Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-06-02
CHAPTER IS

Won Behrling."
The latter shook with emotion. His
furious anger seemed to be contend
ing with the discipline of centuries.
"Your Highness-"
"Silencew
The newcomer obeyed but it was
obvious that he was putting enormous
restraint upon himself. The senior
of the two guards, gray bearded vet
eran, saluted Count Helm.
"I have to report, Excellency that
we were only able to partially close
the road to the Prince Won Behrling
by barbados. The Prince has shot
two of our guards and broken the
arm of another. We are his men, as
were our fathers and grandfathers be-
fore us, and we just could not lay a
hand upon his person. We could do
no more than escort him where he
chose to come"
"You are not to be blamed, Fritz"
Count Helm said. 81 await some ex-
PLANTATION, Prince Won Behrling, of this
extraordinary behaviour"
Won Behrling was swelling again
with passion.
Explanation" he repeated. els
this not a conference of vast impor-
lance to the interests of Europe, be-
ing held here upon my land under
my own roof-a conference of which
I have been kept in ignorance?"
"You are correct" was the cold re-
ply. "It is true that we are upon
land owned by your family and un-
der the roof of your lodge, but these
have been granted by deed of charter
to the house of which my uncle is the
head and I the representative for
countless years. You have no more
right here without an invitation than
a beggar."
ANSWER me this them" Won Behrl-
ing demanded. "Have I no right to
sit at the table when the future of
my country is being determined"
"This is a conference" Count Helm
announced, "of sane men drawn to-
gether from the various countries of
Europe, having in mind one object
the preservation of peace and the
prestige of the Fatherland. The mat
Ter which we have had to discuss is
one that would have been embarras-
ing to you. For that reason you were
not invited. And now consider your
intrusion an affront."
"Himmel!" Won Behrling roared.
any intrusion on my own property!
These are my lands. I stand under
my own roof! Why must I remain
dumb? Why must I be excluded
from this gathering when it is the
future of my country-and my con-
duct as well-which is under discus
sion?"
Matresser scrawled a line hastily
upon piece of paper and passed it
to the President. The lated glanc-
ed at it and nodded gravely.
"How did you know, Won Behrling,"
he asked, "that your conduct was to
come under discussion here"
81 knew" was the sullen acknowl-
edgement.
Won Helm glanced at Matresser
who rose at once to his feet.
"With your permission, sir" he
, said, "I will answer that question.
The Prince Won Behrling knew that
his conduct as governor of a certain
East African Colony was to come un-
der discussion by securing private
letter written to me by our foreign
secretary in reply to a report for
which I was responsible. He secured
that letter by numbering, or causing
to be murdered, the messenger whose
body still lies awaiting the final in
quest in the neighborhood of my
home. Prince Won Behrling arrived
under a false name in small boat,
with a possible accomplish, in my
home harbor-"
"You lie!" Won Behrling broke in.
at announced myself as Mijnheer van
Westrheene. I am the twelfth Baron
van Westrheene and my estates in
Holland have been in my family for
eleven generations"
every we'll them" Matresser conced-
ed. "You arrived there bearing a
name other than that by which you
are generally known. Having salts
fled yourself, by either numbering or
assisting at the murder of the messen-
ger, that had made my official re-
port upon your conduct, you then
made a deliberate attempt to kill me
In my own woods mad also a young