The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-08-25

w. panae OF Washington, typ
fled BIZ the amplitude Of
Pennsylvania avenue. For four days
sa had been on a tams. unsatisfac.
tory hant for some lost papers In a
West Virginia saltmining deal. and
Wego a0w merely lettering on our 70
tarR 10 New York, little dreaming OF
the drama on which the curtain was
about 10 ria0.
A negro bell-boy turned away from
the ealLdosk Just then. aud his mu-
sical voice.. rolling through ths sea OF
chatter. was summOuings
''Misto La,awFenee Raand."
"Confound hint" said Rand. 'Get
hIm quick
That name, all too weiiLnown. had
sounded once only, but score of eyes
followed me with interest a. I took
from the b0y this message that Rand
vas wanted on the telephone. and 70.
turned 70 him.
An Rand rejoined me. when he
emerged from tho booth In few nin-
uten, he said saeciuetly.
Count Won T,sia.Mouikna has heard
we are In town. and, a. something has
lust happened al his wife'a reception.
he wants us 10 come instantly to the
sunbRsay@
In top hats and all thatg" I asked.
90 We hurried toward the elevator.
= suppose we must" said Rand,
wlth y slight lifting Of the corners Of
his thin lips
IN fifteen minutes we were dressed.
Wera downstairs. aud rolling along the
asphalt on our way to the handsome
old residence In v street, which his
government had purchased for It's dis.
sinRulshed diplomatic Representative,
The air Of a function aud the ineyl
table awning and carpet from the door
10 tbs curb marked out the house.
We were met BY an extremely tall,
elderly servant, very widespread as to
che elbows and very tight IA 20 the
maroon breaches. but with q shrewd
twinkle Ia hls guarded eyes, neytrthe-
lens. He showed us hastily into q
aide room. aud back through others
that we're on suite with II. instead Of
taking rs through the hall. where We
might have been seen by the guests,
until we reached tho rear OF tho house,
where an important wing projected
The difference In furnishings made
Il apparent that this was the ambas'
sad1rs own ground,
We were ushered into large room
on tho second door. halfllbrRry. half
trophy room. aud the ambassador rose
stIiiiy from behind big. fiat desk, ~
which he had haen sitting. smoking
ii6Fceiy. lie was q short. sturdy mau
~ forty. with y blond face and an Inn
posing head OF iron.gray hair Ilis
eyes cleaned under heavy black browB
and large mouth was shielded BY the
nuAtaele. which one often seer on
men who have walked In tho shadow
~ Hiamarek,
Hts eourtesiea were a tFine exng
Eeratad. Il seemed 10 inc, and Rand
cut them short BY somewhat abrupt
inquiry as to what We could do foi
dim
syou can tell me who took from
that square, teak cabinet there In the
corner thin package OF papers. che
contents OF which were known only
90 mo, and which. n disclosed, vii
turn Europe into n aectblng hell o.
war In three months. put them N
that cabinet with my own hands a
three o'clock this Afternoon They
we're gone ut four o'eloak. II Is not
ave o'clock, and In thiA hour. Othel
than talephoninR you, have done
nothing else than pRzzlo over ths
NEST profound mystery that | hay'
ever encountered IA my diplomatic
career. other than the door by which
you came. there arc TO entrances t.
cha rcom but the windows. They
are licked. and have not been opcaCd
The emily approaches to the door be-
kind you are always under the eyes
81 servants who have been brought
'rom my own reich estates. and have
tho fidelity OF centuries behind them
No onr has been seen TO enter this
room since three o'clock. and tho only
persons In the house meanwhile have
been my family and domestic stan
and our two hundred guests. There
Vas absolutely no clue IN the room
IN which. BY tho way. nothing has
hren disturbed except this antique
bracelet. which was lying ON the tor
II The cabinet. must have those pa
psFa back again, and must have
them before they can be- copied, which
such are their nature aud length
woald take two hours, must not
teli you what they contain but Ia or
dor that you may DO able to identity
them Il sou happen on the one chance
IN a hundred and do recover them,
show you this packet. which Is ldSnu
cal In appearances"
lie held out u small manuscript bun
sle. half an zach thick. formed OF thin
diplomatic correspondence paper, and
severed 10 pRle blue, with veined
Hoss lines Of darker blue. I noticed
st Tits juncture that the elderly ser
rant had not retired, but had taker
bis stand behind Us,
nmma Elara asnRfgsad the naakaf awg