The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-04-22

w mere.
II don't know"
The Earl slightly raised his shaggy
gray brows. then continued:
How long have you known this
friend?"
Several years."
you told me that he has died since
yesterday" His Lordship said rs
not that rather curious fact-if
true?"
"True!" cried. you apparently
doubt me. A telegram to the police
at Staines will confirm my statement"
"Yes, never disguise my doubts,
Decides" the Earl snapped, fixing his
gray eyes upon mine, 81 suspect very
strongly that you have sold the secret
to our enemies; you have, to put 1t
plainly, betrayed your country"
II deny it," replied with fierce an
ger. II care not for any of your al
legged proofs. True, the man who was
with me during the whole time was
absent is dead. Nevertheless, l am
prepared to meet and refute all the ac-
eusations you may bring against me-"
well, we shall see. We shall see,"
he answered dryly, swapping his fin
gers, and again commencing to pace
the great library from end to end with
steps trife more hurried than before.
1--WE have-nay, l personally-have
been the victim Of dastardly spies, but
I will not rest until / clear up the
mystery and bring upon the guilty
Think" he cried. Think what this
means! England's prestige is ruined,
her power is challenged, and ere long
the great armies of Russia and France
will be swarming upon our shores In
the fights at sea and the fights on land
with modern ornaments the results
must be too terrible to contemplate.
The disaster that we must face will, |
fear, be crushing and complete. l am
not, l have never been, one of those
over-confdent idiots who believe our
island impregnable; but am old-fash-
toned enough to incline toward Napo-
Icons opinion. We are apt to rely
upon our naval strength, strength
that may or may not be up to the
standard Of power we believe. If it is
q rotten reed, what remains? Eng
land must be trodden beneath the iron
heel of the invader, and the Russian
eagle will float beside the tricolor in
Whitehall"
But can diplomacy do nothing to
avert the catastrophe?" | suggested.
mot when it is defeated by the dew
llish Vaccinations of spies,' he re-
piled, meaningly, flashing glance at
me, the fiereeness OF which did not
fail to observe.
But Russia dare not take the mi
tiative," l blurted out.
Permit me, sir, to express my own
opinion upon our relations with St
Petersburg" he roared. 81 tell you
that for years Russia has held herself
in readiness to attack us at the mo.
ment when she received sufficient pro-
vocation, and for that very object she
contracted an alliance with France
The Cars recent visit to England
was a mere farce to disarm suspicion
a proceeding in which, thank heaven!
refused to play any part whatever
The blow that have long anticipated
and have sought to ward off all thest
long years of my administration al
Nj haS
fallen. To-day is the most sorry day
that England has ever known. Tit
death knell of her power has sounded,
and he walked down the room TOWARD
me, pale-faced and bent, his counte
nance wearing an expression of unut
terable gloominess. He was, l knew
a patriot who would have sacrificed hi
life for his countrys honor, and tina
every word he uttered came straigh
from his heart.
How the secret agents of the GA
obtained knowledge of the treaty sur
passes comprehension" l exclaimed.
THE catastrophe is due to you-t
you alone!" he cried. you knew O
what vital Importance to our honor
was that the contents of that docu
ment should be kept absolutely secret
J l told you with my own lips. You hav
no excuse whatever; none. Your con
duct is eulpable in the highest degree
and you deserve, sir, instant dismissa
statement that you have been dis
charged from Her Majesty's service be
cause you were thief and spy."
Il am neither" l shouted in a frenz
of rage, interrupting him. eff 20
were younger man Pd-by heavens
I'd knock you down. But l respec
your age, Lord Warnham, and am nc
} forgetful of the fact that to you | ow
! more than | can ever repay. My fam
4 lily have faithfully served their countr
through generations, and l will neve
. allow false accusation to be brough
upon it, even though you, Her Males
: TVS Foreign Secretary, may choose t
4 make it,
q He halted, glancing at me with a
expression of unfeigned surprise.
. You forget yourself, SIR he an
Z swered, with that CAIN, unruffled dig
nifty that he could assume at will. g
q repeat my accusation and it is for 70
), to refute it.
/: Il can! l will" / cried.
: Then explain the reason you hand
ed me a sheet of blank paper in ez
a change for the instrument.
: Il cannot, p
Ie laughed hard cynical laugh
: and, turning upon his heel, paced tc
s ward the opposite window.
d "All l know is that the envelope
t gave you was the sane you handed t
me-" l protested.
|, 'It's deliberate lie," he cried as
a turned in anger to f,sce me again.
a opened the dispatch, read it through
q ascertain there was no mistake, an
i. after sealing it with my own hand
4 gave 1t to you. Yet III return you han
al aft l. L . h. &nI