Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-18
By HENRY SETON MERRIMAN
Author of line S0wcTs," "R0dcn's Corner" Eros
 One Generation to Another" Etc. -

Tn former days there had been no one equal to him in certain diplomatic crises. where it was question of browbeating suavely the uppish rep resentative of some foreign state. No man could then rival him in the inso- lently aristocratic school of diplomacy which England has made her own. But in his most dangerous crisis he had lever been restless, apprehensive, pes hmistic, as he was at this moment. And, after all, it was very simple natter that had brought him here. It vas merely the question of meeting nan as if by accident, and then after ward making that man do certain hings required of him. Moreover, the nan was only Guy Oscard, learned, if vou will, in forest craft, but mere shild in the hands of so old a diploma list as Sir John Meredith.
 That which made Sir John so uneasy vas the abiding knowledge that Jacks wedding day would dawn in twelve hours. The margin was much too mall, through, however, no fault of Sir Johns. The west African steamer had peen delayed, unaccountably. two days. \ third day lost in the Atlantic would have overthrown Sir John Meredith's plan. He had often cut things fine be- fore, but somehow now-not that he vas getting old, oh, no!-but somehow the suspense was too much for his nerves. He soon became irritated and aistrustful. Besides, the pain in his back wearied him end interfered with he clear sequence of his thoughts.
 The owners of the west African steamer had telegraphed that the pas pengers had left for London in two separate trains. Guy Oscard was not n the first-there was no positive req son why he should be in the second. More depended upon his being in this pecond express than Sir John cared to contemplate.
 The course of his peregrinations brought him into the vicinity of an in spector whose attitude betokened re- vpect while his presence raised hope.
 'Is there any reason to suppose that your train Is coming?" he inquired of the official. .so
 .Signaled now, my lord" replied the inspector, touching his cap.
 And what does that mean?' uncom- promisingly ignorant of technical par lance.
 Ut will be in in one minute, my lord"
 Sir Johns hand was over his lips as be walked back to the carriage. cast Ing as it were the commanders eye over the field.
 "Nhen the crowd is round the train you come and look for me-" he said to the footman. who touched his cockaded hat in silence.
 At that moment the train numbered in. the engine wearing that namely self important air affected by locomo- lives of the larger build. From all quarters an army of porters besieged the platform, and in a few seconds Sir John was in the center of m agitated crowd. There was one other calm man on that platform-another man with no parcels. whom no one sought to em- brace. His brown face and close cropped head lowered above sea of agitated bonnets. Sir John, whose walk in life had been through crowds elbowed his way forward and deliber' ately walked against Guy oscard.
 Hang it.' he exclaimed, turning round. "Ah-Mr Oscard-how dye dor
 How are youT replied Guy 0scard really glad to see him.
 "You are a good man for crowd. think l will follow in your wake" sasl Sir John. "A number of people. of the baser sort. Got my carriage here some where. Fool of a man looking for m' in the wrong place no doubt. Wher, are you going? May I offer you lift This way Here. John. take Mir. Os cards parcels"
 He could not have done it better il his keenest day. Guy oscard wa