The Washington times., 1918-12-25

barrassment and I was lost Yet I
felt the blood fleeing from my face
and I was glad l stood In the
shadow.
A knock came to the door. The
elderly chamberlain who had met
me outside appeared.
"Your majesty will excuse me
General Baron Won Fischer
Is there to report .. ."
Presently, presently" was the
answer in an irritable tone. "r am
engaged just now. ."
The old eourtier paused irreso-
lutely for a moment
"Well, what Is it-what 10 II ."
dispatches from general head
quarters. your majesty! The gem
eraI asked me to saythe matter vas
Urgent"
The Kaiser wakened in an in
slant. =.
Bring him in" Then, to Plessen.
he added IN q voice from which all
mirth had vanished. in accents OF
gloom:
"At this hour. Plessen! II things
have again gone wrong on the
Sommel"
An officer came in quickly, rigid
with a frozen face, helmet on. head.
portfolio under his arm. The
Kaiser walked the length Of the
room to his desk and sat down.
Plessen and-the other followed him.
remained where was. They SEEM
cd to have forgotten all about me.
A murmur rose from the desk.
The officer was delivering his re-
port Then the Kaiser seemed to
question him. for heard his hard,
metallic voice: s
"contalmsison Tronss
Wood heavy losses
terrific artillery fre
." were words that reached
me. The Kaiser,s voice rose, on q
high note OF irritabiHty. Suddenly
he dashed the papers on the desk
from him and exclaimed:
"It is ontrageousL, III, break himi
Not another niGn shall he have n I
must 60. myself and teach his men
their .dutyf, ~ s,,,,, 20
Pisssan shaFriedly.Aeft sgAs desk
and eape 70 me. HIS old face was
whits Shd hlS hands E1efs shaking.
"Get-eut-of heFei7- he said TO me
in . fierce undertoue. wait out
side and I will see you 1ater!" fStill,
from the desk, resounded that
harsh. strident voice, running IN on
ascending scale, pouring forth
foaming torrent OF menace
I had aften heard OF the sudden
paroxysms OF fury from which
the Kaiser was said to suffer of re-
cent years. but never in my widest
day-dreams did I ever imagine
should assist at one.
Gladly enough did I exchange the
highly charged electrical atmos-
phere OF the imperial study for the
-repose OF the quiet corridor. Its
perfect tranquility was as balm to
my quivering nerves. OF the man
in green nothing was to be seen.
Only the trooper continued his
silent vigil.
Again I acted on impulse. ] was
wearing my grass-green raincoat.
my hat I carried in my hand. I
might therefore easily pass for one
Just leaving the castle. without
hesitation. turned to the left, the
way had come, and plunged once
more into the labryinth OF gal
leries and corridors and landing by
which the man in green had led
me. I very soon lost myself, so I
decided to descend the next stair
case I should come to. / followed
this plan and went down: q broad
flight OF stairs, at the foot OF
which I found n night porter, clad
in a vast overcoat bedizened with
eagles and seated on a stool, read
Ing a newspaper.
He stopped me and asked me my
business. tod him I was coming
from the Emperor's private apart
ments. whereupon he demanded my
pass. I showed him my badge which
entirely satisfied him. though he
muttered something about new
faces" and not having seen me be-
fore. ] asked him for the way out.
He said that at the end OF the gall
lery | should come to the west en-
trance. felt l had had q narrow
squeak OF running into my men,
tor outside. told the man I
wanted the other entrance.
/ had my car there.
You mean the south entrance?"
ne asked. and proceeded to give
me directions which brought me,
without further difficulty. out upon
the open space in front OF the great
equestrian statue OF the Emperor
William /,
IL was a clear. starry night and,
I heaved a sigh of relief as saw
the Schloss-Platz, glittering in the
cold light OF the arc lamps. So press
ing had been the danger threaten
ing me that the atmosphere OF the
castle seemed sitting in compar-
ison with the keen night air. A
new confidence filled my veins as
L strobe along. though the perils to
which I was advancing were not a
whit less than those ! had just es-
capped. For l had burnt my boats.
My disappearance from the castle
must surely arouse suspicion, and
IL was only . matter. OF hours for
the hue and cry to be raised after
me. At best it might be DELAYED
until Clubfoot presented himself at
the castle.
I could not remain In Berlin. that
was clear. My American passport
wns not in order. and II were to
fall back upon MY silver badge.
should instantly come into contsct
with the police with all Kinds OF On.
welcome consequences. No, I must
Eet-Out OF Berlin at ell costs. Well
away from the capital. might pos
sibly utilize my silver badge or By