Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-02-26
How the Trick
Was Done
Showing the Ingenuity Of an
Able Emissary.
BY HELEN INGlEHART.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY HELEN iNGlEHART


Mime. Chapclier?'
Yes"
Ills cXcclency has directed me to
admit you as soon as you called"
The attendant led the way to the
private office of the minister OF foreign
affairs, opened the door and announced: :
Mime. Chapellier!"
"The government" said the minister,
"appreciating your past services, is de
sirous of adding to the amounts al
ready paid you another 10000 francs"
and | doubt not the government ex-
poets me to add to my past services Il
corresponding amount"
Can you leave for London tonight 2"
Il can go anywhere at any time"
VERY well. | will explain
The minister cast Il look about the
room, habitual with him before enter
ing upon Il matter involving secrecy,
leaned forward in his chair and spoke
in low tone.
The British government has made Il
treaty with the ambassador of the sub
lime porte at London by which the sui
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 diplo-
matte corps, has engaged passage by
sea for ConStantinople in Il ship sail
Ing on the 14th. He will carry with
him the British Turkish treaty for sig
nature ut the Turkish foreign office. 1t
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.
'ln order to assist you" he said, II
give dinner this evening Mt which
Sir Bradford Chichester will be pres
ent. Have you cOStumes?'
"EverythinG except appropriate jew
els. shall pcrsonate Il wealthy Amer
lean widow-Mrs. Worthington Wood"
"Where shall l send them?'
"No. Portman square"
Every well. I shall expect you
at g."
AT the dinner given at the French
embassy Mrs. Worthington 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,
We're 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
mel and some POO miles from London,
that he, thinking to benefit in the
matter OF Il courtship-should he deem
such csirable-arrangcd a house party
TO go there to remain till the 18th, when
he must return to tho city to be ready
to sail on the l4th, OF course Mrs.
Wood was invited,
The next day n small number Of
ucSts assembled at the Dunes. 1t
vas 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 impressible man quickly off his feet.
Such was Mrs. WorthingtOn Wood.
She administered, so to speak, love
potion There was in it reason-to
cause her victim to feel that he could
never aspire to possess her Eyes that
shot spark to kindlc passion, feigned
innocence to excite reverence.
Sir Bradford. Mrs Wood and sew
eral others of the house party had gone
up from London on the same train and
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 n moment at q
station he took the bag with him; il
he went into the smoking compart-
mcnt to enjoy cigar the hand bag
went with him.
Mrs, Wood also noticed that when
he entered the family equipage to be
driven to his home, while he gave up
his rugs, umbrella and other such be-
longings to the servants, he held OH
to the satchel She deemed 1t neces.
sary to her plans to know where the
hand bag would he deposited. But as
soon as the host entered the house,
leaving his guests to be shown to their
rooms by the housekeeper, he disap-
pearcd. When Mrs Wood next saw
him the satchel was not with him.
II have brought with me- she said
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.
l will call the housekeeper. The safe
is in my bedroom. She Will go with
u.s."
Us? Is it necessary for you to gO?"
II never allow my safe to be opened
except by myself"
"On second thought, will keep my
valuables locked in my trunk"
There was faint reproach in the
glance she gave him and her tone.
"PardOn me-" he said. 81 would
trust you, but my housekeeper'-
You would not trust"
"Certalnly, l would trust you both,
but there is property in that safe that
doesn't belong to me, Would / be JUS
tilted in permitting any one, however
trustworthy, TO go III there?"
His tone was growing more decided.