The daily Alaskan., 1905-04-08
A Schoolgirl Diplomat
torlelnoLl

NlWN VI NhahiN NaNta "h -N'"' 'aN''' was leaning over the rail- watching the people on the wharf when car, Iiagc drove up and a lady allghtcd and ra.ue aboard. As she walked ID the vanSway she happened to raise her eyes, and they lighted upon the Amer lean. 1t seemed to him as if there was something conscious in the look some thing to indicate that she had seen hin before. He hoped he was not wrong in his inference, for the lady was young and perfect typo Of a spanish AmCrican beauty,
 The evening after sailing was balmy, and a half moon appeared oa the nSerid' ian. Most Of the pass, ugers were on deck, including the AmcricaO and the Spanish scnoyita. The former was pac, luz the dec,I, the latter sitdng in a steamer chair. He walked near the girl and occasionally glanced at her but she dld not rotsce hinN Suddenly the wind produced by the motion ot the steamer took oif a bit cf 'scc that had been wrapped about her hvad Sad throat. The AcaertcaG caught it an', taking R tc Sss. deiiveNsd U with a pro found bow,
 Thank you slypor" sNe sald, then In a low roice; "I wish to have some speech with you and without attract ing attention. let my lace heNddress go pn purposs Dc not Oeman by me long enough to sttyNst attention. but tonight, after ali these people nre in their berthS. I win b. 6cre Come then
 Certainly. senorlta." And. lifting his hat, he continued his walk.
 The passengers turned in early, and by 10 o'clock the lest ono, except th, senoJita, had left She deck Then the American joined her,
 "Iou are MT. Wortblngton Curtis" she said
 rl am" he replied, much surprised
 "You arc on your wsy to Washington with impogJaD, iispytchcS from th. government Qf Co,0uuia."
 "RCGly-..
 Don't deny it would know uoth lug about It or cvory:Hinr know cy erythnc. An effort ;S to hc made bc farc yor rNaCn Washington to r1,igyf you ct your 0SpcCr. It is very imHuG tRpt to Colombia that they should ry through. am going to try to foi, tsvsn who are Ou your track
 Thew WEo Uuc tHeyT
 They Nrc not aboard tho shjp N'l their representative iS."
 And that rcpUoScuEuveT
 'It is better that you should rcmalr Ignorant or bis or her identity. ! win not tell yOg ,Dc SCN. If you knew yoD would reveal the l01wlNlgc"
 "Rut could l not the better protect myselrr'
 That ia the Americans vicv of it We Spanish people are SD deeply vCrSN1 In trcachery as to consider your i-uu rance of youg enemy an advantage II V1ll tbrow that enemy or his or hc- SInrd. ! will come in as a thirl per son to take advantage of it."
 "I Scc. But who sent you on this missiooJ"
 That's . secret It is enough that the ColompSan government is interested In your getting through with your dis patches"
 HDid you come on the ship especially to aid o,ST
 -No ' Rr going to New York to scbool.-
 I'm. Rstker a precO,lous school girl Where are your crcdcntialSy'
 "whst creaentialsy-
 You must have 6 letter to me from those vho SeDt ps that you are here to sid me-
 T have not
 Tnso must decline to trust you"
 You don't need to trust me When point out a danger, avoid it. That is not trusting me"
 Curtis ended the interview by thank lnS her politely for her interest in him and went below. The next morning a steward handed Nm note, unsigned, which read!
 Tcu wtil ss approached by man thls evening vhc vln endeavur e lure you to the stern Of the ship Do not 60 with him,
 True enough, as Curtis was smoking es deck . B1an opened conversation as tn ne direction of the gulf stream. After some talk he proposed to Curtis to walk to the stern to observe a phos. phnrescence In the wake of the ship. Curtis declined to 70 and from that merneat plsced faith in what he called n. eenorits. Next came note advis- tng him to keep his dispatches on his person for the rest Of the journey. He hNs'tatcd for some fine and then de- eided to tsSe ths advice
 Tho night Leforc reaching She port et New York Curtis was sitting with 'rhe scoccisfrf> ir a retired place on dSck, He dropped several hints that 1t wER time foy all naSSCureTS to he in