Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-19


above the road, among trees gave
myself up when the snow commenced.
Few pass this way. But heard your
car coming and made desperate ef-
fort"
"Then," asked one of the agents,
''these are not your clothes?"
"They are his, sir"
The agent produced fash light and
inspected the garments. Before the
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-
fdiers. Then one Of his own men had
done this infamous thing, one Of his
own officers, indeed.
go through the pockets" be or
dered sternly.
Came into view under the flash a
pair Of gloves, box of matches, silk
handkerchief, card case. The agent
said nothing, but passed card to the
chancellor, who read it without COM
ment.
There was silence In the car.
4 At last the chancellor stirred 1This
mamie took your car onf"
! eyes. 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 motor that
did not belong to him, and wearing
clothing which his victim described as
a chauffeur's coat Of leather, breaches
and puttees, and fur greatcoat over
all.
Had the snow commenced when
! this happenedT'
.'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 1t was that, after an hour or SO,
they picked up Nikky's trail, now
ltwenty-four hours old but still clear,
and followed ii. 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 curse
anu a groan.
| "The fool!' 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
inn, and rather cavalierly locked him
In it..
The chancellor slipped hot milk and
considered. Milky Larisch prisoner
in Karls hands caused him less
anxiety than it would have month
before. But what was behind it all?
At a 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 man warm
after long cold and exhaustion, weary
after violent effort. The agent went
aut 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 a
match and lighted pipe.
Half an hour later, the chancellor's
prisoner, still stiff and weak, was maxi
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-'
DlllueutdIr Couiiucnt AAiuS mail HiNpts
his face drawn into a weary smile.
e But he received the chancellor of
Livonia cordially the next morning, go
ing himself to the lodge doorstep to
meet his visitor. and there shaking
hands with him..
IL 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
1t 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.
sit is long time since you have
honored Karnia with VISIT" Karl OBJ
served. "Will you sit DOWN."
Karl himself did not sir. He stood
lnauIiranfIv hacida tha maufal an arm