The Press., 1910-02-02
nHOW the Trick
 Was Done
 Showing the, Ingenuity of an Able Ernissary. By HELEN INGLEHART. Copyright, 1910. by American Press Association.
Mime. Chapellier?'


 private office of the minister of foreign affairs, opened the door and announced: :: Mime. Chapeliierw
 "The government" said the minister, "appreciating your past services, is de- sirous of adding to the amounts al- ready paid you another 5O,OOO francs." "And doubt not the government ex- poets me to add to my past services a corresponding amount"
 "Can you leave for London tonight ?'' 'I can go anywhere at any time."
 "Very well. will explain
 The minister cast d look about the room, habitual with him before enter ing upon a matter involving secrecy, leaned forward in his chair and spoke in low tone.
 "The British government has made a treaty with the ambassador of the sub- lime porte at London by which the sul- tan grants valuable concessions to Great Britain. We have been negotiat- ing with the sultan's ambassador here in Paris for these same privileges, but we are too late.
 'Sir Bradford Chichester, one of the younger members of the British dipIo- matic corps. has engaged passage by sea for Constantinople in a ship sail. ing on the 14th. He will carry with him the British-T Turkish treaty for sig nature at the Turkish foreign office. It Is our purpose to delay him either at starting or on the way.''
 Mime. Chapellier reached London the next morning and reported in person to Baron la Brun, the French minister. ''In order to assist you," he said, "I give a dinner this evening at which Sir Bradford Chichester will be pres ent. Have you costumesg
 "Everything except appropriate jew els. shall personate wealthy Amer ican widow-Mrs. Worthington Wood Where shall send them?" "No. = Portman square"
 "Very well. I shall expect you at g.
 At the dinner given at the French embassy Mrs. Warrington Wood, who though born of French parents. had lived the first fifteen years of her life in America. was taken in to din ner by Sir Bradford Chichester. She knew that his family, though ancient were not rich and that he would glad. | ly take wealthy wife. She manifest ed so much interest in seeing his coun try seat, the Dunes, on the Irish chan. nel and some 200 miles from London that he, thinking to benefit in the matter of a courtship-should he deem such desirable-arranged house party | to go there to remain till the 18th, when he must return to the city to be ready l to sail on the. 14th. Of course Mrs Wood was invited.
 The next day a small number o1 l guests assembled at the Dunes. Il was winter, but the house was cheer fully lighted and logs blazed on every hearth. Sir Bradford devoted himself to the young widow. There are wom en who possess the knack of carrying an impossible man quickly off his feet Such was Mrs. Worthington Wood She administered, so to speak, a love l potion There was in 1t reason-tC cause her victim to feel that he could never aspire to possess her. Eyes tha shot spark to kindle passion, feigneC innocence to excite reverence.
 Sir Bradford. Mrs. Wood and sev eral others of the house party had gon' up from London on the same train anC in the same compartment. Mrs. Wood noticed that her host carried a leather hand bag that he never lost sight of If he left the train for moment at { station he took the bag with him; 1. he went into the smoking compart ment to enjoy cigar the hand bal went with him.
 Mrs. Wood also noticed that WheI he entered the family equipage to bt driven to his home, while he gave III his rugs, umbrella and other such be longings to the servants, he held oI to the satchel. She deemed it neces sary to her plans to know where thu hand bag would be deposited. But a! ] soon as the host entered the house leaving his guests to be shown to thei rooms by the housekeeper. he disap peared. When Mrs. Wood next saw him the satchel was not with him.
 "l have brought with me-" she sait to him, "a few of my finest jewels not daring to leave them in London Have you safe in the house" Certainly" he said. "One moment will call the housekeeper. The saf' Is in my bedroom. She will go Witl us.''
 us? Is it necessary for you to go?'
 "I never allow my safe to be opened except by myself"
 "On second thought, I will keep m! valuables locked in my trunk" There was faint -eproach in tn, glance she gave him and her tone.
 Pardon me- he said. Il wOule trust you. but my housek9 per-
 "YOu would not trust?'
 Certainly, l would trust you both but here is property in that safe tha doesn't belong to me. Would l be jus flied in permitting any one. howeve trustworthy. to go i'll there?"
 His tone was growing more decided interests or state were asserting then selves.
 "YOu would be fool to do so. Her is my box. intrust it to your care. A temptation came to him not to b Outdone in q matter of confidence bu he resisted it. Taking the box, i which there were only few gems fo informal occasions. he went away an placed it in his safe.
 I The next evening at dinner the youn widow was entrancing. She scene to be in light, happy mood. Sh told the story of how the host had re fused to permit her to visit his saf without his being present and set a the guests laughing by its humorou I telling. The host laughed with tn rest, and had he not been coming ur der spell that would have ended tn matter. As 1t was he winced. Ther was underneath Mrs. Woods humo a faint suspicion of ridicule. He trie &n nvo7,co hinqnlf hl1f aniv ont fanO1p