The Washington times., 1905-04-02
CHAPTER VII.

The cry Extra paper!' especially at
night, puts dash of life into the most
phlegmatic. 1t is suggestive of many
things. but particularly OF calamity
Death has claimed one of the great as
its own; there has been a terrible acci-
dent, in which hundreds OF lives have
been lost, or is it the forarunner of war?
Senator LanGhorne and Billy Hale sat
in the library smoking after they re-
turned home from the ball at the French
embassy They heard the shout of a
newsboy as he ran up the street. With
out a word Hale hurried to the door and
bought paper.
Across the front page, in huge scare
headlines, he read:
Thirty Americans butchered by Rus
slams"
The Senator had followed him out into
the hall. and together the men read the
stort cable 1t wns dated from small
port on the coast Of China, and had
reached Washington via New York
paper. which had special correspondents
in the East.
According to the brief story a com
lany of Cossacks had attacked and
slaughtered thirty American seamen
from the merchantmen Christina, which
lay in the harbor Of Sin Yam, Man
churia. The attack, said the report, was
entirely unprovoked- The Christina.
with only few men aboard, had sailed
slowly out of the harbor, followed by
an Intellectual rife fire from the shore.
Short-handed as she was. she had made
the port where the New York correspon-
dent was, the following day. The Amer
ISan consul there had been informed OF
the outrage. Farther down the page
was printed a list of American war
ships in Eastern waters and the length
of time it would take them TO reach the
scene of action.
The whole air of the extra was one of
expectancy. Il was like an infiammab bic
fuse waiting for the match. Only the
people of the United States could strike
the match in this case
The two men read he story-every-
thing is story in a newspaper even If
it be the gospel truth-a second time be-
fore either made any comment.
"Will there be war, Jim?'' asked Billy,
as the Serfator folded up the paper.
Il do not know. It is impossible to
tell how far this will arouse the people. -
the Senator spoke deliberately. They
went back to the library.
This should tickle the Maltese
Cross" said Billy sinking into an arm
chair. Suddenly a thought struck him.
Let me see that paper again, Jim .
He read the name of the New York
paper whose correspondent had wired
the news to the United States. It was
one of the great yellow journals whose
reputation for veracity was less than
that OF the prophet in his own land.
While the paper was ostensibly owned
by a hard-headed newspaper man, 1t
was rumored that certain millionaire
of giantlike proper lions and still larger
nose held the controlling interest The
paper, whoever owned it, had been a
constant enemy to Senator Langhorne.
Upon every possible occasion, 1t had at
tackled him and since the hild-up of
American trade in the East, It had been
more bitter than ever.
You see the source Of this report /"
said Billy TO the Senator
The great man merely nodded.
Il have been on chat part of the coast
recently and have heard of an Ameri-
can nerchantman's touching there -
/, Billy continued. He was thinking rapid-
lily now but the Senator had outstripped
him.
That" said he. laying his hand upon
the paper, lis a lie,. The only question
is can Congress and the people be held
in check until it is proved so. How
closely the Maltese Cross is connected
| with this move cannot say. bur 1 have
my suspicious. II the society is behind
1t, l will confess # was clever move
The society must, indeed, have un-
dreamed-of power in the United States
Power IN this country Is money" he
added.
Once more 1 see why you are the
leader, Jim. How do you do .t?'
But the Senator was already deem II
thought again. There was a battle
coming in which he was scheduled &c
lead the forlorn rope and there was not
a moment to lose If he We're to be pre-
pared for K.
Gable at once, Billy, to Marvin &
Marvin, my agents in the Philippines
| Tell them l must nave the truth of this
/ II after Immediately. If they cannot ge,
| it by wire, let them send the fastest YES.
sci they can lay hands on The code
book Is in my desk in the den.''