Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11

the Ground floor. where troopers were
searching every room. We must re-
member his talent for facial change Of
character. What the troopers saw was
man who didn't quite look familiar
quietly coming down to them.
His hands seemed to be covered with
blood and he was trying to wipe them
off on a towel.
whom are you looking for?" he
asked
"Schulmeister. the spy!"
The man on the staircase nodded
grimly as he went TO the sIeeE door.
You'll find him on the top floor.
settling his accounts with Godl I'm
doctor and one OF you must have
| shot very we'll for though l took the
bullet out" and he shrugged his
shoulders with an expression of Good
riddancel"
The troopers rushed up to the top
| floor while SchulmeiSter strolled out
into the street.
But one day as he sat in a country
| inn without suspicion of danger there
was a rush Of men into the dining room
and this time Schulmeister found
himself for once beyond the reach of
his talents to save him.
He was taken to Vienna. The court
4 AAAdA bAaA was q oAROAb Vic AAAC SAAAAC AZ
shooting him was set for dawn of the
next morning.
It looked as If his star was sinking.
But all the world was being blinded by
the comet-like Napoleon and 1t seems
as II the stars in their courses were
working not only for the Little
Corporal" but also for those who served
him.
For even as sentence was pronounced
on Schulmeister the judges heard in
the distance the growl of Napoleon's
cannon. That evening the storm was
raging full about the prison in which
the spy was awaiting execution. And
with the morning the door to Schulz
meister's cell was opened. not by Aus
TRANS, but by Frenchmen.
IRON now on Schulmeisters story
declines in tension, though TO the
very end it remains humanity interest
ing. AS part of the reward due him.
Schulmeister was made by Napoleon
censor over Vfennas newspapers and
theaters, an appointment that must
have yielded him some amusement as
he thought back to his former visits to
Vienna; for he had keen sense of
humor
Then came the Congress Of Erfurt
to which the ,:ings and emperors of
half Europe came to learn what terms
Napoleon meant to dictate to them.
With royalty came small armies OF
premiers, politicians. court favorites.
dazzling beauties angling for royal
favors or intriguing on behalf OF rival
sovereigns; and. Of course. spies. We
find here an amazing state Of affairs
in which, for instance. Alexander, Gar
| nf pncCf0 fha Nypofh nf N0nOlaOY1
by spending his spare hours with a
lovely French actress in whom the
Little Corporal" Is himself interested.
It is through Schulmeister and his
agents that Napoleon learns Of the tres
pass on his preserves. With character
istic barrack-room directness Napoleon
sends word to the Gear.
Visit that woman again and tonor-
row all Europe will know what your
physical proportions are from the
ground upl''
1t is not a pretty picture that Schulz
meister makes at this congress, and one
prefers to pass on to Meinau, where he
finally retires to enjoy. as a private citi-
zen, dignities and luxuries that should
really be his.
The Injuries he gets. It Is an i'm
preSSive home that he builds for himself
In his own private park. There is an
imitation Of tropical jungle there.
private menagerie: exotic birds flash
brilliant plpmage through the branches
in his park, fountains and coIored lights
play.
The townsmen pay him the difference
OF man to be feared. But they take
their cue from Napoleon. Schullneister
had sent an emiSsary to ask the En-
peror q favor he did not have the cour-
age to ask m person, even though Ma
poleon had for a long time been in the
habit Of addressing him cordially as
Karl.
The favor Schulmeister craved was
the Cross Of the Legion Of Honor
Napoleon shook his head Karl can
have all the money he can spend, or
anything else he may aSk-except the
Legion of Honor!"
Which was rather inconsistent of
Napoleon, who decorated other men
whose contribution to his success had
little to do either with honor or renuc-
lance to do his dirty work. But Schulz
meister had to put up with his masters
inconsistency.
He had several years of luxury. Then
Napoleons star went the way of all
comets. And in the eclipse Schulmeis-
ter met disaster because Napoleon did.
He was arrested and had to pay such
q heavy price for his liberty that when
he came out free man again the ut
most he could Scrape together from the
wreckage was little tobacconist shop.
where he and his wife passed humble
old age.
Years later Napoleon's nephew. then
the Prlnce-President of France. finding
himself near the home of the man who
had so valuably served his historic uncle,
paid Schulmeister little visit of cour-
tesy. 1t is the last item of interest In
the Spy's life, and soon after, at the age
of 80, he died peacefully.