The Mena weekly star., 1908-07-23
TH: DIPLOMAT
sy A. M. Perkerson.

rho diplomat pressed his finger tips .otber and gazed pensively into the s1e @ valet glided into the room. m "A lady wishes to see you, sir" "Who is she?'
 osbe declines to give her name 'i. ars she slender; brown hair and oves. imperious carriage?
 "Yes, sir
 satisfied smile stole over the diplo- mats face show her into this room. aThis way, madam" said the valet. gir, of dark, passionate beauty
 ont into the room. My business is very impo, tant," she said.
 aThere is no danger of being over hoard" the diplomat replied.
 .T am Theresa Victoria, daughter of president Manuel Victoria she said. in low voice.
 The diplomat kept wary eye on her right hand, winch was conceaieo in a fur huff.
 oNow I intend to shoot you as oo,dlv and brutally as you did him." The hand in the huff moved. and the diplomat spoke hastily. T knew two days ago you were coming, ne so,d Far from assassinating your father was the only one who tried to befriend him in his misfortune. Look at this"
 He took a slip of paper from the oesk. It read
 ttsisned1 MIGREUL GONZALES. q forced that from Gonzales when vour father was in prison, but II ,amx too late. I was hand in glove vlth Gonzales at the instruction two years ago. But we were never any thing more. I wanted your father ousted from the presidency, but would have done anything to protect him from personal injury. l forced Gonzales to give me that order, but be- fore reached the prison l learned of his assassination" He paused a mo ment It was not I who killed your rather. it was the commander of the prison. Capt Manuel Imez."
 But I thought" the girl inter rupted.
 You thought that Imez was your ia. ther's best friend, and had to fly the country. Imez murdered your father because he thought that by assassinat- ing him he would gain favor with Con. zales
 "Gonzales was anxious to get rid of your father, but he had nothing to do with his murder"
 He pressed a button in the wall near the desk. Ask Capt. Santoz to come here" he said to the valet He is Imez" he explained to the girl He fled back three months ago. thinking, as you did, that I was your fathers enemy l have been sheltering him since"
 The door opened Capt Santoz. announced the valet A large fat man with a fabby, bestial face en- tered
 Theresa Victoria" the diplomat said in a low voice, sweeping one hand toward the girl. daughter of President Mansel Victoria. The fat mans face suddenly became white and he moved back until his hand rest ed against the wall The man who as sassinated your father" The diplo mat pointed to Imez, aud turned to the girl. She was looking at the man agalnst the wall. her eyes flaming Suddenly her hand whisked from the muff and something glittered. A pis tol cracked. and the fat man tumbled to the floor
 the girls hand, and seized her by the arm. His hand ran along the wains coting and something clicked A secret door flew open. It was the entrance to dark corridor into which he thrust the girl.
 Follow this passageway," he ex claimed. Tt will take you to the street. Never tell any one what you have done"
 He slammed the secret door to ana hurried back to the man on the floor He was dead. Slipping the girls pis tol into one of the lifeless hands. he rang for the valet.
 Remember, you admitted no one tc this room but him." pointing to tn, body on the floor.
 Yes. sir"
 Tn few minutes the police hat been summoned. Suicide, captain, the diplomat explained. Money mat ters, you know. Poor devili"