The bee., 1908-07-30

THE
DIPLOMAT

The diplomat pressed MS nnger TIP
together and gazed pensively into tn
fire. A valet gIided into the room.
"A lady wishes to see you, SIR.
Who is she?"
she declines to give her name
sir"
rs she slender; brown hair anC
eyes; imperious carriage?"
Yes, SIR"
A satisfied smile stole over the diplo
mats face "Show her into this room.
This way, madam" said the valet
A girl of dark, passionate beauty
swept into the room MY business is
very important" she said.
There Is no danger of being over
heard" the diplomat replied.
81 am Theresa Victoria, daughter of
President Manuel Victoria" she said,
in low voice.
The diplomat kept a wary eye on
her right hand, which was concealed
in a fur muff.
Nov, | intend to shoot you as
coldly and brutally as you did him. "
The hand in the muff moved, and
the diplomat spoke hastily. II knew
two days ago you were coming" he
said. Far from assassinatlng 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
desk. 1t read:
Discharge Mansel Victoria
(Signed) MIGREUL GONZALES.
IL forced that from Gonzales when
your father was in prison, but 1t
came too late. was hand in glove
with Gonzales at the instruction two
years ago. But we were never any
thing more. 1 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 l reached the prison learned OF
his assassination" He paused a mo
ment. 1T was not | who killed your
father; it was the commander of the
prison, Capt Manuel Imez."
But ! thought" the girl inter
rupted.
"You thought that Imez was your "a
theirs 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.
Eales.
Gonzales was anxious to get rid OF
your father, but he had nothing to do
with his murder"
He pressed 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
fed back three months ago, thinking,
as you did, that was your fathers
enemy. l have been sheltering him
since"
The door opened. Capt. santoz."
announced the valet A large fat
man with 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
your father" The diplo-
mat pointed to Imez. and turned to the
girl. She was looking at the man
against the wall, her eyes flaming.
Suddenly her hand whisked from the
mum and something glittered. A PTS
tol cracked, and the fat man tumbled
10 the floor
The diplomat 1erked the pistol from
he girls hand, and seized her by the
arm. His hand ran along the wains-
'oting and something clicked. A secret
ioor flew open. 1t was the entrance
o a dark corridor into which he
hrust the girl.
Follow this passageway," he ex-
'laimed. 1T will take you to the
treet. Never tell any one what YOU
lave done"
He slammed the secret door to and
hurried back to the man on the floor.
he was dead Slipping the girls pis-
oil into one of the lifeless hands. he
ang for the valet.
Remember you admitted no one to
his room but him." pointing to the
ody on the floor.
Eyes, sir"
In a few minutes the police had
cen summoned Suicide, captain"
he diplomat explained. Money mat
srs, you know. Poor devili"
Study Of Mountain Sickness.
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