The Press., 1911-09-06
A LOMATIC
MISSION
By MARJORIE 1oUGH
Copyright by American Press AsBo-
citation. 1911. ....

entared his service, II wish you 10 get
ready to leave Berlin tonight Changes
have occurred In China affecting the
German, French and English interests
there. IL we reach England before
the French cabinet can send an ennis
nary England win act with us, for
we can so represent the matter that
Il Win appear to be to her interest to
DO 30 II France Is ahead Of rs Eng
lands action viii be reversed. Here
n suit case containing all the papers
you win need. Go at once to London
ana, without waiting to make toilet,
thance to the foreign ONCE IN Down
d rect. Endeayor to make the min
ister commit himself before you leave
him" Ers
Count Otto Won HolWlg left Berlin
On the evening train for Ostend, in
tending 10 cross the English channel
&C that point On the same train was
q lady who, on coming to one Of the
maIn stops, altghted from her car and,
passing along toward the rear, look
ing IN at the open doors, finally enter
I'd the compartment occupied by, the
ambassador. She took seat and
threw her head back on to the cushion
with every appearance Of suffering.
Besides Won Holwig there were two
men and woman In the compart-
ment, all of whom cast glances to-
ward and appeared to take an interest
In the suffering woman. She held her
handkerchief to her face so that they
could not see what she looked like
and now and again emitted a low
Rroan. The other woman In the COM
partment asked IL she could do any
thing for her, but the invalid without
speaking repulsed her by a wave of
the hand. 80
Presently the sufferer started up
and exclaimed, "It's all gone!" The
men noticed that she was beautiful,
and the smile she wore was a winning
change from the evidences Of agony
she had given vent to. And now"
she added, Il must explain to you
good people. am a sufferer from
facial neuralgia. When one Of the at
tacks leaves me need bracer." She
took a gold mounted flask from a bag
and several tiny glasses. Filling one
Of tie glasses, she handed 1t to one
OF the men, who took 1t. Then, filing
another glass, she handed 1t to the
nsxt man, who tried to beg OF. But
Q certain winning, dominating. force
that was about her prevailed. The
next man she offered drink was Won
HoIwig. He declined, and the lady
could not persuade him. She then
gave q glass to her woman fellow
passenger, who after a fruitless effort
to put It aside accepted 1t. Il
After al who held glasses had emp
lied them the lady brought out box
Of cigarettes, which she likewise pass
ed around. This also the count re-
fused, But the lady gave him a look
a. IL to accuse him Of insulting her
By this second refusal, and he gave
In
When the train stopped again the
lady who had facial neuralgia left the
compartment, closing the door behind
her. A fat old gentleman opened it
to enter and paused. There were three
men and q woman asleep. The COM
partment was full Of cigarette smoke
to which was attached strange odor.
The old man called the guard and
pointed to the sleepers. 1stss
There's been a robbery here" said
the guard. These people have been
drugged Ten to one all their money
has been taken" He shook one Of the
men, who gradually opened his eyes
and looked at him dazed. Then anoth-
or and another was aroused, Won Hol-
wig among the number. He awoke
with q start and looked about him for
his suit case. z r.. .-a rs --.. ra 1910 @ 4
Lost anything, sirT' asked the
guard.
Won Holwig, white as a sheet, did
not reply for some time, then answer
ed, mo" He knew that he had been
tricked by a woman and did not pro-
pose to give away state secrets. he
left the car, sat down on a bench and
tried to recover from both the effect of
the drug he had smoked and the ruin
OF his career as a diplomat.
On the boat at Ostend on which pas
sengers were gathering to cross the
channel to Dover a gentleman stood
looking anxiously up the way that led |
to the steamer Now and again he
would take out his watch impatiently
and note the time, But five minutes
remained before the boat would start,
and the gentleman had given a Sigh.
indicating that some one he was took |
ing for would not come, when a cab,
the driver flashing his horse, came gal
looping down the street The gentle |
man hurried to the dock and handed |
out lady, who held In her hand q suit |
case.
Good" he said. You have won,
and you shall have your reward. Go
10 Paris and report that your mission |
was successful, and there is good rea-
son to believe that upon the founda-
don you have laid shall be able to /
bring England TO our views" I
The next morning before. dawn NJ.
CaVier. representing the French gov
srnment, drew up before the London
residence OF the secretary for foreign
anairs, called him out Of bed and an i
bounced that certain affairs In China
required bis immediate attention. The
discussed the matter In a
iressing gown. and the French ambas-
Iador when he left carried with him
he assurance that such orders a. he
lesIred would be issued.
First Title Of vanity Fair"