THE KAISER.
In spite of the fact that Hal had sure sense that Emperor Wilhelm would be in the room below, he felt a peculiar thrill creep over him as he made out the imposing figure of “The War Lord of Europe.” He whistled softly to himself.
“Great Scott!” he ejaculated, and then looked long and silently.
“To think,” he said to himself after a long pause, “that he is primarily responsible for this great war, with its toll of thousands of lives and the destruction of property worth millions of dollars.”
Unconsciously, almost, he drew his revolver, and pointed it straight at the War Lord’s breast.
“With one little movement of my finger,” said the lad softly to himself, “I could snuff out the life of the man who has already sent thousands to their death. One shot, and——”
His fingers tightened on the trigger, but for a moment only. Then he lowered his weapon, and a moment later dropped it back in his pocket, while he wiped away little beads of perspiration that had gathered on his brow.
“It’s no use,” he told himself, “I couldn’t do it if I wanted to.”
Wilhelm II, Emperor of the German Empire and War Lord of Europe, will never know how close he was to death at that moment!
Now the voices of the officers in the room below became louder, and by straining his ears the lad could make out what they were saying.