The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-03

diivsaS to confess that you have not the
rantest instincts of one. Let's go over to
that cafe again, and you let your imagina-
ton work while | talk to Yvette"
Bacon sat moodily at the little table while
Charrington chattered with the girl in a
strange mixture of French and English.
Bacon paid them little attention. He had
gloomy thoughts of the future. After all,
he confessed to himself, he was tremen-
dous greenhorn. He wished for bit of
Strolboif's easy confidence. He a dplo-
natl Probably Charrington was right; he
lacked the first instincts of one. He would
have to send report of the fasco to Wash
ington-and they would read between the
lines. In the course of fifteen or twenty years
he would probably be clerk more or less like
Jones. Not altogether like Jones-Bacon's
self-respect fingered long enough to add
that much. He became dimly conscious
that Charrington and the girl were talking
about him.
"Our friend Bacon here" Charrington
was saying gaily, is in the deuce of boat.
He is confronted with all the diplomatic
strength of the Russias-and he is very
much scaredl"
"Not Eat leetle Strolboff oh, mol"
cried Yvette with a smile. Charrington
nodded.
"The very samel" he confessed, and then
plunged into a contorted description Of the
situation as though he were the last person
in the world to be affected. "Now," he
concluded, "what would you suggest,
Yvette?" sA
The girl stood leaning against the wall,
her big, black eyes shifting saucily from
Bacon to her questioner, her pink fingers
playing with the edge of the table-cloth.
She spoke the first bit of familiar common
place which popped into her head.
"ChercheS Ia femmci" she said quickly,
showing all her teeth in dazzling smile at
Bacon.
"Perfect!" shouted Charrington, pound
ing sthe table in delight. "You hear,
Daccn?"
From c,.. side there sounded suddenly the
sputterng Of ragged volley Of shots.
Here yelled Charrington in the door
way, =" {. al shootings down at the pier
Como en-, Dacon, this things getting seri-
ousl"
"Don't bother me-" objected Bacon,
mildly, II want to think!"
"Oh, damn your thoughts!" snorted
Chc-r.ngtcn, and went galloping down the
street
"Yvette," Bacon said quickly, "you're a
genius! You're the queen Of trumps in The
Valny AeIa.-" Now listen! Go and get
your best clothes on, and a long cloak. Put
veil over your face-a good thick one.
When you're dressed, go out the back door
nd 20 tl.aA Ia.
know it2"
The girl nodded.
"Goodl" exclaimed Bacon "When you
get there-stay there! Don't pay any at
tention to Jones; he may drop dead with
surprise, but that won't matter Do you
understand"
Again the girl nodded, and Bacon started
toward the door on the run, but stopped
short.
"Can you speak anything but French and
English3" he inquired sharply.
" " Einwenig deatseh,' admitted Yvette in
a trembling tone.
"Thank God for making Alsatians!"
muttered Bacon. "Well, when you get to
the consulate, you speak nothing but Ger
man to anyone but me. Now hurry!"
Twenty minutes later Charrington
stormed into the consulate. He found
Bacon seated at his desk placidly smoking
his pipe. In the corner Of the room sat
woman, rather loudly but fashionably
dressed, and deeply veiled. She held a
handkerchief in her hand in the manner of
one who has either wept or expects to weep.
"Here, you one horse diplomat!"
stormed Charrington, "you've got to come
out of your hole and do something, or I'll
make noise higher up. That Russians
been shooting at my men when they at
tempted to run alot of peasants on board
and one OF my men got pinked in the arml
This is no joke-understand There's men
and money involved here"
Bacon looked at the raging man with the
air of patriarch frowning on an angry
child.
1T is the purpose of the consular and
diplomatic services" he announced POM
pously, "to care for the interests of the
American government and American citizens
In foreign lands. The machinery of the SER
vice, Mr.. Charrington, is already in motion
IN regard to your matter, and the acting
consul looks for speedy adjustment of
your difficulties"
Charrington had raised one fist in the air
to relieve himself of more superheated
speech. AS Bacon commenced to speak, he.
slowly lowered his arm, and his jaw
dropped.
MY secretary" Bacon continued ur-
banely, has taken note to Captain Stroll
bof, and think he will be here shortly"
Charrington looked at his friend like