Graham guardian., 1911-08-25
A Diplomat
How He Got His Start In
His Profession.
By SAMUEL e. BRANT.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

James Muitland. son OF an Qdmirui
In the U. S. navy, fell In love with and
married Mile. Julie de Lavalle. the
daughter Of a French diplomat who
had spent many years In the French
service. considerable portion OF
which time be resided In Washing
ton. Nj. de I.avalle 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 Machiavelllan work was to
be executed II fell to Lavale.
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 h.n
dispatch and told him that be Wish
cd him to take 1t to the United States
consul at Vera Cruz. who would see
that 1t reached It's destination.
Delighted ut being thus enabled to
make a beginning in his profession.
placed In IN 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 OH or before the
18th. After that date II will be too
late. 1t Is well that you should know
that Its prompt delivery will involve
tho 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 It to
Vera Cruz by you In order that no
one In this country may know Its ul-
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"
When Maitland went home and with
the exhilaration Of youth told his wife
Of his mission, Its Importance, consid-
ering the interests involved. anil all
that, she failed to show 4 simlar ell
thusiasm,
aWhat Is II, pet?" be sail. "You
don't seem pleased"
Jimmie" she replied, "you will
never get 1t through"
"Why notw .s3 s,-s - s,...s %
"They will steal 1t from you"
"What makes you think so. .Iulie?"
"From little girl have heard my
father tell the ways people take to out
Wit one another. | know ~ about 1t.
YoA know Rothing.n
However, the little woman packed
her husbands suit case-all the bag
gage he proposed to then took
the dispatch to the library, and when
she returned handed her husband box
Of cigars. He opened 1t and removed
the top layers and below was an en-
velope addressed to Sonora Sanchez,
Mexico City, In Nine. Maitlands own
hand. ~
LITTLE one, you're brick" said the
young diplomat. II see your scheme.
1t would never do to leave the dis
patch In my suit case under cover Of
state department. envelope, would III"
"No. Now, Jimmie, do be careful Of
the sait case and don't Jet It out of
your sight q moment"
Maitland gave her q dozen kisses,
picked UP the suit case, called a 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
his stateroom door on the suit case,
when, remembering that there might
be other keys that would unlock 1t.
he took the dispatch out from under
the cigars and put It IN bis pocket. IL
be was followed, with view of steal
Ing the document. his baggage was
surely the first place the thief would
look for It. In order to discover II the
case had been opened for the purpose,
Up replacing the cigars he laid All Of
those on the top row with the ends In
tho same direction except one, which
no reversed, Having done this he
went on deck for air
The next morning Maitland found
himself out on the Atl""., =. ocoo, hoo,
Ing for the Gulf of Mexico. He walk.
ca the deck alone, having resolved not
to make single acquaintance, Ia tho
afternooh ~ vent 70 his stateroom for
\ nap. aud 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 10 satisfy himself that 1t
vas as be had left II.
What was his establishment to and
every cigar In tho box laid IN the same
direction, The one he bad placed dif-
ferently had been reversed.
The discovery took his breath away.
Aftor all. his wife was right. II there
were those on his track who had al
ready shown such skill In hunting for
the document, what more would they
do? Instinctively he elappsd his hand
70 hs breast pocket. The dispatch
was there. But he did not feel as
Uured that II would be there when he