Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-04-11
there's no answer" he said. with un-

My Dear Chilcote Lakeley is the re-
cipient Of special and very vital news
from Meshed-unof1cial, but none the
less alarming. Acts Of Russian agrees
sion toward British traders are reported
to be rapidly increasing, and it is stated
that the authority of the consulate is
treated with contempt. Pending a posi-
BILE confirmation of this, l would suggest
that YOU keep an open mind on the sub
ject of tonight's speech. BY adopting an
anticipatory - even an unprepared- atti-
tude you may find your hand materially
strengthened. 1 shall put my opinions be-
fore you more explicitly when we meet.
Yours faithfully, .
HERBERT FRAlDE.
The letter, worded with Fraide's usu-
al restraint, made a strong impression
on its recipient. The thought that his
speech might not only express opinions
already tacitly held, but voice Il situa-
ton of intense n national impor-
lance, struck him with full force. For
many minutes after he had grasped
the meaning of Fraide's message he
sat neglectful of his notes, his elbows
resting on the desk, his face between
his hands, stirred by the suggestion
that here might lie a greater opportu-
nifty than any he had anticipated.
Still moved by this new suggestion,
he attended the party conclave that
Fraide had convened and afterward
lunched with and accompanied his
leader to the house. They spoke very
little as they drove to Westminster,
for each was engrossed by his own
thoughts. Only one did Fraide allude
to the incident that was paramount in
both their minds. Then, turning to
Loder with a smile of encouragement,
he laid his fingers for an instant OH
his arm.
"Chilcote.' he had said, when the
time comes, remember you have all
my confidence"
Looking back upon that day, Loder
often wondered at the calmness with
which he bore the uncertainty. To sit
apparently unmoyed and wait without
emotion for news that might change
the whole tenor of ones action would
have tried the stoicism of the most
eNperienced; to the novice it was we'll
nigh uncomfortable. And it was under
these conditions and fighting against
these odds that he sat through the long
afternoon in Chilcote's place, obeying
the dictates of his chief. But if the
day was fraught With difficulties for
him it was fraught with dullness and
disappointment for others, for the UNI
dercurrent of interest that had stirred
at the Easter adjournment and risen
with added force on this first day of
the new session was gradually but
surely threatened with extinction as
hour after hour passed bringing nc
suggestion of the battle that had OH
every side been tacitly expected
Slowly and Enthusiastically speculation
and dissatisfaction crept into the at.
moSphere of the house as moment sue.
ceeded moment and the opposition
made no sign. Wa Fraide Sinking
the attack or was he playing a waiting
game? Again and again the question
arose, filling the air with a passing
flicker of interest, but each time il
sprang up only to die down again as
the ordinary business of the day drag
ged itself out.
Gradually, as the afternoon Wore on
daylight began to fade. Loder, sitting
rigidly in Chilcote's place, watched
with suppressed inquiry the faces OF
, the men who entered through the COL
Stantly swinging doors, but not one
, face, SO eagerly scanned, carried the
message for which he waited. Monot
!, onously and mechanically the time
passed. The government, adopting 6
neutral attitude, carefully skirted al
dangerous subjects, while the opposi
! ton, acting under Fraide's suggestion
assisted rather than hindered the pro
f gramme of postponement. For the mo
ment the eagerly anticipated reassem
, bling threatened dismal failure, and i
was with Il universal movement O
WEAKNESS and relief that at last thu
, house rose to dine.
0 But there are no possibilities so elias
g tic as those of politics. At half past
the house rose in q spirit of boredom
: and disappointment, and at 8 o'clocl
t the Hobbies, the dining room, the entir,
t space of the vast building, was stirret
into activity by the arrival of a single
Geographic message.
The new development for which
O Fraide had waited came indeed, but i
came with a force he had little antici
pated. With a thrill of awe and con
sternation men heard and repeated tn
o astounding news that. while personal
ly exercising his authority on behalf o
British traders, Sir William Brice
# Field, consul general at Meshed, hat
u been fired at by a Russian officer ant
IS instantly killed.
c The interval Immediately followin.
n the receipt of this news was too con
s fused for detailed remembrance. Tw,
IS ideas made themselves slowly felt;
If deep horror that such an event coul
n obtrude itself upon our high civiliza
t. ton and a strong personal dismay tina
d so honored, distinguished and esteem
ed a representative as Sir William
IS Brice-Field could have been allowed t
meet death in so terrible a manner.
u 1t was in the consciousness of thi
foo1inr tho oonco;o,,cpoco +ho+ n, Il;