The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-09-30
DIPLOkl ACY
tOriginal.l !

turning on him a pair of expressive
eyes, where do you think it safest tc
carry the dispatch?'
'In my pocket"
I'm thinking, George, that your
pocket would be just the place any one
getting wind of your having 1t and in
terested in stealing 1t would frs!
search
"What do you say to my hat"
81 don't like that either"
where would you put it??'
'.The trouble is George, you have one
defect for diplomat. You're not reti-
cent I'm afraid you might get to talk
ing about it and
Come, now, sweetheart" said the
young husband with kiss, "don't
treat me like a schoolboy. I'm not
quite a fool. I choose to carry 1t in my
suit case. which l shall never let out Of
nv possession. Now do the packing at
once and III be of"
Alice did as she was bidden, and
when all was ready showed her hus-
band neatly tied package marked
dispatch in her own feminine hand.
.You see, George she explained.
this paper on which it is folded will
conceal the official printing and address
so that no one will recognize it,
"Oh. you stupid" laughed the hus-
band. You have hidden the package
and revealed it on the cover. What did
you mark it Dispatch for?'
That's to let you know 1t when you
see it. You see, there are other pack
ages, and
The words were interrupted by
shower Of kisses, with mu' ding OF
Dear little foolr' "Crazy idiot" and
similar endearing expression
"Goodby, darling" said the young
diplomat before entering the carriage
that was to take him to the station. III
it wasn't so sudden I'd take you with
me, but you know the baby needs you
"Yes. George. Never mind that Keep
your wits about you. Now remember
something I'm going to tell you: In
your oyercoat pocket you'll find note
from me saying one more goodby for
you tust before you sail Promise me
sou'll read it shortly before the steamer
leaves"
~ promise" And with hug and o
long drawn kiss the couple parted.
The steamer sailed at in the morn
:ug. George Gathney dined ashore and
Has preparing to 80 aboard when
gentleman whom he had seen often at
the embassy-indeed, had been employ
ed there for time-came up to him
and presented note from the minister
which read:
This will introduce MI. Francis Carr,
who will explain verbally what have to
cay to you through him.
Mr.. Carr said that the minister was
anxious about the dispatch, as it hid
been reported to him that those inter
ested in the other route had declared
the paper should not go through. Cart
asked Gathney where he carried 1t, and
Gathney told him. Then Carr asked
him to lock the suit case in his room
and he would take him to a place where
ne would receive final secret instruc-
tons. He did as be was ordered and
| accompanied the man to retired spot
in park, where they waited an hour,
when Carr, apparently very much dis
appointed that no one appeared, re-
turned with Gathney to the hotel. There
be bade him adieu. and Gathney went
aboard the steamer.
He determined to undress. get into
bis berth, read his wifes note and go
to sleep. Opening his suit case for his
night clothes he was startled to find
the dispatch package missing.
He fell with a moan on his berth. He
knew at once that Carr was fraud.
that his note Of introduction had been
forged and that he had been enticed
away from the hotel in order that a
confederate might enter his room ane
take the dispatch.
AS soon as he had regained some
thing of equanimity he began to think.
In his distress he needed the comfort
Of q word from his wife. Opening her
note he read:
Goodby, dearie You'll find the dispatch
IN your left boot In the suit case.
A plunge for the suit case, dive for
the boot. and. behold, the dispatch!
"Oh, you trump! You little brick!
You beautiful! Sharp! Why haven't
you here to give you a million en-
braces and ten million kisses? You
marked it Dispatch so that I would
know it, did you? You mean so that
the other fellow would know It. How
easily he found it and bow well ar
ragged your plan that te shouldn't
,Ave to search for it. or he might have
found the genuine one. II ever nat
oral born fool was blessed with the
shrewdest wife in the world, I'm that
foo!."
And so he ratified on uhtil he STUN
sled on his flask, and, pouring out
bumper. drank to Alice Gathney,
queen of diplomacy"
There was dissension in the enemy"s
camp, and it leaked out that the man
who was expected to take yhe dispatch
from the suit case, having been fooled
By a woman. became an object OF con-
tempt and lost valuable position.
When the story was known at WASH
ington Gathney was made consul gen.
eral at post paying S7.00 a year.
ANNETTE OTERTON.