The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-02-22
A Diplomatic Coup.
[origInal.]

Edgar" said the Hon. Gladys HILL
house, "why don't you 90 into diplc-
macy?" N
Because, being younger son. no
money Is to be spent on me. I'D need
both that and influence to get into
diplomacy. No: my father Is deter
mined that I shall go to America aud
earn living rs best can. Why won't
you go with me?'
"Silly boy! You will find all You can
do there to support yourself without
being burdened by me. Besides> father
would not consent. No: you must go
into diplomacy"
ut seems to me that your PROPOSE
tion is as silly rs mine."
mot at, all. Your father certainly
has infiuepce sufficient to get you an
assistant secretaryshIp or something
like that"
"At $500 year. What would that he
to usT'
"You might rise to better position"
"When you and are past middle
age. Thank you, don't propose to
wait for dead mems Shoes"
But the girl carried her point, and
Edgar Manross secured clerkship In
the foreign Office at salary OF $3.50
year. Being young and attractive be-
sides the son Of baronet. he was
pushed, but not I'm the way he. wished
to he pushed. He was forced to do
social work. If courtesy was to he
shown any person for any purpose. Ed
gar Manross was deputed to do It.
Now 1t was to drive some Turkish
pasha In Rotten row. now to show
foreign messenger through westmin-
ster abbey or the British museum. Tlr-
ing of this. he went to his chief and
asked for trial ut some real diplo-
matte work. He was laughed at. r
Going to the Hon. Gladys, he poured
out his woes to her IN n disconsolatc
fashion. There is a faculty possessed
by women--at least some women--that
is pleasing II not valuable. When the
bottom drops out they can say hopeful
ly: "Never mind. 1t Will all come out
right In the end" SO said Gladys, and
Edgar went away thinking what
lovely little fool she WINS.
At his rooms lie found an order to at
| tend dinner. representing the for
eign office. 1t was not an important
| function or he would not have been
sent. He went and found an assem-
blage consisting OF members Of parlla-
ment. secretaries OF legation and jun
ior government officials. When the
speaking came on Edgar retired to a
cushioned window seat behind pair
of heavy curtains and went to sleep.
| AS the evening wore on the assembly
was thinned by the departure Of the
more sober persons. leaving only few
noisy ones. About ! o'clock Edgar
woke up. Some one sitting near was
talking. Edgar knew by the voice and
the language spoken that he was q
member Of the French embassy. "a.
"He asks $4,000 1000" e
"Why doesn't your government pay
1t at once?"
"It has offered f3,50OO0O. but will
raise the price rather than let the
shares go to any other power"
~ should think SO. To control the
only outlet by sea between Europe and
Asia is worth many times the amount"
| Soon after the speaker went away.
Edgar Manross sat up and did prodi-
glous lot Of thinking. 1t did not take
him long to deduce from the dialogue
he had heard that sale Of property
very important to England was about
to occur. Keeping between the cur.
tains till he saw his exit would not
be noticed, then passing through tho
few groups of remaining guests and
walters, the latter clearing away the
remains Of the feast, ho went out and
| called q cab.
ITO Lord DIS" he said to the cabby.
When he drove up TO Lord DIS there
was not light to he seen. Neverthe-
less he rang and finally pounded be-
| fore the door was opened. Then ho
told the fluniSy who opened 1t that he
must see the prime minister ut once.
He was refused till he said lie had I'M
portant diplomatic information for his
lordship. Lord ID. came down in dress
ing gown and slippers Is .gf'st
II have important information for
your lordship." said Edgar. II am
clerk In the foreign Office or would
stipulate price for It, Asit Is, I only
ask that I be given promotion"
Lord ID. yawned and directed him to
proceed. e.soa
'The khedive OF Egypt Is about tn
sell his shares In the Suez canal"
"The deuce you sayw exclaimed the
minister. starting up. s
"He is offered f3500,00 by France.
He is standing out for f4.000.O00."
| The minister stood with mouth and
eyes wide open while Edgar told how
he had secured the information. Then
presently he said: fN
"Have you cab at the door" IA
| "Yes." >4.,r fi,tt ~.
"Hold It while get on some clothes" :"
| In ten minutes the two were whlrl-
ing to the residence of Baron Roths.
child. whom they routed ont, and before
he was permitted to retire again he
was pledged to furnish the money to
buy the khedive's shares. When tho
morning train left for Dover Edgar
Manross was ON 1t on his way to Egypt.
a special envoy authorized to pay
"a 000 0(10 FOR tho prOro,tv mr. n m,,Cl,