Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-05-01
. - Q Q . Q . Q Z
A DIPLOMATIC :
POINTER.
D 10000 oooosooooo
[Original.l

appeared in Washington, there was
tome difficulty in making them out. 1t
was generally conceded that Mrs
Compton was of a superior grade to
aer husband-that is, she had the
nannerisms of society, which her hus-
band had not. Mr.. Compton laughed
ather loud While Mrs. Compton laugh
vi very softly, though an expert in
taste would have detected that it was
mther artificial than natural.
The minister from Aurania-there is
10 such country as Aurania; the name
Is used to stand for Kingdom which
It would not do to mention openly-be-
came devoted to Mrs. Compton. Either
this or Mrs. Compton became devoted
10 the ambassador. We must have a
lame for the minister, so we will call
him the Marquis Of Caribas. lie was
regarded as one of the brightest of the
diplomatic corps and withal the most
reticent. He had way Of furnishing
items to reporters without giving them
Information which. though it did not
satisfy, never antag oniZed them.
"Maruuis." said Mrs. Compton one
evening when with the ambassador,
there is runor that the war between
your people and the Nisterians''-an-
other fictitious name-''is about to
cease. l hear the United States will
Intervene"
"All depends upon the emperor Of
Wisteria'
Indeed! What do you Auranians
expect him to do?"
1--WE expect him to do nothing"
'"That implies that he is bent on do
Ing something'
IF so it is the first time he has ever
done anything. He is the LATEST SOY
ereign on the face of the EARTH"
Il thought possibly that you would
trust me just a little since we have be
come such good friends" said the lady.
with a hurt expression. 81 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,
Il 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 | will show you that any woman
who-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 q cipher code"
"What is your code:"
ut is too complicated to make you
familiar with it except by considerable
Instruction.
Mrs. Compton pondered; then she
asked, whats your word for peace?'
pax" replied the marquis.
''Pax? What a funny word! What's
your word for warp"
"Vobiscum."
PAX and vobiscum! Seems to me
I've heard something like that some
where"
ALL % NoAAplO41 A1Ni ulGuC u SICl' III ii
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
to send your cablegram 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 a carriage, she proceeded thith.
er at rapid pace. She was ushered
into the marquis private office.
II am sending an important message
to my government" he said. 1T is
impossible without betraying a sacred
trust to show it to you. l am going
into the other Office for few moments,
and you will he alone here.''
He looked meanngly 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 We're meaningless. But one attract
ed her attention-the word pax. When
the marquis returned she gave him a
look indicating her profound apprecia
ton of his act. Returning to her hotel
she found her husband waiting for her
"Well?" lie exclaimed eagerly.
otis peace"
Without 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 disappolnt
ed. There was no Intervention. nc
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 8
loss.
One day the couple went to a Roman
Catholic church to hear some fine mu
sic, and during the services the pries1
pronounced the words pax vobiscum.
They looked at each other meaningly
Later, meeting priest, Mrs. Compton
asked him what the words meant
"Peace be with you," replied the priest
and Mrs. Compton thanked him. ani
said good morning.
Tho 49, l.,