Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-13

james MaltlanO, son OF an aQmlral
in the U. S. navy, fell in love with and
married Mile. Julie de LavaIle. the
daughter of a French diplomat who
had spent many years in the French
service, a considerable portion of
which time he resided in Washing
ton. NJ. de Lavalie never represented
his country as ambassador; he was an
adept at secret methods then in vogue
between nations. but. since the open
diplomacy Of the late Secretary Hay,
now largely done away with. When
any quick Machiavellian work was to
be executed it fell to Layalle.
Maitland and Mile. de Lavalle
were married while the groom was
employed III the state department
at the tire the Panama canal was
being located and there was any
amount of chicanery perpetrated both
as TO its location and the prevention
OF its location both by Central and
North Americans. Then came young
Maitland's opportunity. One morning
the secretary sent for him, handed him
a dispatch and told him that he wish
ed him 70 take it to the United States
consul at Vera Cruz who would see
that it reached its destination.
Delighted mt being thus enabled TO
make a beginning in his profession,
Maitland took the dispatch-it was
placed in an official envelope of the
state department addressed to the con-
sul-and was about 10 leave when the
secretary said to him:
1T is essential that the information
contained in that envelope reaches our
consul in Vera Cruz on or before the
18th. After that date IL will be too
late. 1t is well that you should know
that fits prompt. delivery will involve
IT. making or the failure to make
80 dollars by certain capital
ill therefore be very guard
HiIS of your mission and
81 the dispatch. l send it TO
ru- by you in order that no
- tb!s country may know its ul-
Innate destination. Nevertheless there
are plenty of spies about. and we, may
have them right hero in the state de
partment Be careful. and good luck
10 you"
When Maitland went home and with
the exhilaration of youth told his wife
Of his mission. its Importance, consid-
ering the interests involved, and all
that, she failed to show similar en-
thusiasm.
s"What is it. pet?" he said. "YoU
don't seem pleased"
'Jimmie,"' she replied, 'you will
never get ii through
Why not?"
They will steal it from you"
what makes you think so. Julie?"
From q little girl / have heard nj |
father tell the ways people take to out |
wit one another / know all about it, |
You know nothing.">
However. the little woman packed |
her husbands suit case-all the bag |
gage he proposed TO take-then took |
the dispatch to the library, and when |
she returned handed her husband box |
of cigars. He opened it and removed |
the top layers and below was an en-
yeiope addressed to Sonora Sanchez,
Mexico City. in Nine Maitland's own
hand.
Little one, you're a brick" said the |
young diplomat. Il see your scheme.
1t would never do TO leave the dis
patch in my suit case under cover of
state department envelope, would it?"
mo. Now, Jimmie, do be careful OF
the suit case and don't let 1t out of
your sight moment
Maitland gave her a dozen kisses.
picked up the suit case. called car
riage and started for the train. He
reached New York during the after
noon and went at once on board the
steamer which was to sail early the
next morning. He was about to lock
bis stateroom door on the suit case,
when, remembering that there might
be other keys that would unlock IL.
ne took the dispatch out from under
the'cigars and put it in his pocket IF
ne was followed. with view of steal
ing the document, his baggage was
surely the first place the thief would
ook for 1t. In order to discover if the
,ase had been opened for the purpose,
u replacing the cigars he laid all Of
hose on the top row with the ends in
he same direction except one. which
he reversed. Having done this he
vent on deck for air
The next morning Maitland found