The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-10-01

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as yourself. You re the youngest of the
party. ''You' re not married You are
not heir to an estate. You have insured
your life. -
Morden happened to know that, having
been kind enough to act as one of my sure
ties to loan from the insurance Office,
for which purpose and no other-l had
lately effected policy upon my life.
Insured his life, has he?' chorussed
the Others Then, of course, he is the
man.
do not know to this day whether Nor
den was really in the Marquis of B
confidence, or whether he had simply hit
the bulls eye with a random shot. But
next morning, after breakfast, our host
drew ME aside, whispering that he desired
a few words with me in private, and would
| accompany him in a stroll round the gar
den. His tone was so very polite and con-
ciliatory that | knew at once something
must be in the wind.
Il wish to tell YOU he began, that
the post Of third secretary to our legation
in Y has just fallen vacant, and | can,
if you desire it, secure the appointment for
you.
"A thousand thanks. This is, indeed,
good of YOU, | exclaimed.
The post, | knew, was worth $500 Il
year, and was far better than anything |
had dared to hope for.
hem-hem, continued the
Marquis, with some evident nervousness,
looking hard at the gravel path as he spoke.
There is an-an-old saying, ism t there,
that one good turn deserves another ??
.'And there is a fable about mouse and
lion" [ replied, smiling. IF this
mouse can serve the lion, be sure he will
do it with alacrity.'
Thank you; thank you, my dear fellow.
| am about to confde in you. know |
can count upon your discretion. :
Il venture to think you may, was my
rejoinder.
The fact is-the fact-is, stammer-
ed my host, with unusual hesitation and
embarrassment. ''I-mean-have-have
you, perhaps, heard it whispered that
that-his Majesty ISIS hardly what we
in England consider crack shot 2
"A little bird has chiruped in my ear
little song of which that was substantially
the burden" | replied.
Then, perchance, the same little bird
has chirruped in your ear another little
song, whose burden is that my Imperial
guest is-is-scarcely aware of his ineffi
ciency?' smiled the Marquis.
THE little bird has not omitted to do
so. | answered.
well, to put the matter before You
plainly" he continued, dropping his jocu-
lar tone and speaking with evident serious
ness, 1.-The Emperor visit to me, although
private and unofficial, may be fraught with
important state consequences. But it Is
absolutely essential that he should be kept
in good humor during his stay. Now, as
you doubtless know, his Majesty temper
is, to say the least, scarcely of the most
equable description. And if he shoots
badly, it is certain to put him out serious
ly. SO | want somebody really crack
shot, and you, my dear fellow, are the
best of the lot Of us-to kill his birds for
him. My suggestion, therefore, is that
you should fire simultaneously with him
at the same birds he lets fly at; you will
hit them and he will take the credit This
is what is done, | understand, at his own
shooting parties-of course, without his
knowledge-which probably accounts for
his believing himself to be such a dab shot.
:; Z !; Will you do me this favor?
concluded the Marquis anxiously, almost
pleadingly.
looked straight at him. 1t seemed to
me that he quailed little as he met my
gaze.
Next gun on his left-close to him?'
| murmured. You then, also. my lord,
know that my life is insured?'
is it? | didn't known, upon my
soul, cried the Marquis; adding quickly,
There shall be no risk-not the smallest,
| assure you.
MY little bird chirruped to me in
different strain, [ replied.
"Ah! But your little bird was not in
my confidence. have thought the mat
ter out. | have made my plans carefully.
Come up close to me- Leaves and blades
Of grass have ears, he said looking eau
tiOusly round Let me whisper some
thing to you.
He whispered for about two minutes,
hurriedly eagerly. My countenance re-
Taxed as | listened [ nodded, | smiled,
| chuckled.
You are born Machiavelli my lord, -
| told him.
''Tut-tu tut 1t is Il simple enough plan
to have evolved. The difficulty will be in
its execution The most trifing indiscre-
ton might ruin everything-nay, make
matters a thousand times worse than they
would have been originally. Now, my
dear fellow, what do you say? Are you my
man
Gone question before answer, | re-
joined IF all risk is thus absolutely an
nulled, why am | selected for the post of
honor?'
Simply for this reasonable best of
reason-that you are the finest shot of the
party. | reckon you as ten kills hun
dred better than Morden, who certainly
stands next to you.
''You fatter me, [ murmured, pro
prima. But what he said was quite true,
and | knew it.
"Come-are you my man? he repeated
Relying on what you have confded to
mel am" | answered with decision.
He shook me warmly by the hand
The compact was sealed
Shortly afterward we shooters made
start of it. A drive of about two miles
brought us to the edge of the home moor,
upon which we were to commence opera
tions. We were soon marshalled in line
by the head keeper, acting, of course, under
instructions from the Marquis. His I'm
perial majesty had the place of honor in
the center, his host being on the right, and