governor had my place at the window, and
was saying:

'Strike off his bonds and set him free!'

Three minutes later all were in the parlour again. The reader will
imagine the scene; I have no need to describe it. It was a sort of mad
orgy of joy.

A messenger carried word to Szczepanik in the pavilion, and one could
see the distressed amazement in his face as he listened to the tale.
Then he came to his end of the line, and talked with Clayton and the
governor and the others; and the wife poured out her gratitude upon him
for saving her husband's life, and in her deep thankfulness she kissed
him at twelve thousand miles' range.

The telelectroscopes of the world were put to service now, and for
many hours the kinds and queens of many realms (with here and there
a reporter) talked with Szczepanik, and praised him; and the few
scientific societies which had not already made him an honorary member
conferred that grace upon him.

How had he come to disappear from among us? It was easily explained. HE
had not grown used to being a world-famous person, and had been forced
to break away from the lionising that was robbing him of all privacy and
repose. So he grew a beard, put on coloured glasses, disguised himself
a little in other ways, then took a fictitious name, and went off to
wander about the earth in peace.

Such is the tale of the drama which began with an inconsequential
quarrel in Vienna in the spring of 1898, and came near ending as a
tragedy in the spring of 1904.

II

Correspondence of the 'London Times' Chicago, April 5, 1904

To-day, by a clipper of the Electric Line, and the latter's Electric
Railway connections, arrived an envelope from Vienna, for Captain
Clayton, containing an English farthing. The receiver of it was a good
deal moved. He called up Vienna, and stood face to face with Mr. K., and
said:

'I do not need to say anything: you can see it all in my face. My wife
has the farthing. Do not be afraid--she will not throw it away.'

III

Correspondence of the 'London Times' Chicago, April 23, 1904

Now that the after developments of the Clayton case have run their
course and reached a finish, I will sum them up. Clayton's romantic
escape from a shameful death stepped all this region in an enchantment
of wonder and joy--during the proverbial nine days. Then the sobering
process followed, and men began to take thought, and to say: 'But a man
was killed, and Clayton killed him.' Others