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HAPPY DAYS
for a good reason, too. Well, yes, I'll tell
you what it is. I once knew his father, an
he crossed my path. Ife has his father’s
face, and I hate him for that.”
Teddy could not control himself when he
heard this statement, He rushed out, ery-
ing excitedly
h, tell me about my father! When
you see him t? I beg of you to tell
me about my father!”
CHAPTER IX.
A FOSEWARNING OF DANGER.
Professor Sidney was dumfounded, Ma-
@ame Lucia's face was a study. Slowly the
riding master recovered bs equanimity.
Then his keen, eyes sna
“Oh, I see! Playing ecavesdropper, en?
Well, you may see that listeners never hear
any good of themselves.”
“EF deny that!” crie@ Teddy, hotly, “I
could not help. kearing you, ard it was
‘quite against my W! But you spoke of
“Well, supposing I did?” said Sidney,
with a cold glint in his eyes. “Ladmit that
I used to know him.”
“Then—he is dead?”
“I suppose so. [ have been told that.
From personal knowledge I could not tell.”
Teddy heaved a deep s
“If you could prove to me ‘that my father
is alive,” he said, earnestly, “you would
do me the greatest of earthly favors, and
1 would never forget it.”
“If you are a man, Bill Sidney, you will
tell this boy the truth, ” said Madame Lu-
efa, with great spiri
Teddy shot her a grateful 1 look, but Sid-
ney only smiled in his ofly
“I will tell him all I know,” he sald “1
have the report from a number o! ople
who krew Denicl oma that he. ‘s dead.
That is all I ca:
“Thank sou oo rted Teddy, with a
ccurtcous bow. “You cannot cil hat it
means t In the
flesh and to be able to clasp his hand 1 utd
be the most joyful of things, but if he is
cead that joy must be forever debarred me,
Professor Sidney, I am sorry that I over-
heard your words, and I regret much that
you do not like me. I am conscious of
having done you no harm. It is my great-
est desire to have the friendship of every-
bedy. I am willing to go moore than half
way and ask you to become one of my
friends.
frankly and looked Sidney full in the eye.
The riding master’s face was flushed, and
he averted Bis gaze. He pretended to ig-
nore Teddy’ ‘s hand.
helieve in sentiment,” he de-
“Tg
clared, “coldly, “Friendship is a farce. A
fricnd is a friend only so long as you are
able to contribute to that friend’s welfare
and amusement. Then familiarity kills
friendship. .
“You are wrong,” cried Teddy, in a ring-
ing voice. “I will prove it to you before
we are Gone. Now, I am going to be a
friend to you and prove it to your catis
faction.
“Well spoken!”
with shining eyes.
cried’ Madame Lucila,
“You should be ashamed
of yourself, Bill Sidney, not to meet this
boy half way. He is a true gentleman.”
Sidney shrugged his shoulders, but be-
fore more could be said Mr. Murray ap-
peared on the scene, ane the conversation
was Instantly terminated.
But a little later Madame Lucia had a
chance to say to Teddy
“Dill ney is not. so bad as he is
‘painted. His great fault is his insane jeal-
ousy. If you can cure him of that you will
o Lim a great
ee have only kindly fectings toward him,
and every one else,” B: eddy,
San Antonio turned out en masse
great the circus. The big tent was pact
to suffocation.
how progressed evenly, and gave
great satisfaction. Each act was generous-
ly applauded. ~
But one sight incident gave Teddy a
gueer sta!
n the Hne of faces in the lower tler of
seats he saw one familiar countenance
which gave him a mighty start.
It was Pete Galvin.
A startling thought eame to Teddy. What
had brought the ruler of Coulee to San
Antonio? Was he following the troupe,
and if so, for what purpose?”
As Teddy flashed around the ring he
: gelzed eve every opportunity to glance at the
espera
And te ‘noted that Pecos Pete seemed to
have eyes for nothing bat _ Tina, He
watched oer intently,
Thia struck a queer chill to Teddy’s
heart. There might be no significance
whatever to the incident. But the young
: seroma docided to keep a close guard upon
na.
It was certain that Galvin was much im-
pressed with Tina’s charms. He was a des-
- The show wound up that night, and the
eanyasmen beyan to sfrike the tent, while
tbe troupe hurried to fre train which was
e them to the next town.
eee was an hour before midnight The
night was dark, ere was a dull
rumble of thunder in the west.
The likelihood of a storm was most aj
arent. But as the cireus troupe crowded
into the cars they were gay and uncon-
cerned,
Teddy drew a deep breath of relief when
he saw Tina safe in the car, Then he
turned to enter his ar. .
But as he did so he saw big Martin Cross,
the head canvasman, coming across the
railroad yard.
He saw Teddy, and held up his hand.
“T say, lad,” be cried, “go for a doctor,
quick! eet} has broken his leg, I believe.”
Teddy gave a cry of horror. Hiram Bell,
the canvasman, was one of his warmest
frien
vba happened?” he ask
“A skid sHpped from a car “joo and fell
on him as we were loading the Jumbo
coach, * replied Martin.
awful! But will the train
”
“No; it-will go on. But we can take the
two o’clock express after it. Poor Hiram
will have to stay in the hospital here. But
I'm not going to leave him uncared for if
I never join the circus again.’
“Aye,- that is right!” cried Teddy.
“Where is he now?”
“Over here in the car shed.”
Teddy sped away across the railroad
yard. It was not long before he bad sum-
moned a doctor.
On his return he entered the yard at a
dark corner*near-the car shed. He heard
low voices, and one of them seemed fa-
miliar. Teddy would not have paused even
then but for a strange fact.
(To be continued.)
Out To-day Out To-day
“PAME’ AND FORTUNE WEEKLY”
"No, 479 :
- ——IT conTarxs——
PE ROM A CENT TO FORTUNE
, A Chicago Boy’s Great Scoop
Price, 5 cents
(This story commenced in number 1050)
FIGHTING FRED FAY
»B-
A YANKEE BOY IN THE BIG WAR
By RALPH MORTON
Author of “Forced to Fight With Villa,”
War,” “Matt and the
Mexicans,” etc.
CHAPTER XXI.
FRED FINDS HIMSELF BEFORE THE KAISER.
Fred was taken to the top floor of the
chateau and shown into a neatly furnished
rine may talk freely here,” said Eichler,
“but keep your voice down a3 much as pos-
ginning to fear that Iam
suspected. 1 may mean death.’
“I stall be most careful.”
“J am extremely scrry about poor Mar-
He was a good fellow. , Did he talk
with any one before he died?”
“Yes, with General Spencer, ‘of the Fifth
corps, to whom he told a!
“And you wero detailed to take his
place’
es"
“I'm glad some pre, bas come.
about these dispatch
me can only say hat ‘hey were given to
e by General Spencer with instrnetons
to. deliver them to General Von Blum,”
plied Fred, cautiously. .
“Beware if they are bogus,” whispered
“General Yon. Blum is the sharp-
est man alive.”
“I can only .obey orders and take my
chances.”
“That is right. You must remain here
to-night. Now, in case anything should
happen to me I am going to reveal a secret
whieh I discovered by the merest chance,
and which enables me to do what I prom-
ised to do for Marwig. Anyway, it is bet-
ter to do it to-night while there is no one
around. To-morrow the chateau will be
crowded with officers and their retinue.
Follow me.”
He led the way to the rear, taking Fred
into a large and handsomely furnished
chamber. .
“This is to be your room,” he said. “It
is known as the haunted chamber. : Here,
a hundred years ago or more, a young and
beantiful woman was {niprisoned by a re-
jected suitor and afterwards murdered; her
ghost 1s supposed to elill aunt the
chateau. It was on account of this being
used as a prison that the secret passage and
staircase wag built, I suppose, but—— }
What now? An arrival? This must te
postponed. Get back to the other room,
must be on hand below.”
What
The sound which had interrupted them
was the clatter of many hoofs.
Eichler harried downstairs.
ooking out of the window when he got
back into the other room Fred saw that
the courtyard was full of mounted eavalry-
men who were lining up on either side of
the broad drivewa
fovidently some prominent person was
expec}
‘Richie moved between the lines, hat in
hand, speaking to one and another of them.
Continuing to watch about half an hour
later there came another clatter of hoofs,
and six men rode in through the gate.
To his interest and amazement Fred rec- |-
ognized the man in the lead as the Kaiser!
“Great Scott, now I’m up against it,”
thought the boy.
The Kaiser himself here, and I playing
the spy in this house! Its dangerous
work enough.”
The Kaiser dismounted and was followed
by his immediate staff into the chateau.
Those who had preceeded him now broke
up their lines.
Some remained on guard inside, others
rode out through the gate.
Fred was greatly stirred
He wished Eichler would come and tell
him what to do, as it was now midnight.
Soon after the keeper came
“The Kaiser is here,” he whispered. “Of
course, I had to tell him of your arrival.
He would have learned it through the sen-
tries if I had not. You are to be presently
summoned. Beware how you conduct your-
selt. A single slip may cost you your life.”
SI I give him those papers?” aske
2
eyou will have to if he demands them.”
“I wish this had not happened.”’
“You may well say so, He was never
here before.”
“Is he going to remain and attend the
conference to-morrow?”
“How do I know? They would not tell
a man in my position their plans. I was
tietailed from my regiment to look after
things here at the chateau. Outside of
that I am supposed to know nothing. I
must leave you now. I really had no busi-
ness to come away from my post at all.”
“Can't I go to sleep here? I won't un-
dre:
“Walt an hour and I'll try and ‘see you
again,
But Fred waited only a very few minutes
before Eichler returned all-in a nervous
tremble.
“You are summoned into the impertal
presence,” he said. “For heaven sake, be
cautious, I repeat any slip may cost
us both our lives.”
Fred- was conducted downstairs ~and
ushered into a large room where, at a
tao busily writing, sat the Kaiser.
“Bow low and approach no nearer until
you are Sumoneay ”’ breathed Eichler.
He o!
No one. pal aid the least attention to him.
There were several officers in resplendent
uniforms standing about the room.
For gully fifteen minutes ne one moved
or spok
At ast the Kaiser, having finished writ-
ing, folded the paper and enclosed it in an
envelope which he addressed and sealed.
on Dezendorf!”
f the officers bowing low approached
and received the lette
“See that it is delivered immediately,”
said the Kaiser.
Again the count bowed and backed away.
The Kaiser then looking fixedly at Fred
for a few seconds said
et this the young man, Herr Eichler?”
“An leave, be, room.
with him a!
In an instant all had vacated.
Never in his life had Fred felt so ner
yous.
He almost wilted under that stern gaze.
At length the Kaiser spoke.
I desire to speak
nee name
tz Katyn: stein.”
“Where did you enlist?”
“At Warburg.” * .
It was a break!
Instantly Fred. realized the mistake he
had m.
He nate supposed to belong to the Sixty-
fourth. He b no Idea where that regi-
ment was raised.
“If he asks me my regiment I shall just
have 4o say the Fourtieth Infantry, hit or
miss,” he told himself.
He was not asked.
Again the alece remained silent for an
instant and then said:
“Young man, you are supposed to have a
pass if you are dolng special duty, as
am told is the case. Why don’t you give
it?”
“{ wag awalting your order, sire.”
“You are nervous in the imperial pres-
There is no need.
“The dead ride fast.”
“Correct. I am told that you bear dis-
patches to General Von Blum
am the bearer of a packet, sire, I
do not know what it contains.
You have my
“Advance, lay the packet on unis table
and retire to your former positio:
Fred obeyed with a low bow.
The Kaiser broke open the “packet and
glanced over the faked-up pap
It was a moment of terrible ‘surprise,
“Who gave you this packet?” demanded -
the Kaiser at }
“A soldier cnamed Marwig. He was
wounded and soon after died. I was told
to deliver the packet to General Von
Bi
“I will attend to that. You may now re~~
tire, but do not leave this chateau until
you receive permission from
rowith a low bow Fred backed. out of the
roto. was lterally bathed in perspiration
as he passed among the officers who stoo
chatting in the hall.
Eichler met him at the foot of the stairs
and pulled him. into the reception-room, ~
closing the door. .
“What happened?” he breathed.
low.”
“He looked over the papers, and asked
a few questions. Then he told me not
o degve the chateau without his permis:
“Speak
seria he seem to suspect anything?”
“It was impossible for me to tell.”
“Of course. He lets no one read_ his
mind. Go back to that room, which is
mine. You can lie on the bed, but don't
undress, lest you should be "summoned
again.
ree get away by himself was an immense
relief,
Still Fred feared the worst. A line, even
a single word, in the faked- “up papers Was
ilable fo give him away.
It was long before he fell asleep.
His awakening was startling.
A hand was laid on his forehead, and
Fred opened his eyes to see standing by
the bedside a female form in white.
CHAPTER XXII. .
EVERYTHING SUDDENLY CHANGED. an
“The ghost!” was Fred’s first thought.
He was not to-entertain it long.
A hand was raised and a woman’s voice
whispered:
“Young map,
Madame Richler.
no
My nucband "sared not
oorred Was on his feet in an instant.
“I—I thought: you were the ghost,” he
stammaered, as yet only half awake.
“T have dressed this way purposely,” re-
plied the woman, throwing back the long, ;
white veil which until now had concealed i
her features. “In case of accident it is -
best that I should be mistaken for the ¥
ghost of the chateau, in the existence of
which everybody believes.” .
Fred nodded and stood in silence. :
She was a young .woman and not un
handsome.: There was a look of cheer de-
termination in her face.
“Listen!” she breathed. “You are to fol-
low me. Every word they say you must
hear. They are just finishing supper. Most
of them have drunk more than is good for
them; you must make notes of all they
say. Follow me. If we meet any one
crouch bebind | ine. Tho sight of me will
scare them 0 .
But they cmeounterea no one as Madame \
Eichler led the way to the same rear cham.
per to which Fred had been conducted be
gag
tts time the secret panel was actually
opened.
They descended a flight of narrow stone a
steps, moving with the greatest caution.
Presently two points of light were seen
below them. Reaching these they paused.
The light proved to come through two
small round holes in the partition, so ad-
justed as to accommedate a pair of eyes,
They might not have fitted everybody's
eyes, but they did
found himself looking Into the large audi-
ence chamber in which he had talked with
tne Kaiser; though brilliantly lighted, it .
was now deserted as far as he could see.
d got out the note-book and pencil,
he had provided himself with.
He turned to bis companion and
about to speak when she put her finger to
her Hps acd shook her head
Thus they waited in silence and for a
longer time than was pleasant, but at last
footsteps were heard and many persons
came into the room.
Fred’s eyes were glued to the peep-holes.
He saw .the Kaiser, who resumed
former place,
There were several men in’ respendent
uniforms who scemed te constitute bis per-
sonal staff, also a number of generals.
General Van Blum was among them as
Fred later learned.
Fred now found himself in for an hour's
siege of
To Seta all he overheard would ba im-
possible for many reasons, nor would it be
proper to do so,
Condensed, it amounted to this:
The false dispatches were carefully can-
vassed and accepted as genuine.
A nuribe ogus dispatches were or+
dered prepared and a scheme corcocted in
‘
