Evening journal., 1909-01-11
A Diplomatic Coup.
Observation-Disclosures
Iorlginal.l

hVuSci why uvh gou ~ ihlO uillO-
Macy"
Because. being a younger son. no
money is to be spent on me. I'D need
both that anG influence to get into
diplomacy. No; my father is deter
mined that l shall go to America and
earn living as best can. Why won't
you 20 with me7v
"Silly boy You win 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
tion Is as silly as mine"
"Not at ALL Your father certainly
has influence sufficient to get you an
assistant secretaryship or something
like that"
"At $500 a year. What would that be
to usT
"You might rise to better position"
when you and l are past middle
age. Thank you, l don't propose TO
wait for dead mems shoes"
But the girl carried her point and
Edgar Manross secured q clerkship in
the foreign Office at a salary of 1850 a
year. Being young and attractive be-
sides the son of baronet. he was
pushed, but not in the way he wished
to be pushed. He was forced TO do
social work. If a courtesy was to be
shown any person for any purpose, Ed
gar Manross was deputed to do it.
Now Il was 10 drive some Turkish
pasha in Rotten row, now to show
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 Vas laughed at.
Going to the Hon. Gladys. he poured
out his woes to her In a disconsolate
fashion There is a faculty possessed
by women-at least some women-that
is pleasing If not valuable. When the
bottom drops out they can say hopeful
4 ly: "Never mind II will all come out
right in the end" SO said Gladys, and
Edgar went away thinking what a
lovely little fool she was.
At his rooms he found an order to at
tend a dinner. representing the for
eign Office. II was not an important
function or he would not have been
sent. He went and found an assem-
blage consisting Of members Of parlia-
ment. secretaries of legation and jun
Tor government officials. When the
speaking came on Edgar retired TO a
cushioned window seat behind a pair
Of heavy curtains and went to sleep.
AS the evening wore on the assembly
was thlnned by the departure of the
more sober persons, leaving only few
noisy ones. About 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.
"TIe asks f4,0O0,OO0."
"Why doesn't your government pay
it at onceT
'It has offered f3,50O,000, but win
5 raise the price rather than let the
[ shares go to any other power"
, Il should think so. To control the
] only outlet by sea between Europe and
, Asia is worth many times the amount"
Soon after the speaker went away
gious lot Of thinking. It 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
I tains tin he saw his exit would moi
3 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 ant
called cab.
ITO Lord DIS" he said to the cabby
when he drove up to Lord DIS there
was not a light to be seen. Neverthe
E less he rang and finally pounded be
fore the door Das opened. Then h,
told the 1unky who opened II that HI
T, must see the prime minister at once
, He was refused till he said he had i'm
portant diplomatic information for hi'
q lordship. Lord d. came down in dress
B. ing gown and slippers.
@ II have important information fo
! your lordship." said Edgar. Il am 4
clerk In the foreign Office or 1 woult
\ stipulate a price for e. AS it is, onl,
/ ask that be given promotion"
4 Lord ID. yawned and directed him 4
Q proceed.
"The khedive Of Egypt is about t
sell his shares I'm the Suez canal"
'The deuce you sayr exclaimed tn,
minister, starting up.
'He is offered f3.50O,OO0 by France
\ He is standing out for f4,OO0,O00,"
The minister stood with mouth an,
eyes wide open while Edgar told hov
; he had secured the information. Thel
; presently he said:
I, Z "Have you a cab at the door"
Il eyes"
a Hold 1t while get on some clothes.
In ten minutes the two were whirl
II ing to the residence Of Baron Roths
e child. whom they routed out, and befor
o he was permitted to retire again b
was pledged to furnish the money L
buy the khedive's shares When tn
morning train left for Dover Edga
Manross was on it on his way 70 Egypt
+ special envoy authorized TO pa.
f4,0OOOO0 for the property, or as mucl
more as would secure Il.
A few days later It was known tha
q England owned the narrow strip o
b, land that comprised the khedive'
o. claim and serious complications hal
a been avoided that must have occurrel
4 had it been transferred TO France.