The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-08-21
DIPLOMA
tOriginal.1

cause 1t will determine the route of the
canal. Should the enemies of that route
get possession of it they could defeat
the negotiations and possibly insure
the success OF the other scheme. Get
it through safely and you will find
your promotion in the secretary's Of
flee awaiting you. FAIL and your dip
lomatic career is ended"
George Gathney, secretary of lega-
ton, twenty-three years of age, newly
married, left the embassy and hurried
home to inform his young wife of his
good fortune and make preparations
for his journey.
George, dear" said Alice Gathney,
turning on him pair of expressive
eyes, where do you think 1t safest to
carry the dispatch|
''In my pocket"
"Im thinking, George, that your
pocket would be just the place any one
getting wind of your having it and in
search"
what do you say to my hatT
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 q kiss, don't
treat me like a schoolboy. I'm not
quite a fool. 1 choose to carry 1t in my
suit case, which shall never let out Of
my possession. Now do the packing at
once and I'll be off,"
Alice did as she was hidden, 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 a
shower of kisses, with a mumbling Of
Dear little FOOL" "Crazy idiotw and
similar endearing expressions.
"Goodby, darling" said the young
diplomat before entering the carriage
that was to take him to the station. IF
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 overcoat pocket you'll find note
from me saying one more goodby for
you just before you sail. Promise me
you'll read it shortly before the steamer
leaves"
II promise" And with hug and a
long drawn kiss the couple parted.
The steamer sailed at 3 in the morn
ing. George Gathney dined ashore and
was preparing to go aboard when a
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 Mr.. Francis Carr.
who will explain verbally what have to
say to you through him.
Mr. Carr said that the minister was
anxious about the dispatch, as it had
been reported to him that those inter-
ested in the other route had declared
the paper should not go through. Carr
asked Gathney where he carried it, and
Gathney told him. Then Carr asked
him to lock the suit case in his room
and he would take him to place where
he would receive final secret instruc-
tons. He did as he was ordered and
accompanied the man to a retired spot
in q 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
he babe him adieu, and Gathney went
aboard the steamer.
He determined to undress. get into
his berth, read his wife's 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 moan on his berth. He
knew ut once that Carr was a fraud,
that his note of introduction had been
forged and that he had been enticed
away from the hotel in order that
confederate might enter his room and
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 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 I
you here to give you 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 how well ar
ranged your plan that he shouldn't
have to search for 1t, or he might have
found the genuine one. If ever nat
IRA, born fool was blessed with the
ihrewdest wife in the world, I'm that
FOOL