The Jasper news., 1908-02-18

rnent, reading in this placid auEertio1
a threat.
mo, 1t not a menace to you or the
world, IL you will but grant my wish
Gentlemen, am asking you to be my
guests In the name Of humanity, which
| Is above all rulers and above all gov
ernments!", His voice was vibrant
and almost pleading In his anxiety to
gain his point
| The king alone seemed half In.
clined TO go. Il have known Bevins
for 80 years." he said slowly, sand we
have been very good friends, indeed
| intimate at times, and would intrust
my life in his keeping; but man and
a king are two different beings. AS a.
man would go at once; but as the
representative head Of a nation can
| not take the risk unless there is no
other way"
The minister and the lord of the
admiralty spoke together In their dis.
| approval, and besought their superior
| to refuse such demand under any
and all conditions. Bevins saw that
he was losing his point, and stepped
! into the breach.
"Wait!" he begged, rising to his
feet. ''Will your majesty permit me
to bring other proof that what ask
I is for the best?"
The king nodded.
"Then grant me an order to the
guard at the door which will enable
me to pass without interruption and
| return"
There was the pressure Of button,
an order to the equerry to do as the
| visitor wished, and the officer bowel
himself out of the room.
His majesty's advisers began an
| impassioned appeal that he should un.
| der all circumstances refuse to leave
the security of his palace. They
assail him in many ways, despite the
fact that his visitor was his friend;
but to all of these advices he made no
reply, lounging in careless attitude
and blowing wreaths of smoke toward
| the shaded electric lights above his
| head There was q rap at the door,
and it was thrown open by an equerry,
who stood at attention, his face be.
| traying no sign of anything unusual.
Into the room entered another visi.
tor, followed by >Bevins, who closed
the door after him The materializa.
tion of ghost could have created no
greater surprise. The king dropped
his cigar on the carpet and, like his
companions, jumped to his feet and
stood like a statue, The prime minis.
ter's hand was half poised in the air
and remained there while the lord Of
the admiralty showed his head forward
in an attitude of awe-struck question,
ing.
The king broke the silence. Field.
is that you?" he asked, in utter aston
ishment
YES, your majesty, 1t is IL and he
advanced to meet the king, who sud
denly held out his hand.
The others rushed forward almost
incoherent in greeting the admiral
who had sailed away in command Of
the G; eat feet of demonstration and
had been given up as dead.
Field was apparently enjoying the
situation, and waited until they began
to ask question before expressing his
views. Il am under my word Of hon
or, or might say parole"
Not that" Bevins interrupted. you
are not prisoner"
We'll, under promise then, that
shall say nothing concerning the mys
terry which l now thoroughly under
stand" He made a little grimace as
If the subject brought up unpleasant
recollections of defeat, and went on:
Il am here tonight as the guest Of
our friend the admiral. He has told
me of his failure to convince you tina;
what he asks is necessary, and have
come to add my arguments to his
J urging upon you to do as he says. He
| has told you the truth when he say;
> that it may mean an end to war"
The ministers and the lord of the
admiralty looked shocked; but the
, king made decision without hest
fancy. 81 will accept, and believe Il
best that the others should accompan!
me-" 1t was conclusive.
They donned their light coats, ant
when the monarch stepped from hi
!, wardrobe a moment later he, too, wal
CARRIED for his trip and preceded then
: down the Railways, through corridors
and archod doors, over heavy car
: pets where the noise Of their feet wa:
deadened, and across tiled floors
where the ring of their boot-heels dis
turbed the silence. Only once did tn,
| III, oil nd fhof txyao a.