 1t without CON-
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 q fur greatcoat over
all.
"Had the snow commenced when
this happened?"
"Not then, sir. Shortly after"
"G0 out with the driver" the
chancellor ordered one Of his men,
land watch the road for the tracks Of
another car. Go slowly"
So 1t was that, after an hour or so,
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 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 fooll 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 O room for him at the
inn, and rather cavalierly locked him
in 1t.
The chancellor slipped hot milk and
considered. Milky Larlsch q prisoner
in Karl's hands caused him less
anxiety than 1t would have a month
before. But what was behind 1t all?
At a little before five the man out.
side the prisoners door heard some
thing inside the room. He glanced 10.
All was quiet. The prisoner slept
heavily, genuine sleep. There was no
installing 1t, the sleep Of q 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, q 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 a snake
out Of a hole, and ducked behind the
curtains Of the bed. All was still quiet,
save that the man outside struck q
match and lighted q pipe.
Half an hour later, the chancellor's
prisoner, still stir 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 a terrified valet, make much
more Of 1t. When the man had gone.
Karl lay back among his pillows and
eyed his agent.
$50 Mettllch Is herel" he soid. "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 a weary smile.
But he received the chancellor Of
Livonia cordially the next morning, 60
Ing himself to the lodge doorstep to
meet his visitor, and there shaking
hands with him.
4 am greatly honored, excellency,s
he said, with his twisted smile.
"And /, sire"
Eut y 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 bis
study, ignoring the chamberlain, and
stood aside to. let Mettlich enter.
Then he followed and closed the door.
1T 10 q long time since you have
honored Karnia with a VISIT" Karl oh.
served. "lNill you sit DOWN."
Karl himself did not sit. He stood
n~egligently beside the mantel, an arm
stretched along It.
"Not since the battle Of the Ar,
Sire" replied the chancellor dryly. He
had headed an army Of invasion then.
Karl smiled. II hope that now your
errand IL more peaceful"
For answer the chancellor opened a
portfolio no carried, and fumbled
among Its papers. But, having found
the right one, he held It without open.
Ing 1t. Before we come to that, sire.
YOU have here. I believe, detained for
some strange reason, q Captain Lar.
isch, alde-de.camp"-he paused for ef.
fect-'to bis royal hlghness, the crown
prince Of Livonia."
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