Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-02

}
carried dispatches to the officer II
/ charge. On my return a man hailed
/ me from the side Of the road, neal
where you found me. / thought that
( he desired to be taken on, and stopped
my car. But he attacked me. He was
armed and was not. He knocked me
senseless, and when l awakened was
above the road, among trees. gave
myself up when the snow commenced
/ Few pass this way. But / heard your
car coming and made desperate eff.
/ fort"
'Then," asked one of the agents
"these are not your clothes?"
'"They are his, SIR"
The agent produced a flash 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'
diers. Then one Of his own men had
done this infamous thing, one Of his
own officers, indeed.
go through the pockets" he or.
dered sternly.
Came into view under the flash a
pair Of gloves, box of matches, a 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.
At last the chancellor stirred. "This
mamie took your car onf"
"Yes. And he has not returned. No
other machine has passed"
The secret service men exchanged
chances. There was more to this riIan
appeared. Somewhere ahead. then,
was Milky Larisch, with motor that
did not belong to him, and wearing
clothing which his victim described as
a chauffeurs coat of leather, breeches
and puttees, and fur greatcoat over
all.
Had the snow commenced when
this happenedT
mot then. sir. Shortly after"
eco out with the driver" the
chancellor ordered one of his men,
"and watch the road for the tracks of
another car. Go slowly"
So it was that, after an hour or so,
they picked up Nikkys trail, now
| twcnty-four hours old but still clear,
and followed it. The chancellor was
awake enough by this time, and bend
| ing forward. When at last the trail
turned from the highway toward the
1 shooting box ct Wedding Mettllch fell
back with something between a curse
and groan.
"The fool" he muttered. 'The
young fool 1t was madness"
At last they drew up at an inn in
the village OIL the ro~al 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. lie took q room for him at the
inn, and rather cavalicrly locked him
lin 1t. o.+." re,,.r~
The chancellor slipped hot milk and
| considered. Milky Larisch a prisoner
in Karls hands caused him less
anxiety than it would have month
before. But what was behind it all2
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
mistaking it, the sleep of 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, 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. lie crawled up, like a snake
cut of hole, and Gucked behind the
curtains of the bed. All was still quiet
save that the man outside struck q
match and lighted pipe.
Half an hour later, the chancellor
prisoner, still stiff 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 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
plimcnt0ry comment King Karl slept
ais face drawn into a weary smile.
! But he received the chancellor OF
Livonia cordially the next morning, go.
ing himself to the lodge doorstep tc
meet his visitor, and there shaking
/ hands with him.
81 am greatly honored. exCellcncy,'
he said, with his twisted smile.
"And l, sire"
! But the chancellor watched hin
! from under his shaggy brows. Th,
messenger had escaped. BY now Kar
knew the story, knew of his midnigh
ride over the mountains, and the hast
1t indicated.
i Karl himself led the way to hi
study, ignoring the chamberlain, an'
stood aside to let Mettlich enter
Then he followed and closed the door
at is a long time since you hav'