Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-14
A Diplomatic Coup.
[Original.1

[Original.l
Edgar" said the Hon. Gladys Hill
house, why don't you go into diplo-
macy?"
Because, being a 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 / shall go to America and
earn living as best l can. Why won't
you go with meP'
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
ton is as silly as NINE"
mot at all. Your father certainly
has influence sufficient to get you an
assistant secretaryship or something
like that"
"At 600 a year. What would that be
to us?''
"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 a clerkship in
the foreign Office at a salary of ESQ
year. Being young and attractive be-
sides the son of a barOnet, he was
pushed, but not in the way he wished
to be pushed. He was forced to do
social work. If courtesy was to be
shown any person for any purpose, Ed
gar ManrOss was deputed to do it.
Now it was to drive some Turkish
pasta in Rotten row, now to show a
foreign messenger through Westmin
ster abbey or the British museum. Tir-
ing of this. he went to his chief and
asked for a trial at some real diplo-
matte work. He was laughed at.
Going to the Hon. Gladys, he poured
out his woes to her in a disconsolate
fashion There is faculty possessed
by women-at least some women-that
is pleasing if 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
lovely little fool she was.
AT his rooms he found an order to at
tend a 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 mem bers of parlia-
ment. secretaries of legation and jun
off lc no
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 1 o'clock Edgar
woke up. Some one sitting near was
talking. Edgar knew by the voice and
the language spoken that he was a
member of the French embassy.
''He asks f4,O00,OO0."
'Why doesn't your government pay
it at once?"
"It has offered E3,5OO,O0O, but will
raise the price rather than let the
shares go to any other power"
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-
gious lot of thinking. 1t did not take
him long to deduce from the dialogue
he had heard that a 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 the
few groups of remaining guests and
walters, the latter clearing away the
remains of the feast, he went out and
called a cab.
ITO Lord DIS" he said to the cabby.
When he drove up to Lord DIS there
was not light to be seen. Neverthe-
less he rang and finally pounded be-
fore the door was opened. Then he
told the funky who opened 1t that he
must see the prime minister at once.
He was refused till he said he had i'm
portant diplomatic information for his
lordship. Lord D. came down in dress
ing gown and slippers.
nave lLupOLlduI 1ulOIludl1OA LUZ
your lordship," said Edgar. II am
clerk in the foreign Office or l would
stipulate price for it. AS it is, only
ask that be given promotion"
Lord D. yawned and directed him to
proceed.
1.-THE khedive of Egypt is abort to
sell his shares in the Suez canal"
"The deuce you say? exclaimed the
minister, starting up.
''He is offered f3,5OO,OOO by France.
He is standing out for E4,000,000."
The minister stood with mouth and
eyes wide open while Edgar told how
he had secured the information. Then
presently he said:
"Have you a cab at the door?"
eyes"
"Hold IL while get on some clothes"
In ten minutes the two were whirl-
ing to the residence Of Baron Roths-
child, whom they routed out, and before