Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22

"And can be consult said Stedman, cheer
fully.
"of course. Tell them wha. propose to
stedman turned and spoke rapidly to the two
kings. The people gathered closer to hear.
The two rival kings looked at one another in
silence for moment, and then both began to
speak at once. their councillors interrupting
them and mumbling their cultural comments
with anxious sarnestness. 1t did not take
them very long to see that they were all Of one
mind, and then they both turned to Gordon
and dropped on one knee and placed his hands
on their foreheads and Stedman raised his
ruler; they are calling you TaIlamsn. which
means peacemaker. The Peacemaker, that 10
your title. hope you will deserve 1t, but I
think they might have got more appropriate
one"
Then I'm really king" demanded Albert
decidedly, .and can do what please? They
give me full power2 Quick, do they2"
"Yes, but don't do it," begged Stedman,
and just remember l am American consul
now, and that is q much superior being to
crowned monarch; you said so yourself"
Albert did not reply to this, but ran across
the plaza. followed by the two Bradleys. The
boats had gone.
Hoist that flag beside the brass cannon" he
cried, 'and stand ready to salute it when l
drop this one. Bradley, jr., grasped the hal
yards OF the flag which he had forgotten to
raise and salute in the morning in all the ex-
citement of the man-of-war's arrival. Brad
ley. ST., stood by the brass cannon blowing
gently on his lighted fuse. The Peacemaker
took the halyards Of the German flag in his
two hands. gave quick. sharp tug, and down
came the red, white and black piece Of bunt-
ing, and the next moment young Bradley sent
the stars and stripes up in their place. As 1t
rose Bradley brass cannon barked merrily like
a little bulldog and the Peacemaker cheered.
Why don't you cheer, StedmanY' shouted
Gordon. Tell those people to cheer for all
they are worth. What sort of an American
consul are your" Stedman raised his arm half
heartedly to give the time and opened his
mouth, but his arm remained fixed and his
mouth open, while his eyes stared at the re-
treating boat of the German man-of war. In
the stern sheets Of this boat the stout German
captain was struggling unsteadily to his feet.
He raised his arm and waved 1T to some one on
the great man-of-war, as though giving an or
der. The natives looked from Stedman to the
boat and even Gordon stopped in his cheering
and stood motionless watching. They had not
very long to wait There was q puff Of white
smoke and fash and then loud report. and
across the water came great black ball, skip
ping lightly through and over the waves as
easily as fiat stone thrown by boy. Itseemed
to come very slowly. At least it came slowly
directly toward the brass cannon. The Brad
leys saw this certainly, for they ran as fast as
they could and kept on running. The ball
caught the cannon under its mouth and tossed
it in the air, knocking the flag pole into dozen
pieces and passing on through two of the palm
covered huts.
Great heavens, Gordon" cried Stedman,
"they are firing on us"
But Gordon's face was radiant and wild.
Firing on u.s." he cried. ION US. Don't
you see? Don't you understand? What do we
amount to? They have fired on the American
flag. Don't you see what that means? 1t means
war. great international war. And l am a
war correspondent at last" He ran up to Sted-
man and seized him by the arm 80 tightly that
it hurt.
"By o'clock" he said '.they will know
in the Office what has happened. The country
will know it tomorrow morning when the paper
Is on the street; people will read it all over the
world The emperor will hear of it at break
fast, the President will cable for further par
ticulars. He will get them. 1t is the chance Of
lifetime and we are on the spot" Stedman
did not hear this; he was watching the broad
side Of the ship to see another puff of white
smoke, but there came no such sign. The two
row boats were raised, there was q cloud of
black smoke from the funnel a creaking of
chains sounding family across the water and
the ship started at half speed and moved out
Of the harbor. The Opekians and the Hillmen
fell on their knees, or to dancing as best suited
their sense Of relief, but Gordon shook his
head. They are only going to land the ma
rines," he said; perhaps they are going to the
spot they stopped at before or to take up an
other position further out at sea. They will
land men and then shell the town, and the land
forces will march here and cooperate with the
vessel and everybody will be taken prisoner or
killed. We have the center Of the stage and we
are making history"
I'D rather read it than make it," said Sted-
mn Ynp fva oyfsfr in ill
tion, Gordon, and . mighty unpleasant one.
And for no reason that can see except to make
copy for your paper"
Tell those people to get their things to-
gether," said Gordon, land march back out Of
danger into the woods Tell Ollypybus am
going to fix things all right; don't know Just
how yet, but will, and then come after me as
quickly as you can to the cable office. I've got
to tell the paper all about it." 1t was o clock
before the chap at Octavia" answered Sted-
GQFdon's message and Immediately shut off all
connection before the Octavia operator could
question him. Gordon dictated his message in
this way:
Begin with the date line Opeki, June o.
AT Z o'clock this morning the captain and
through the ceremony Of annexing this island
in the name of the German emperor, basing
their right to do SO on an agreement made with
q leader of a wandering tribe known as Hill
men, Ming Ollypybus, the present monarch
of Opeki, delegated his authority, as also did
the leader Of the Hillmen, TO King Talaman or
the Peacemaker, who tore down the German
flag and raised that of the United States in its
place. At the same moment the flag was
saluted by the battery. This salute being mis-
taken for an attack on the Kaiser, was ans wered
by that vessel. Her first shot took immediate
effect, completely destroying the entire battery
Of the Opekinns, cutting down the American
flag and destroying the houses of the
people" -
There was only one brass cannon and two
huts." expostulated Stedman.
"Well that was the whole battery, wasn't it?"
asked Gordon, land two huts is plural said
houses of the people, couldn't say two house
Of the people. Just you send this as you get
it. You are not an American consul at the mo-
ment. You are an underpaid agent Of cable
company and you send my stuff as write it.
The American residents have taken refuge in
the consulate CHATS US, explained Gordon and
the English residents have sought refuge in
the woods CHATS the Bradleys). King Talla-
man CHATS mel declares his intention of fight
ing against the annexation. The forces of the
Opekians are under the command of Capt.
Thos. Bradley q guess / might O. well make
him colonel, Of Col Thos. Bradley Of the Eng
lish army"
THE American consul says-now, what do
you say, Stedman? Hurry up, please?'' asked
Gordon. And say something good and strong"
"You get me all mixed up, complained Sted-
man, plaintively. (which am l now, a cable