The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1910-09-13
"A Diplomat
How He Got His Start In
His Profession.
BY SAMUEL e. BRANT.
Copyright. lao. by American Press
Association.
BY SAMUEL E. BRANT.


James Maitland. son OF an admiral
In the U. S. navy. fell ia love with and
married Mile. Julie de Lavalle. the
daughter Of a French diplomat who
Lad spent many years In the French
service. a considerable portion of
which time he resided In Washing
ton. NJ. de Lavalle never represented
his country ms 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 1t fell 10 Lavalle.
Maitland and Mile. de Lavalle
were married while the groom was
employed in the state department.
At the time 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 TO take II TO the United States
consul at Vera Cruz who would see
that It reached its destination.
Delighted at being thus enabled to
make 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 TO leave when the
secretary said to him;
ut 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 its prompt delivery will involve
the making or the failure to make
millions Of dollars by certain capital
lists. You will therefore be very guard
ed in speaking of your mission and
watch well the dispatch. send 1t TO
Vera Cruz by you in order that no
one in this country may know its III
innate destination. Nevertheless there
are plenty of spies about and we may
have them right here in the state de-
partment. BE careful. and good luck
TO you"
nhA,, Nuftlo "a hnn1a QpH xTifh
the exhlaration of youth told his wife
Of his mission. its importance, consid-
ering the interests involved. and all
that. she failed to show a similar en-
thusiasm.
What is 1t. pet!" he said. "You
don't seem pleased"
Jimmie" she replied, you will
never get 1t through"
"Why not;"
"They will steal 1t from you"
"What makes you think so. Julie"
From a little girl have heard my
father tell the ways people take to out.
wit one another. know all about II.
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 a box
OF cigars. lie opened 1t and removed
the top layers and below was an en-
velope addressed to Sonora Sanchez.
Mexico City. in Nine. Maitland's own
hand.
Little one. you're 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 a
state department envelope, would it,
no. Now. Jimmie, do be careful OF
the suit case and don't let it out of
your sight a moment"
Maitland gave her dozen kisses.
picked up the suit case, called car
rage 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. lie was about to lock
his stateroom door on the suit case
when. remembering that there might
be other keys that would unlock It,
he took the dispatch out from under
the cigars and put ii in his pocket. IL
be was followed. with view Of steal
ing the document. his baggage was
surely the first place the thief would
look for II. In order TO discover IL the
case had been opened for the purpose.
in replacing the cigars he laid all of
those on the top row with the ends In
the same direction except one. which
he reversed. Having done this he
went on deck for air
The next morning Maitland found
himself out on the Atlantic ocean head
ing for the Gulf OF Mexico lie walk
ed the deck alone. having resolved not
to make single acquaintance. In the
afternoon be went to his stateroom for
nap. and before lying down 1t occur
red to him to examine his suitcase.
Not that he really expected to find
evidence Of any one having been there,
but simply TO satisfy himself that 1t
was as he had left 1t.
What was his astonishment to find
every cigar 10 the box laid in the same
direction. The one he had placed diff
ferently had been reversed.