Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-31

who plays for the mere fun of 1t is generally lucky. He asks no favors from fortune, he does not pay any attention to her, and woman-like, she is piqued. He won heavily this night; my soldier lost correspondingly heav- fly. The diplomat pressed loan upon his new-found friend, who, with his usual luck, lost it.
 The diplomat was presented to the daughter. They owned to mutual ac- quaintance in Paris and Washington. The three attended the concert. The girl returned to the hotel bubbling with happiness and the echoes of enchant- ing melodies, for she was an accom- plished musician. She retired and left the two men to their coffee and cigars. The conversation took several turns, and at length stopped at diplomacy.
 "It has always puzzled me-" said the soldier, "how Russia finds out all she does."
 "That is easily explained. Russia has the wisdom of the. serpent. Here is man who possesses a secret which Russia must have. They study him. If he is gallant, one day he meets a fascinating woman; if he is greedy, he turns to find bowl of gold at his elbow; if he seeks power, Russia points out the shortest road.'
 But her knowledge of foreign army and naval strength"
 1 '"Money does all that. Russia pos sesses an accurate knowledge of every fort, ship and gun England boasts of; France, Germany, and Japan. We have never taken it into our heads to in- vestigate America. Till recently your country as foe to Russian interests had dropped below the horizon. And now Russia finds that she must pro- ceed to do what she had done to all other countries; that is, duplicate hel : rivals fertilization plans, her total military and naval strength; and SC forth, and so on. The United States is not an enemy, but there are possi billties of her becoming so. Some day she must wrest Cuba from Spain, and then she may become recognized quantity in the Pacific"
 "The Pacific?"
 Even so. Having taken Cuba, the United States, to protect her western coast, will be forced to occupy the Philippines; and having taken that , archipelago, sha becomes a menace tt Russian territorial expansion in the far east. I do not always speak SC frankly. But I wish you to see thu necessity Of knowing all about you, coast defenses."
 So far the American had only gam bled.
 "It can not be done!"-spiritedly
 "It can and will be done" smiling Despite the watchfulness Of your of ficials, despite your secret service, de spite all obstacles Russia will quiet ly gain the required information. Sh, possesses a key to every lock"
 And what might this key be?'- with tolerant irony.
 Gold
 But if the United States found ou what Russia was doing, there migh be war"
 Nothing of the kind. Russia woul' simply deny all knowledge. The maj whom she selected to do the worl would be discredited, banished, per haps sent to Siberia, to rot in tn mines. No, there would be no war Russia would weigh all these possi bilities in selecting her arm. Sh , would choose a man of high intellect rich, well-known in social circles. linguist, a man acquainted with al histories and all phases of life. diplo mat, perhaps young and pleasing. Yo will say, why does he accept so bas a task? When a Russian noble take the oath in the presence of his czai he becomes simply an arm; he n longer thinks. his master thinks fo him. He only acts. So long as he of fers his services without remunera tiof, his honor remains untouched. un sullied. A paid spy is the basest c all creatures"
 Count, take care that I do not war my country of Russia's purpose. Yo are telling me very strange things. The American eyed his companio sharply.