Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-08

we have. authentic Information as TO a
huge mobilization scheme which is al II
ready on foot. We might have wonder
ed against whom these preparations 1
We're intended but for you. AS it is the /
English government has been fully i
appraised of everything. Your magnifi- |
cent fleet. under the pretext of seeing |
the Baltic squadron safely on its way,
has been gradually concentrated. From
dispatches to the German ambassador
which we have managed to intercept
in England we know that it is intended |
to raise 'casus belli' during the pres |
ence of the squadron in British waters. |
Quite unexpectedly. rs it was hoped, |
Germany was to range herself on Rus |
sia's side and strike against England. |
We. Russias nominal ally. have had no
intimation of this whatever. We are
apparently left to urselves-ignored. |
Our friendship with your country has
destroyed Russia's friendship for Us.
| She relies. no doubt, on our neutrality.
| and she makes terms, doubtless alb
surdly favorable ones, with our ancient
| enemy. In the eyes of the world France
| is to be made to appear ridiculous. The
| German empire is to be ruled from
London, and the Emperor Wilhelms
| known ambition is to be realized"
1T sounds Guy admitted. like a
| nightmare. l know you foreigners all
| think we English are a lot too cock
sure. but we have our own ideas, you
| know, about any attempt at INVASION
| Il am afraid the duke said, that
| when it comes to throwing n million
| men ut different points of your coasts
l protected by n superb navy, you might
find yourselves unpleasantly surprised
But let that pass. Have | said enough
to make you understand the impor-
lance of what you saw in the forest of
Pozen? Good. Now want you to uE-
derstand this-in the interests of your
country and mine it is most important
that the fact of our knowledge of this
meeting should be kept profound Sc
cret''
"Yes." Guy said; 81 understand that"
| "Your presence there" the vicomte
continued, created Il certain amount
of suspicion. You We're watched to
Paris by German spies. and If they had
had the least idea of how much you
had seen your life would not have been
worth five minutes purchase. AS it is.
they are uneasy over your disappear
ance. There are at least n dozen men
and women in Paris and England to-
day who are searching for you. You
are moderately safe here. but not alto
gether- l want to put them finally of
the scent. l might, of course, put you
into such confinement that detection
would be impossible / do not want to
do that You have rendered-your own
country and mine an immense service.
| prefer to treat you as a gentleman
and man of honor and to take you, as
| hope you will see that | have done.
into our entire confidence"
IN. lie Due" Guy answered. II can
assure you that l appreciate all that
You have said. l am willing to do ex-
actly as You say"
Tomorrow mornings papers," the
duke said slowly, will contain an ac-
count of the finding of your body in
the Seine"
MY what?" Guy exclaimed.
SIour body. We are going to stab
and drown You. Perhaps l should say
/, we are going to discover you stabbed
and drowned
Guy half rose from his seat
81 say he began.
Il need not explain. of course" the
duke continued, that you will suffer
by proxy. The whole affair has beer
carefully arranged by the commission
ers of police. An account of your do
ings since you arrived in Paris will bC
= given. which I fear may not flatte.
you, but you must remember that it 1.
necessary to put our German friend.
completely Off the scent, and in
= months time or so you viii reappaar
- and everything will be contradicted"
"But my sister," Guy exclaimed
''Concerning your sister," the duk.
continued, I'VE have further explana
+. tons, perhaps I should say apologies
!. to offer you at some future time. Fo
"a the present this only She is now il
\. Paris. She is to some extent IN on
ii confidence, and you shall see her with
p in the next few days"
"And what are you going to do wit
" me really?" Guy asked
You Will remain here Half th
&c servants of the household have bee
G dismissed. and every one who is no
In absolutely trustworthy has been go
" rid of. We are in close consultation
20 with your English cabinet. and the me
,r ment the time arrives for us to discloS
ar our knowledge of these secrets yo
l will be free to go where you please"
or Absolutely free?' Guy asked an1
o. iously.
he Certainly" the vicomte answered
- "The other little affair is Cancelled
your present services. In fact. as n
d, yards that you need not give yourse
IN another moments anxiety
u = - -------------------------