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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1917)
I Tfte I DESTROYER By BURTON E. STEVENSON (CHAPTER XXI—Continued.) “To be quite candid,” answered Pachmann, readily, “I am afraid to give it to you on board this boat. I chose this boat because I believed we should be safe here. But there are spies on board; one of our conferences has been over heard—perhaps both of them,” and he told of the assault upon Schroeder. “Then again, we must not be seen too much together. I might be recognized; and you are already suspected of having caused the destruction of La Lib erte.” “IIow can that be?” Vard de manded, in a tone which showed that he was genuinely startled. For answer, Pachmann took from his vest pocket a paper, un folded it and handed it to Vard. It was the wireless from Lepine. “That was received last Thurs day,” he said. “I suppose you know who Lepine is. By great good fortune, I intercepted it, and •ent an answer denying thatf*you were on board. It was for that reason you were removed to the first class and your name kept off the passenger list. But how can he have suspected you?” Vard shook his head slowly. He was a little pale, and the hand which held the message trembled. “I cannot guess,” he said. “You have told no one?” “Told!” flashed Vard. “Do you Hot see that, unless my great plan •ucceeds, that action will have been an infamous one? To kill 300 men in order to assure peace to the world—that may be justified —that may even be heroic; but to kill them wantonly, to kill them «nd then to fail—that would drive me mad!” He looked at Paoh. mann, his eyes suddenly inflamed. “And let me tell you tins, he •dded, in a voice of concentrated Sassion, “if I find that you have eceived me, if I find that you have betrayed me, Germany shall •uffer a reprisal that will make you shudder! I swear it!” Pachmann’s eyes were also suf fused. In that moment, he literally ■aw red. iou threaten!” he cried hoarsely. “You dare to threat en!” ‘ ‘ I warn! ’ ’ said Vard. ‘1 And you will do well to heed the warning! You are playing with fire—take care that it does not consume you!” Pachmann conquered his emo tion by a supreme effort. “It is foolish to talk in that way,” he said. “It is foolish to ■peak of deception and betrayal. There is no question of either. But we must move cautiously. We must evade spies. Even you can •ee that!” “Here is my last word,” said Vard, more calmly. “Wre shall reach New York on Tuesday. I will await your answer for 24 hours after we have landed. If I have not then received it, I shall consider myself free to act as I think best.” A gleam of triumph flashed in Pachmann’s eyes. “I accept your condition,” he ■aid, and with a little ironical bow, rose and left the cabin. CHAPTER XXII. THE EVENTS OF MONDAY. Kasia did not see the prince again. That ingenuous young man had^ spent a most uncomfortable half hour with , the doughty ad miral/ whose language had* been both lucid and emphatic, and who had opened the discussion, and ■piked the prince’s guns at the very start, as it were, by produc ing the paper sealed with the im perial seal. “I would call your attention •specially to this clause,” said Pachmann, and placed his finger upon the words, “all members of my family.” “It was not placed there by accident, I assure you. You understand its meaning?” The prince nodded sullenly, as he handed the paper back. “Your father,” Pachmann con tinued, replacing it in his pocket, ‘foresaw that some difficulty ■uch as this might arise. As you know, his confidence in you is not great.” The prince flushed and opened his lips angrily; but closed them •gain without speaking. Pachmann smiled unpleasantly. “I o*n guess what you wish to ' 24 mind me that you are a Ilohen zollern, a prince of the blood, a scion of the house to which I, a petty member of the inferior no bility, owe allegiance. That I do not permit myself to forget. But in this affair, by virtue of this pa per, I stand in place of your royal father. He would not hesitate to rebuke you, and neither shall I. What was it you were saying to Miss Yard?” And the prince, after a mo ment’s inward struggle, repeated the conversation, while Pachmann listened frowningly. “You have been most indis creet,’’ he said severely, when the prince had finished, “flow much harm you have done I cannot say —but I must hasten to undo it. I do not understand you. You know how important this affair is—-you are a good German!—and yet you go about talking in this fashion! It is enough to drive one mad 1 If your father learned of it, I fear he would think it necessary to punish you with great severity. I shall not report it—but on one condition: you must give me your word to discuss affairs of state with no one, to make no chance acquaintances, and to see this girl or her father only in my pres ence,” And so deeply grounded was the habit of obedience, so profound his respect even for his father’s sig nature, that the prince promised. Besides, he had no wish to spend a year or more in some second,rate fortress; and he resolved to watch himself most warily, until this an noying business was at an end and he was back again in Berlin. So Kasia saw' him no more. She bad a little struggle with herself before she finally decided that it was her duty to outline, the prince’s confessions to her father, and she was deeply relieved when he waved them aside as of no im portance. livery one knows, he said, “that Germany dreams of nothing but humiliating England; that is no secret—it has been the talk of Europe for 10 years past. But it is one of those dreams which never come true—or go by contraries!” By noon of Monday, Pachmann had completed his scrutiny of the passengers, and sought an inter view with the captain. “I have discovered nothing,” he said; “absolutely nothing. At one time, 1 thought that I had the man, but I caused his story to be investigated, and found that it was true. There remains only one thing to bo done. At what hour shall we land?” “Thnt will 'depend upon the de lay at quarantine. Two of our steerage passengers are ill. We may not be able to dock before evening.” Pachmann considered this for a moment. “In the first place,” he went on, at last, following out his thought, “you must secure for me two land ing tickets—one for Vard and one for his •daughter. The immigra tion officers must not see them. There must be no evidence that they ever reached New York.” Hausmann’s face clouded. “That is a very serious of fense,” he pointed out. ‘ ‘ We must take the risk. “What will you do about their baggage?" “I will have it claimed by some one from the consulate.” The captain hesitated yet a mo ment. “I will secure the tickets,” he agreed, finally. “A considerable outlay will be necessary.” “You will be reimbursed. Fur thermore,” Pachmann added, “I will myself explain to the emperor how greatly you have assisted us.” Hausmann bowed coldly. “Is there anything else?” he asked. “You have watched the wire less ? ’ ’ “Yes.” “It must be watched even more closely. No message in cipher, nor any that is at all questionable, must be sent or delivered. If there are complaints afterwards, the failure can be explained as an oversight. ’ ’ Again Hausmann bowed. “And finally,” said Pachmann, “I have here a message, which I would ask you to have sent at once.” f and it took half an hour to trans mit, for the wireless man at the • Cape Code station was required to repeat it for verification. Then it was hurried on by telegraph to New York, and finally delivered at the German consulate, where the chief of the German secret service, to whom it was addressed, read it with great care. Miss Yard, meanwhile, was finding the hours long. The prince had furnished a slight divertisse ment the day before; but today there was no such relief in sight, and she found herself singularly restless. This was, in part, a re flection of her father’s mood, for she had never known him so nerv out and irritable. The lines in his face had deepened, his eyes were brighter than ever, and he waved her impatiently away whenever she ventured to address him. Plainly, a crisis was at hand/and, as she saw how her father was af fected, she awaited it with fore boding. She tried to read and gave it up, for she could not fix her atten tion on the page; she sat for a long time looking at the sea, and then turned her eyes away, for its rest lessness increased her own; she went for a walk about the deck, but it seemed to her in every pair of eyes turned upon her there was suspicion and aversion. How glad she was that the voyage was al most ended! It had started hap pily enough, and then, quite sud denly, it had become wearisome and hateful. It was inevitable that, at this point, her thoughts should fly to Dan. What a nice boy he was! She would see him tomorrow night -she had promised him that! And before that? Would it be too un dignified for her to stefi up again to that bench on the after boat deck—would it—would it precipi tate matters? She did not want'to do that and yet • Good afternoon, ’ ’ said a voice, and some one fell into step beside her, and she looked up and saw that it was Dan. For an instant, she fancied it was only the visual ization of her own thoughts; then she winked the mists away. “This is nice of you,” she said. “I was just wishing for—some one. I was dreadfully bored.” “You were a thousand miles away. I passed you twice and you didn’t even see me. If it hadn’t been for my newspaper training, I’d have made off to niv den.” “I’m very glad you didn’t. I really wanted to talk to you.” “Suppose we go up to the boat deck,” said Dan, “where you —” ne stopped. ‘‘Where 1 what?” Dan led the way up the ladder without replying; but a gleam of understanding penetrated Miss Ward's mind when she saw him go straight to the bench where she and the prince had sat. “It Was this way,” Dan ex plained, sitting down beside her. “I happened to be staring down at the forward promenade, yester < ay afternoon, when I saw you walking with a tall young fellow, who seemed exceedingly interested in you. Naturally, I was a little curious, as ho happened to be a second class passenger ifne my self—” “Second class!” broke in Kasia, and stopped herself. “Did you think him a million aire?” queried Dan, a little bit terly. “No,” answered Kasia, quiet ly; “I thought him just what he is — an ingenuous young German not very brilliant, perhaps, but clean and honest. J passed a very pleasant half hour with him.” Dan's face was a little pale, but he looked at her manfully and squared his shoulders. “I deserved that!” he said. “Thank you, Miss Yard. But it was very lonely, last night !’* Kasia's look softened. “Yes,” she agreed; “it was.” “You felt it, too?” asked Dan, his face lighting up again. “Certainly I felt it. I haven’t dared make any friends among the first class passengers, and a per son can’t read all the time! One likes to talk occasionally, no mat ter with whom.” “Why not slip over to second class tonight,” Dan suggested, “and sit on the bench. The moon is very beautiful.” But Kasia shook her head, smil ing. “I shall have to admire it alone,” she said. “We must not be seen so much together—it is not wise for us to sit here. Suppose some one, seeing us. together, should take it into his mind to search your baggage, and should find that little package——” “He wouldn’t find it,” Dan broke in. ‘ ‘ During the day, I carry it in my pocket. At night, I sleep with it under my pillow.” Kasia gave him a quick glance. “That is splendid I” she said, quickly. “And you don’t even wish to know what it is?” ‘ ‘ Not unless yon wish to tell m«. There is one danger, though. If the customs inspector should hap pen to run across it, he will want to know what it is. ’' “Tell him it is an electrical de , vice. ’ ’ “And if he opens it?” “That will do no harm. All he will find is a small metal box, filled with tiny wires coiled about each other.” Dan breathed more freely. “That simplifies things,” he said. ‘1 From what you said when you gave it to me, I was afraid I might have to knock him down, snatch the package, and make a break for it.” “No,” and Kasia smiled. “It would appear of value only to some one Who knew what it was. The customs inspector doesn’t count.” “And tomorrow evening, say at 8 o’clock, I shall bring it up to you. ” “Very well. I shall expect you. And now you must go. ’ ’ Dan rose obediently. “It will be a long 24 hours,” he said. “But I feel more cheerful ! than I did. By the way,” he aided, turning back, “there’s one thing I forgot to tell you. If that ! other young fellow shows up again you needn’t be afraid to talk to him. Chevrial says he’s the only one on the ship you are safe to talk freely with! ’ ’ “Chevrial!” she repeated, star- i ing; “Chevrial said that!” “Yes,” and Dan laughed. “He 1 seems to be the wise guy, all right 1” and without suspecting her emotion, he turned and left j her. But for a long time Kasia sat there, unmoving, trying to under- : stand. Dan’s evening was not so lonely as he had expected, for, as he sat on the bench on the boat deck, staring out across the water and thinking of the morrow, Chevrial joined him. “I do not intrude?” the French man asked. “Not at all. Sit down, won’t you?” Chevrial sat down, and for some moments there was silence. “Our voyage nears an end, M. Webster,” Chevrial said at last. “Tomorrow you will be home again. Perhaps I may see you in New York.” - “Where will you stay?” “I have some friends in the wine trade with whom I usually stay. The little money I pay them is wel come te thepn, and I am more com fortable than at an hotel. I do not know their exact address—they have moved since I was last here: but they are to meet me at the pier.” “Whenever you have a leisure evening,” said Dan, “call up the i Record office and r~- • id we will have dinner together.” “Thank you. I shall remember. Ami ,1 should like you to meet my friends. I do not know if you are a connoisseur of wine, but if you are, they possess a few bottles of a vintage that will delight you.” “I'm far from being a connois seur,” Dan laughed; “but I ac cept the invitation with thanks.” Chevrial’s face was bright. “And when next you come to Paris,” he added, “I hope you will 1 let me know. There is my card. A letter to that address will always reach me—we have no telephone, alas! There are some things I should delight to show you — j things which the average visitor I does not see.” “You are very kind,” said Dan, J taking the card; “and I shall not i forget; though I don’t expect to get abroad again very soon. You see, I have to collect a reserve fund, first; and the cost of living is high! “Whenever it is; and the more soon, the better I shall be pleased!” “How long will von be in New York?” “A week—10 days, perhaps. I Then I go to Boston, and to Mon treal and Quebec, and thence home j again. I am glad I shall not have to use a German boat. I do not like German boats—nor anything German, for the matter of thatl Which reminds me of a most pe culiar circumstance. You may have wondered at my remark with reference to that young man who was strolling with Miss Vard?” “That she could talk to him without fear? Yes, I have won- i dered just what you meant by it. ” , (Continued Next Week.) Efforts are being: made to resume the 1 construction of branch railway lines In ths Lonets basin of southern Russia, ! where, during the last years before the wax. the branch and connecting lines : annually completed averaged 26. The development of the mining Industry In ■ I the basin was always olosely dependent upon the railroads. In the present war transportation of coal In carta became disorganized and costs of transport In creased 700 per cent. A new pumping plant with a capacity of 20,000,000 gallons every 14 hours la to bs built In Kansas City, Mo. Colds^ ATrin!tyoTevils^c1qsel^nied^tha^!ffl!ctT| J most people, and which follow one on the f 5 xraTj«cj'g‘& c P^er, in the order named, until the last one ! is spread through the system, leading to * C a 1 many evils. But their course can be checked, m KMarrn peruna conquers It is of great value when used promptly for a cold,usu- p ally checking it and overcoming it in a few days. " |j Ample evidence has proved that it is even of more value in over- 1 coming chronic catarrh, dispelling the inflammatory conditions, enabling 1 the diseased membranes to porform their natural functions, and toning j$ up the entire syst-. r. S The experience of thousands i3 a safe guide to what it may be ex- E pected to do for you. Liquid or tablets—both tested by the public and approved. THE PERUNA COMPANY - - - Carter’s Little Liver Pills You Cannot be .jUfev A Remedy That Constipated Makes Life and Happy Worth Living Small Pill Genuine bears signature Small Dose >7 __— A'KSfSS.IS^S: pARTER’S IRON PILLS many colorless faces but 'W will greatly help most pale-faced people Canada’s Liberal Offer of Wheat Land to Settlers i open to you—to every farmer or farmer’s son who is anxious to establish for himself a happy home and prosperity. .Canada’s hearty invitation this year is more attractive than ever. Wheat is much higher but her fertile farm land just as cheap, and in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskat chewan and Alberta 160 Am Bomoteid* Are ActniIIy Free to Settler* ud Other Lind S*Idttfrom$ISt*$20 per Acre The great demand for Canadian Wheat will keep up the price. Where a farmer can get near $2 for wheat and raise 20 to 45 bushels to e acre he is bound to moke money — that's what you can expect in Western Canada. Won derful yields also of Oats, Barley and Flax. Mixed Farming in Western Canada is fully as profitable an industry as grain raising. The oxcellent grasses, full of nutrition, are the only food required either for beef or dairy purposes Good schools, churches, markets convenient, climate excellent. There Is an unusual demand for farm labor to replace the many young men who have volunteered for the war. Write for literature and particulars as to reduced railway rates to Supt.of Immigration, Ottawa, Can., or to 16. J. Johaetoue, Drawer 197, Watertown, S. D.x W. V. Bennett, Room 4. Bee Building.. Omaha. Neb., sad R. A. Garrett, 311 jacktox Street, St. Paul. Minn. Canadian Government Agents TROOPS AT SO MUCH A MAN Soldiers Furnished British Government by British States at Beginning of Revolutionary War. At tlie beginning of the Revolution ary war the British government made treaties with several of the German states by which (hey were to furnish troops at so much a man to assist in subjugating the Americans. Applica tions for assistance made to Russia and Holland were rejected, but several of the Gorman states responded favor ably. There was no united Germany or imperial government, no kaiser with autocratic power, hut each independ ent state had a separate government. An English historian says: "Finding it difficult or impossible to obtain the necessary recruits at home, and that the existing English and Irish regiments embarked with such reluc tance that it was necessary to keep a guard upon the transports to keep them from deserting by wholesale, the ministry applied to Russia, the states general (Holland), and Anally to sev eral of the German states for merce naries. Tlie infamy of filling up the British armament was reserved for the princes of three or four petty German states.” Contracts were made with tlie rulers of seven German states under which an aggregate of thirty thousand troops were furnished at so much a head, cash down, and an annual sum to the rulers of the different states fur nishing them. “The subsidies,” says tlie English historian, “were to be continued for one full year at least after tlie war ended and tlie troops had returned to their homes.” The troops thus hired out by German rulers to fight against Americans were not raised easily The American historian Bancroft says: “The whole number of men fur nished in tlie war by Brunswick was equal to one-tweuty-seventli part of its total population; by the landgrave of Hesse, to one out of every twenty of his subjects, or one in four of the able bodied men, a proportionate conscrip tion in 1770 would have shipped to America from England and WaleS alone an army of more than 400.000 men. Soldiers were impressed from the plow, tlie workshop, tlie highway; no man was safe from the inferior agents of tlie princes, who kidnaped without scruple.” And the more you are willing to do for your friends the less time you will have to do tilings for yourself. Wash day is smile day if you use Red Cross Ball Blue, American made, therefore the best made. Adv. Better late than never—except at the railway station. 7[NE> Granulated Eyelids, "^“■^Sore Eyes, Eyes Inflamed by {San, Dustand Wind quickly ■ relieved by Murine. Try it in your Eyes and in Baby's Eyes. tl LON.Swrtiog,JastEyeComfort Marine Eye Remedy I «y» ■»!».. 1. Tobm tte. *V»r IM •/1*. By - tnu. | Ask Marfa* Era BssssO £•*. CUca**i ’Twas Easily Done. Hypochondria was the topic that was being discussed at a social affair, says the Philadelphia Press, when Sen ator William A. Smith of Michigan re called tlie following story: A woman who was perfectly well, but imagined she had at least a dozen different diseases, called one day to consult an eminent specialist. “I think I understand your case thor oughly, madam,” said the doctor as the patient began to tell the story of her life. “Just sit quite still a moment and let me look at you.” The patient complied and after studying her intently for a little while the physician glanced at his watch. “There is nothing the matter with you, madam,” Anally said the doctor. “You haven't the slightest indication of fever, and your heart beat is per fectly normal.” “Why, how do you know, doctor?” exclaimed the patient in surprise. “You didn't take my pulse.” “It wasn’t necessary, madam,” smiled the specialist. “I counted the vibrations of the ostrich feather oo your hat.” Easy to Rid Home of Rats and iVSice There is no need of suffering from the depredations of rats and mice now that Stearns' Paste is readily obtainable at nearly every store. A small box of this effective exterminator costs only 33 cents and is usually sufficient to com pletely rid the house, store or tarn of rats and mice. The U. S. Government has bought thousands of pounds of Stearns’ Paste for use in cities where rats and mice are plentiful. The Pas:e is also efficient In destroying cockroaches and waterbugs. Adv. Bridget's Answer Although not overparticular about her work, Mrs. Brownstone’s new maid, fresh from the Evergreen Isle, was somewhat of a stickier for preci sion In language. “Is it after eight yet?" asked Mrs. B-of her one moral ag as she came in from the kitchen on some errand. “Yis, mum,” replied Bridget care fully weighing her words. “It is af ter it all right, but it Hasn’t got there ; yit! It has Ave minute# yit to travel An Iconoclast. “Do you remember the famous Greek artist who painted grapes that were so natural the birds pecked at them?” “Oil, yes, I’ve heard that yarn,” re plied the superior per^-n. “But ornith ology teaches us that certain of the smaller birds have very poor eyesight.” A good many men who get credit : for being close mouthed ».re in reality too lazy to talk. He is indeed a busy mao who can never find time to find fault. COUGHING\ annoys others and hurts you. Re Here throat irritation and tickling, and get rid of coughs. colds and hoarseness by taking at once PISO’S