Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-03

mother had left couddingly in his care.
filled his soul with the bitterness OF
gall And she continued the merry
round OF happiness, purchasing expen-
sive garments. jewclry. furs. the little
things which women love; gave din
ners and teas and dances. considered
herself an heiress. and thought the
world a very pleasant place TO live in.
Every lauch from her was a thorn 90
him, the light of happiness in her eyes
was a reproach. for he knew that she
was dancing toward the precipice
which he had digsed for her.
Struggling futlely among these net
ties OF despair. he took the final step
His ruin became dehnitive.
One starlit night he met a distin-
guished young diplomat. rich and hand
some. He played some. but to pass
away the time rather than 90 coquet
with fortune. lie was lucky. The man
who PLAYS for the mere fun OF il is
generally lucky He asks no favors
from fortune. he does not pay any
attention 20 her, and woman-like. she
is piqued. He won heavily this night;
my soldier lost cOrrespondingly heav-
lily. The diplomat pressed A loan upon
his new-found friend, who. with his
usual luck lost It,
The diplomat was presented to the
daughter. They owned 70 mutual ac-
quaintance in Paris and Washington.
The three attended the concert. The
girl returned 10 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.
1T 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 a man who possesses a secret which
Russia must have They study him
II he is gallant, one day he meets a
fascinating woman; II he IS greedy,
he turns 10 find bowl of gold at his
elbow; IL he seeks power, Russia points
out the shortest road"
But her knowledge Of foreign army
and naval strength"
Money does ali that Russia pos
sesses en- accurate knowledge Of every
fort ship and gun England boasts Of;
France. Germany. and Japan. We have
never taken IL into our heads to in
vestigate America. TIL recently your
country as a foe TO Russian interests
had dropped below the horizon. And
now Russia finds that she must pro-
coed TO do what she had done To all
other countries: that is. duplicate her
rivals fertilization plans. her total
military and naval strength; and so
forth. and so on. The United States
Is not an enemy. but there are possi-
biliues Of her becoming so. Some day
she must wrest Cuba from Spain, and
then she may become a recognized
quantity in the Pacific"
''The Pacihc?"
Even so. Having taken Cuba. the
United States. 70 protect her western
coast, viii be forced to occupy the
Philippines; and having tafen that
archipelago, she becomes a menace to
Russian territorial expansion in the
far east. Go not always speak so
frankly But wish you to see the
necessity OF knowing all about your
coast defenses."
So far the American had only gam
bled.
1T can not be donel"-spiritedl
ut can and will be DONE" smiling
Despite the watchfulness of your Of
ficiais. despite your secret service. de-