Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-24
A DIPLOMATIC
POINTER.
lorlginal.l


appeared In Washington. there was
some difficulty in making them out. 1t
was generally conceded that Mrs.
Compton was of a superior grade to
her husband-that is. she had the
mannerisns Of society. which her has
band had not. Mr.. Compton laughed
rather loud. while Mrs. Compton laugh
ed very srftly, though an expert in
caste would have detected that it was
rather artificial than natural
The minister from Aarania-there is
no such country as Aurania: the name
is used TO stand for Kingdom which
it would not do to mention openly--le-
came devoted to Mrs. Compton. Either
this or Mrs Compton became devoteI
TO the ambassador. We must have q
name for the minister, SO we win call
him the Marquis of Carihas. lie was
regarded as one of the brightest Of the
diplomatic corps and withal the most
,reticent. lie had way of furnishing
items to reporters without giving them
Information which though it did not
isatisfy. never antagonized them.
Marquis" said Mrs. Compton one
evening when with the ambassador.
there is ruinor that the war between
your people and the Wisterians"--an-
iother fictitious natae-''is about TO
cease. hear the United States viii
Intervene.
"All depends upon the emperor Of
)wisteria.''
Indeed, What do you Auranians
lexpect him TO dog"
I'VE expect him to do nothing"
THAT implies that he is bent on do
nng something"
If so it is the first time he has ever
done anything. He is the LATEST soy.
lereign on the face of the EARTH
Il thought possibly that you would
TRUST me just little since we have be
come such good friends" said the lady.
with a hurt expression. Il don't see
how you diplomats ever marry; you
must always have secrets from the wo-
man who loves you
As Mrs. Compton spoke the last
words she looked up meaningly at the
marquis.
my dear Mrs. Compton" he replied
ri know nothing as yet of the subject
you are mentioning. Ask me some
thing that l know-the methods. for
instance, by which we diplomats act
and l viii show you that any woman
rwho-who loves me will be repaid for
her devotion"
well, then. how do you communi
cate important information to your
sovereign without having it known to
the world?'
'.By cipher code"
What is your code?"
1T is too complicated to make you
familiar with 1t except by considerable
instruction
Mrs. Compton pondered; then she
asked. whats your word for peacef"
Pax" replied the marquis.
Pax? What funny word! What's
your word for war;"
"Vobiscum."
pax and vobiscum! Seems to me
I've heard something like that some
where"
Mrs. Compton had made a step in
plan she had formed and began to
consider her next one. Presently she
added:
Promise me one thing"
Anything"
Telephone me when you are about
10 send your cabiegram on this subject
to your sovereign"
IF there is time"
keep me posted as to when you ex-
pect the matter to be settled, and l
will go at moments notice"
II promise"
A few days later Mrs. Compton was
summoned to the Auranian embassy.
Calling carriage, she proceeded thith-
er at rapid pace. She was ushered
Snto the marquis private Office.
Il am sending an important message
TO my government" he said. 1T is
impossible without betraying sacred
trust to show II to you. / am going
into the other office for few moments
and you will he alone here
He looked meaningly at paper lying
on his desk and went out. Mrs Comp
ton rushed to the paper and ran her
eye over a number of words which to
her were meaningless But one attract
ed her attention-the word pax. When
the marquis returned she gave him a
look indicating her profound apprecia-
don of his act. Returning to her hotel,
she found her husband waiting for her.
'Well?" he exclaimed eagerly.
Its peace"
Without a word he rushed to his tele-
phone and, calling up his New York
stockbroker, ordered him to buy mil
lion In Auranian bonds Immediately.
Mr.. and Mrs Compton's expectation
that peace would be announced and
the bonds rise in price was disappoint-
ed. There was no intervention, no
peace. She did not see the Marquis of
Carabas again, for he soon after took
his vacation. The bonds sank in price,
and Mr.. Compton's were sold out at a
loss.
One day the couple went to Roman
Catholic church TO hear some fine mn