The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-19

~>~~~ ---S AASA in her grief"
 There is an old saying" she went on, "coming events cast their sha- dows before. Several extraordinary things have happened to me in recent weeks
 Who are the Scarlet Mask Conspira-
 tors?
 One evening towards the end of the first week in February I was having coffee and liquors after dinner. I was not feeling very well at the time. and after slipping my coffee l would not take any more. Shortly before mid night I was alarmed to hear that one of the servants was taken-ill, and I sent my own physician to her to find out what was wrong. After admins tering to the girl with some emetic he returned and told me she had talk en coffee which appeared to contain som mething of a very bitter taste. An examina tion of the coffee was made and my physician found that it was mixed up with several grains of hyos- cin.
 Your Majesty has had a narrow escape from serious illness" was the polite way in which he reminded me of a plot to kill me by some of my own servants. I sent for the police and three of my most trusted maids were arrested"
 Since then I have been most care full not to touch food of any descrip- ton without the assurance of my phy- sicfan that it is perfectly safe for con- sumption
 These incidents, of course, all point to what I have feared. namely, a con- spiracy to kill me, my sons, and only daughter"
 The ex-Kaiserin appeared to be deeply moved as she supplied me these 1 details, and proceeded to read a let ter written to her by 'The Scarlet Mask" an extract of which ran as follows
 Vengeance shall be ours sooner or later, and we shall not rest till our object, namely, the extirpation of the Hoheno1lerns is achieved Thrice you have evaded us, but the Scarlet Mask is on the watch and our knives are sharp.
 Once more we warn you of your fate, which Is as sure as night suc- ceeds day. No power on earth can save you from the hands of The Scar let Mask.
 The Scarlet Msk "They seem very determfn ed," remarked, adding, But perhaps it is all only a huge bluff.'
 WISH COuiu SldTe your NleW, answered the ex-Empress, ..-but 1 have had too many ominous hints from re- sponsible quarters to disregard the threats of these mysterious people signing themselves the Scarlet Mask l am inclined to think that they rep resent a type of miscreants similar to the Apache.
 There is a method, too, in their destruction, as is proved by a strange sign which was noticed on the body of the Countess von Rantzau. On her left arm was an incision of about quarter of an inch, representing the shape of a cross. At first the police thought this might have been caused by a collision between the body and a passing boat in the river. Closer ex- animation showed that it was a, de1ib- crate mark signifying that the deed was the act of gang.'' The ex-Empress drew my attention to another note which she received about Christmas time- This read Gracious lady, this is your last Christmas. Your days are counted, and the New Year will not be very old ere your ashes will be laid to rest. Death will be your Deliverer, and none shall save you from the decree of the Ccarlet Mask Make the most of your f1eeting days on this earth, and take heed of this-the first of three warnings which we send you. I examined this note very carefully, and it was a perfectly genuine docu- ment, of which the police made a copy. It was posted in the Unter Den Lin- den Post Office on the 23rd of Decem- Der, 1918, but was not received by the ex-Ernpress till the second week in January.
 Living in Shadow of Impending Ira gedy.
 Subsequently further anonymous notes were sent to the ex-Kaiserin who of course had them forwarded to the police, requesting that the ori- ginals might be retained for her pos session.
 The last warning of the Scarlet Mask received in Linstedt, reached her only fortnight ago, since when, as I have remarked, the ex-Empress has been grievously depressed.
 That her ex-MaJesty lives in the shadow of impending tragedy is re- flected in her extremely nervous dis position. The sudden banging of door, the tinkle of the telephone bell in her boudoir, such trifles alarm he- and give her 'theart murmurs."
 As a memento of my visit for the last time she handed me an auto graphed photograph which I value as an interesting historical link with the reign of the Hohenzo1lerns.
 Just before leaving the ex-Empress embraced me, wished me good luck, bon voyage, and assured me she would ever entertain the 1iveliest re- collection of her American governess In the carriage which took me to Berlin I had the company of the Baron von Heinz, one of the ex-Kais- -erins oldest friends. sThe Empress" he remarked, ''is fading to a shadow" She has lost twenty-four pounds and a half weight since November. All her vitality is sapped by this fear of as- sassination, for which apparently there is some ground. For this reason her Majesty is guarded day and night and the greatest care is exercised in admitting visitors, especially stran- gers"
 "A reward of 1000 pounds has been privately offered for the detection of . any members of this body known as the Scarlet Mask, and I have no doubt that will help the police to succeed in elucidating their identity.'' TODAY,S ANNIVERSARY.