The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-26
COPYRIGHT
[Continued.l
(Chapter IV.)
THE CLICK OF THE TELEGRAPH.

lCOntnued.l
(Chapter IV.)
THE CLICK OF THE TELEGRAPH.
When at noon, in accordance with the
| urgent and strangely telegram
| had received from the Earl of Warnham
| I aliqhted at Horsham station, in sussex.
| I found one Of the carriages from the
Hall. awaiting me. AS l entered 1T,
was followed by man I knew slightly,
Superintendent Frayling, chief OF the
Criminal Investigation Department at
Scotland Yard. who had apparently
travelled down by the same train from
Victoria.
Greeting me, he took the place beside
me- and a moment later the footman
sprang upon the box and we sped away
| towards the open country. 10 my ques-
| ton as to his business with the Earl, he
made an evasive reply, merely stating
| that he had received telegram request
| ing an immediate interview.
aThis summons Is rather unusual" he
added smiling. 'Has anything serious
occurred, do you knowT
| s'Not that I'm aware of, Perhaps
there's been burglary at the Hall r. L
suggested.
brown beard eff burglars had visited
the place he would have asked for clever
officer or two, not for personal inter-
view with me. "
With this view 1 was compelled to
agree, then lighting cigarettes we sat
back calmly contemplating the beautiful
fertile country through which we were
old town, descended sharply for short
distance, then wound uphill through
cornfields lined by high hedges of haw-
thorn and holly. Past quaint old
waterInill we skirted Warnham Pond,
wherein Shelley in his youthful days
sailed paper boats, then half mile fur
ther entered the handsome lodge gates of
Warnham Park. Through fine avenue
with broad sweep Of park on either side
well stocked with deer emus and many
GEOLOGICAL specimens, we assembled until
at last, after negotiating the long wind
ing drive in front of the Hall, the car
rage pulled up with sudden jerk before
it's handsome portico.
AS 1 alighted, old Stanford, the white
haired butler, came forward hurriedly,
HHis lordship is in the library awaiting
you, sir. He told me to bring you to
him the moment you arrived
Every WE'LL" / said. and the aged re-
tainer leading the way along spacious
bnt rather cheerless corridor, stopped be,
fore the door of the great library, and
throwing it suddenly open announced
me.
"At last, Deedes,'' heard the Earl ex-
claim in atone that showed him to be in
no amiable mood; and as I entered the
long handsome hamber, lined from floor
to ceiling with books, l did not at first
large writing table, behind which he had
been hidden. His face, usually wizened
and pale, was absolutely bloodless Its
appearance startled mo.
III wired last night, and expected you
by the 9.18 this morning. Why did you
not GOMEZ? was this first question, uttered
in sharp tone of annoyance.
g The sudden death of q friend caused
me to lose the train intended to catch,
explained.
habitual to him when impatient. els the
death of friend any account when the
interests of our country are at stake? On
the night my wife was dying was COM
De led to leave her bedside to travel to
Balnoral to have audience of her Majesty
regarding document had sent for the
Royal assent. When I returned Lady
Warnham had been dead fourteen hours.
In the successful diplomat there must be
no sentiInent-none."
"The five minutes I lost when dis
covered my friend dead caused me to miss
my train from Staines to London" ex-
planned.
"But you received my telegram, and
should have stric5ly regarded it's urgency,
he answered, with an air of extreme dis
satisfaction. "The fact of its being in
cipher was sufficient to show it's impor-
lance.
II was out dining, and my man
brought it along to me-, said.
"Why did he do SOP" he inquired,
quickly.
gent"
"Did he open itf''
tNo. Even If he had it was in cipher.
SIS your man absolutely trustworthy"
he asked.
"He has been in the service of my
family for fifteen years. He was my
fathers valet at the Hague"
"Is his name Juckes?" he inquired.
eyes,
"Ahl I know him. He is absolutely
Trustworthy; most excellent man."
The Earl's manner surprised me. His
face usually calm, sphinx-like and ex-
pressionless betrayed the most intense
anxiety and suspicion. That my delay
had caused him great annoyance was ap-
parent, but the anxious expression upon
his ashen almost haggard face, was such
that even in moments OF extreme per-
plexity when dealing with one or other of
the many complex questions OF foreign
policy, it had never been SO intense.
Standing with his back to one of the
great bay windows that commanded ex-
tensive views of the picturesque park, he
was silent for q moment, then turning
his keen, grey eyes upon me, he suddenly
exclaimed in a tone of extreme gravity.
'sSince yesterday, Decides, catastrophe
has occurred"
"You briefly limited at it in your tele.
gram" anwered. "What is it's naturef"
"The most serious that has happened
during the whole of my administration, %
he said in voice that plainly betrayed
his agitation. 1.-THE clauses of the secret
defensive alliance which Hammerton
brought from Berlin yesterday are known
in ST. Petersburg"
"What p cried in alarm, remember