Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-20
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A MATTER OF
DIPLOMACY
GOriginal.I


war Il cablegram was received in Wash
ingtOn that France WAS about COM
pleting treaty OF alliance between
certain powers possessing sufficient
united naVies to hold the United States
fleets in check, giving Spain their in
fiuence and leaving her free access to
Cuba. After consultation between the
president and the cabinet IL reply was
sent. but what its nature was has new
er been forthcoming. What is known
is that one Of the ablest American dip
lOmats then abroad was instructed to
use every effort to defeat the treaty,
Offering England certain coveted sup
port in case she should forbid the in
reference. The difficulty in his way
was Il want of time. The treaty was
I'm Paris and had been signed by all
the powers concerned except Germany.
One evening Il talented and energetic
young Spanish diplomat, whom we
shall call CavallOs, took the evening
train from Paris for Brussels. He had
with him Il leather suit case, which
he kept between his heels and the bot
tom of his seat. Opposite him sat
lady, leaning her head back on the
cushion lauGuidly and wearing n thick
veil. When the train reached Amiens,
she uncovered her face, which proved
to be young and attractive. though
very pale. and. looking appealinSly mt
CaVallOS, she asked in French if he
would have the kindness to go into tlfe
station and bring her glass OF wa
ter. CaVallos heSitated Il moment.
Then, taking up the suit case, he
spranS from the coach and returned
with the water. never loOsening his
grip on the case during the trip.
Thank you ever so much. monsieur
said the lady. Il would have shown
my appreciation of your kindness by
ut least taking charge of your suit case
had you permitted me-"
1T is not heavy" replied Cavallos.
land there is nothing in it but few
toilet articles
The lady leaned her head back I'M
easily on the cushion and covered her
face with her handkerchief.
as madame suffering?" asked Ca
vallos.
''Dreadfully. I have neuralgia in the
face"
TOO bad" replied the sympathetic
Cavallos. Il wish 1 had something
with me to alleviate it,"
There is only one thing that will re-
lieve it. Il preparation of chloroform
and camphor. but l don't like To use
it in n public coach. 1t has such an
odor" .... ..- ....,..
There were two ladies in the coach
besides the speaker and Cavallos. All
agreed that they would endure the
odor of the drug if it would save suf-
fering. The invalid demurred for
time, but the agony became so great
that she was disturbing the other pas
sengers as we'll as paining them at see
ing her suffer, and she at last consent
ed. The drug was certainly OdOrifer-
Gus, so much so that at the next sta
ton the two ladies got into another
carriage.
Il beg of you" said the invalid to
Cavallos, don't stay here for fear Of
being considered unsympathetic.
shall not blame you if you leave"
CavaIlOs hesitated. He would have
liant fellow and did not care to appear
selfish.
You would be alone, madame"
At that moment the lady became
faint from pain, and before she could
recover TO make Il reply the train had
started.
1t was some time before there was
another stop. The lady took vial
from her pocket and applied it fire.
quently to her nOstrils. Cavallos be-
gan to get drowsy.
Would you mind having the win
dow raised?" he asked.
'Oh. please dOn't!' pleaded the lady.
THE cold air blowing on my face
would kill me-"
Cayallos' head began to swim. Then
the lady looked to him far away. Out
side the scenery. instead of going back
ward, as it seems to one moving rapid
ly forward. revolved. The diplomats
chin sank on his breast He was I'M
conscious.
Come" said the guard an hour later,
poking his head into the door. Wake
up. We are at Brussels
Cavallos slowly came to himself. He
did not feel his suit case at his heels.
He looked down. 1t was gone. So
was the invalid.
That same night an American gentle
man of distinguished bearing crossed
the English channel from Boulogne to
Folkestone, arriving at London in the
morning. Without breakfasting lie
hurried to the home of the foreign
minister, called him from his breakfast
and was closeted with him for half an
hour. The two then departed for the
foreign ONCE. In the afternoon cable
grams were sent to the British en-
bassadors on the continent that Eng
land would resent any interference in
the Spanish-American imbroglio.
At the defense OF Santiago a Spanish
soldier distinguished himself in every
action. Indeed he so constantly and
so recklessly exposed himself that his