The Washington times., 1905-03-19
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the Russian army in several Of the
big : engagements in Manchuria,
whittier he had gone from Port Ar
thur after running the blockade in a
small boat with a crew of drunken
sailors a short time before the strong
hold fell. He had even been on. the
firing line and russian general
would have mentioned nm in his dis
patches for gallantry in carrying
wounded off the field had not Billy
begged him not to do SO. For he had
the foresight to know that ne might
days. and he had no desire to have his
movements hampered by anything he
had done in the heat OF battle,
AFTER | wash up III talk, jim, and
Billy had dashed upstairs to the room
he knew was ready for him. lie had
made his home with tite senator wIsrsf-
ever he happened to be in Washington.
first place in tho Diplomatic Corps COON
after he left college Billy's father. who
had been a lifelong friend of the Sena-
tor had died while Billy was senior.
leaving a comfortable income Wnen
young Hale graduated he decided that
he had no gift for business and that
he did not want to begin another college
course In preparation for procession
Senator Lapghorne had suggested the
diplomatic service, ana Bllly mad jumped
at the idea.
Clean at last, Billy sat at the break
fast table, eating as though his life de-
pended upon it and throwing out word
or two to the Senator between mouth
fuls.
Thought something would probably
happen in these parts. Jim, SO came
back home. Understand you are all that
keeps this country from going to war.
because the gate receipts are falling or
we want to fight somebody.
The Senator chuckied Billys COM
ments always tickled him.
I'VE are not going 10 war. The Sen
ator spoke in the deliberate manner
Billy knew OF old by the way. Billy,
have niece staying with me-" He
spoke alphabetically as e he We're men
tiOning the existence of a contagious dis
ease in tia house.
How old is she? Does she keep you
awake ut night crying?" asked Billy.
fork in air.
This time the Senator laughed out
right.
"She's debutente, Billy"
Good Lord. said Billy. 1t was short,
to the point and expressed many things
WHO'S the chaperon?
.WeN, BLY, / haven't been able to
decfdesyet whether she IL or / am
what, you haven't real cfaper-
on = in a scandalized voice, though In
wardiy he was consumed with laughter.
She's my niece, Billy
| Good thing have come home TO look
after you both You never wrote me
anything about this. Where has she
been all these years.?
My only sister lived IN Missouri. She
married while / was practicing law in
\ New York and a few years later her
| husband died. She always refused to
come east and that is the reason you
! have never seen her during your short
| visits to your native land in the past
/ ten years Last year she died leaving
me guardian of her only daughter. a
girl just past seventeen. Although my
sister would never come east herself
! she sent her daughter to one of the best
schools in New York three years ago.
So you will find her neither wild nor
woolIy.''
''Name?' inquired Billy.
Marjorie Lee. She's out riding now
ANY more news?"
! The Senator's face lost in a minute its
jolly smile He was again the grave
man of affairs
Yes he said, and he drew with
! fork on the white table cloth a maltese
cross. They are in this country
a low whistle was all the answer Hale
made. lie sat moment in a brown
study.
I How did you find 1t out?''
1 "A letter was left on my desk yes
| terday telling me 10 be in a certain
place at a certain time to learn some
thing of Importance 10 me and TO the
country. l burned it.
TOO bad, /" said Billy. You will get
another however. IL | knew anything
| OF these people,
81 have received a second communica-
;ion already. / was coming home in
the motor ear. through that portion of
a street which, passing the greatest de-
pository In the Western Hemisphere,
connects the hroken ends of a cole,
DRAFTED avenue. a splash in puddle put
out the pilot light. Jesse, my chauffeur.
got out to relight H. As he did so n
man stepped out of the crowd passing
down the street and dropped this letter
pm my lap" The Senator drew white
envelope from his pocket, OF. which was
atamped small white maltese cross
Billy. =
Their old stationery" said Billy,
Spreading the letter out on the liable.
j: read:
You have disregarded our first re-
quest. Do not make the same mistake
second time. II you will come 20 that
part of an avenue named for the State
first settled by fugitives from other
American colonies which lies between !,
circle named for a Western State and
set apart In honor OF celebrated gen
eral. and another avenue whose name
> State famous for its nutrnegs at Il
o'clock Sunday night. you will learn
what Is of yital Importance both 20 YOU
and TO your country
The letter was In the same foreign
handwriting as the first letter. which
the Senator Ind received There was
lsno slgnatl'.G and down in tho rigatlinnd
corner OF the paper was the same
mysterious sign.
ia"Going?" asked Billy
| No" replied the Senator
Il am
, sAs you will IL you are quite through
, breakfast viii lend you the mJtor car
for Il spin IN Rock Creek Park. / have
some letters 10 write"
Twenty minutes later Billy Hale. seat.
I'd beside the chauffeur in tho Senators
au.onobile. was running smoothly over
the rnaco daWiZed road through the Zoe
park u was glorious morning The
sun shone brightly out OF cloudless
sky, Every branch and tw!9 OF the bare
trees stood out as clearly as though
seen through magnify:ng glass AS
the machine neared the top OF LONG
hill Billy looked back. The Potomac
river lay Ike a bright steel bar. In the
distance the Virginia shore with its blue.
gray leafess tress made fitting back
ground. In another direction lay the
lefty beautiful, the sunlight flashing from
the white dome Of the Capitol and the
| Washington Monument. Sunday quiet
brooded over everything,
| There was little danger of meeting q
policemen. and Hale turned the power
on 70 It's full limit. Fast travelling in ar
automobile IS more like sailing in a
stiff breeze than anything else IN the
word. and cor a few minutes Billy gave
himself up to the enjoyment of the rush
AS no sI0wa4 dows, aOaft, =