here was no mistaking this figure. It was Wilhelm II, Emperor of
Germany!

CHAPTER XXII.

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.

"If," came a voice from below, and Hal recognized it as that of Count
Von Moltke, "if we can draw the British to this point, we can cut them
off from their French support and annihilate them. And----"

"And," came the voice of the Kaiser himself, "we can, then, by a quick
turning move, take the French by surprise and our victory will be
complete."

"Exactly, sire," came Count Von Moltke's voice again.

"But, sire," said a third voice, "what have we to warrant that the
English will accept our bait?"

The Emperor did not reply immediately, and Count Von Moltke broke in
again.

"We will make a strong showing on the eastern shore of the Marne," he
said, "and will retire slowly before the British. As they come on,
flushed with apparent victory, Von Kluck will take them on the left
flank. We shall cut them to pieces."

"The plan sounds well to me," came the voice of the Kaiser again.
"General Von Kluck, how soon can you be in readiness to execute this
coup?"

"Not before day after to-morrow, si