Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-15
THE MAN WITH THE CLUB FOOT
By VALENTINE WILLIAMS
By VALENTINE WILLIAMS

eral. with the result that. when the veins
starting purple from his temples proclaimed
that he had eaten to repletion. his temper
seemed to have improved. He unbent sutti-
ciently to present me with quite the worst
cigar ! have ever smoked.
smoked it in silence while father and
son talked shop The female had faded
away. Both men, I found to my surprise.
were furious and bitter opponents CT Hin
denburg as | have since learned most of
the old school of the Prussian army are.
They spoke little of England their thoughts
seemed to be centered on Russia the
arch-enemy. They pinned their faith on Fall
kenhayn and MaCkensen. They had no
words strong enough in their denunciation
of IIndCnburg whom they always referred
to- as the Drunkard" . der Saufer."
Nor We're they sparing Of criticism of what
they called the kaiscr's weakness" in let
ting him rise to power.
The humming of car outside broke up
cur gathering. Remembering that was but
a humble servant before this great military
luminary, l thanked the General with due
servility for his hospitality. Then the Count
and | went out to the and presently
drove forth into the night
We entered Berlin from the west as it
seemed to me- but then struck off in
southerly direction and We're soon in the
commercial quarter Of the city, all but de-
serted at that hour, save for the trains Then
| caught a glimpse of lamps reflected in
water and the next moment the car had
stopped bridge over a canal or river.
My companion SDrang out and hurried me
to a small gate in an iron railing inclOsing
a vast edifce looming black in the night
while the car moved off into the darkness.
The gate was open. Half a dozen yards
from it was small, slender tower with a
pointed roof jutting out from the corner of
the building. In the tower was a door which
yielded easily to my companions vigorous,
=, OIL,
ing beat double StrOke-half- ten
The door led into a little vestibule bril-
liantly lit with electric light There a man
was waiting, a fine, outstanding bearded fcl-
low in a kind of green hunting costume
49, Payer" said the young Uhlan, Here
Is the gentleman. I shall be at the west en-
trance afterward. You will bring him down
yourself to the car"
'Jawohl, Herr Craf!' answered the man
in green, and the lieutenant vanished through
the door into the night
A terrifying. incred ble suspicion that
had overwhelmed me directly l stepped out
of the car now came surgng through my
brain. That vest, black editice that slender
tower at the corner-dd l not know them?
Mechanically followed the man in green
NY suspicious deepened with every stcp In
q little, they became certainty. Up shall
low and winding STAIR along a long broad
shed parquet glistening family in the dim
light, through splendid suites of gilded apart
ments with old pictures and splendid furni-
tire here a laCkey with powdered hair
yawning on a landing there a sentry in field
gray immobile before a door 7 was
| in the Berlin Schloss.
The castle seemed to sleep hushed al,
| lence lay over all Everywhere lights weree
| dim, staircases wound down into emptiness
corridors stretched away into dusky solitude.
| Now and then an attendant in evening dress
tiptoed past us or officer vanished round
| corner, noiselessly save for a faint clnlL
| of spurs.
| Thus we traverSed. as it seemed to me
miles OF silence and of twilight, and all the
| time my blood hammered at my temples and
my throat grew dry as I thought of the
ordeal that stood before me. To whom wa .
l thus hidden, secretly. in the night?
We were in broad and pleasant passage
| now, paneled in cheerful light brown oal,
with red hangings. After the desolation Of
the state apartments. this comfortable cor
| ridor mad at least the appearance of leading
| to the habitation of man. A giant trooper
| n tteld-gray with a curious silver gorget
| suspended round his neck by a chain paced
| up and down the passage, his jackboots maxi
| ing no sound upon the soft thick carpet with
| which the floor was covered
The man in green stopped at the door,
| Holding up warning hand to me, he bent his
| head and listened There was a moment of
| absolute silence. Not sound was to be
| heard in the whole castle. Then the man
in green knocked and was admitted leaving
| me outside.
| A moment later, the door swung omen
| again. tall elegant man with gray hair
| and that indefinite air of good breeding that
| you find in every man who has spent a life
| at court came out hurried!y. He looked pale
| and harassed
| on seeing me, he stopped short
| "Doctor Grundt? Where is Doctor Grundt ?"
1 had Il t..
| He started and raised them to my face.
The trooper had drifted out of earshot
could see him, immoble as a statue, stand
| ing at the end of the corridor. Except for
him and us. the passage was deserted.
Again the elderly MAI spoke and his voice
betrayed his anxiety
lTo BE CONTINUED TOMORROW