The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-06-05
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~ dissipating itself, and the house
was almost emptied before the officer
had his reply.
Very we'll, you may come, and l
shall have the others sent for at
once" -
Bevins gave a quick start of exulta.
ton; but his companion continued
without q pause:
Il shall be there within half an
hour, and shall instruct the guard at
the outer gate to admit you immediate
ly on your arrival"
His companion held up a hand az II
forgetting something. IF your mai.
esty pleases, l should prefer that you
instruct the guard at the private en-.
trance leading from the garden in the
rear"
To this also the king acceded, at.
trbuting it to a desire for conceal.
ment on the part of his companion;
who almost at once made his adieu,
passed out beyond the curtains,
through the door, and Joined the last
Of the tagging crowd. The fog had
not abated, but seemed even more Inn
penetrable than in the earlier hours
Of the evening and rendered traffic
more difficult. Here and there came
the glow and halation Of al arc light.
dimly showing through q veil and
lighting up a tiny radius in the gloom.
A constable kept calling: Keep close
to the wall! Keep close to the WALL"
his voice sounding from q long dis
lance and mufled. Cabmen were in.
sistently shouting, and when Bevins
came to the first street crossing he
was almost run down by a slow-moving
automobile whose eyes stared at him
1t was the king driving to his resi-
dence.
At Buckingham palace, where the
royal banner was hanging sodden
from its staff, the guards with busbys
coated with the pe%rspiration of the
night, tramped briskly to and fro at
the great iron gates in front as we'll
as past the gates of the garden on
Buckingham road, a half mile in the
rea The time of the appointment was
past when the guardfat the private en-
trance received the expected visitor
with a comment Of surprise and apol.
ogy that he had not been accompanied
through the gardens by the farther
sentries.
very thoughtless and unusual, sir"
he said, "and I'll report them at once"
mo, no, don't do that" Bevins
hastily requested. II wished to come
alone. By his majesty's permission"
he added, and the man conducted him
to the private audience chamber.
where he was given a seat.
The prime minister entered only q
few minutes later and stared hard at
Bevins, evidently trying to recall
whether or not they had met before.
and seeming to remember something
familiar in the face. They waited
without speaking until the lord of the
admiralty appeared, showing from his
garb that he had been compelled to
hasten his coming; and then came the
king.
Gentlemen" he said, turning to tha
others, this Is Admiral Robert Bevins
Of the United States navy"
Had he said: Gentlemen, here Is an
assassin with a pocketful of bombs
the effect on the members of. his cabi,
net could have been hardly less
marked. Bevins bowed and extended
his hand to each in turn, assuring
them of his friendliness. The king
himself without parley conducted
them to a more private room, and
offered each in turn a cigar, after
which he looked inquiringly at hia
guest, who answered by drawing from
his pocket a sealed dispatch, which he
delivered. It was torn open and real
in silence, passing from hand to hand,
after which the admiral, without pre-
lude, plunged into his subject.
"As will be witnessed by the dis
patches l have brought, the United
States wishes nothing more than com,
plete harmony. 1t has been compelled
for the sake OF peace to adopt rather
unprecedented methods, which I can
assure you will at least revolutionize
all methods Of warfare as generally
understood. The letter Is to reassure
his majesty"
The two members Of the ministry
looked at each other Ia strained sus.
pense, and eagerly waited for the
American to continue, which he did
after brief thought, In which time he
gravely studied the kings face.
1T has not been pleasant for my
country to take the steps II has; but
there were no other means Of estah.
fishing and MISUNDERSTANDING for.
ever--a continued state OF peace. Gen.
tlemen, I believe that the day Of war
has nearly seen It's sunset. be.
lieve II you will intrust yourselves to
my care for the next few hours. under
my assurance as q representative Of
my government and as q friend Of his
majesty's. that no harm will come Ia
any Of you. that can convince you
OF what I have said, as we'll ~ Of the
uselessness OF strife" IL
ArainY thora Vas a%i1ence while thnaA