The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-10-12
ADIPLOMATIC.
MISSION
By MARJORIE CLOUGH
Copyright by American Press Asso- 8
citation, 1911

affairs to a young diplomat who had
entered his service, II wish you to get
ready to leave Berlin tonight. Changes
have occurred in China affecting the
German, French and English interests
there If we reach England before
the French cabinet can send an ennis
sary England will act with us, for
we can so represent the matter that
it will appear to be to her interest to
do so. Ii France is ahead of us Eng
lands action will be reversed. Here
is suit case containing all the papers
you will need. Go at once to London
and, without waiting to make toilet,
thence to the foreign Office in Down
ing street. Endeavor to make the min
lister commit himself before you leave
him."
Count Otto Won Holwig left Berlin
on the evening train for Ostend, in
tending to cross the English channel
at that point. On the same train was
a lady who, on coming to one Of the
main stops, alighted from her car and,
passing along toward the rear, look
ing in at the open doors, finally enter
ed the compartment occupied by the
ambassador She took a 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
groan. The other woman in the COM
partment asked if she could do any
thing for her, but the invalid without
speaking repulsed her by wave Of
the hand.
Presently the sufferer started up
and exclaimed, "It's all gonew The
men noticed that she was beautiful,
change from the evidences Of agony
she had given vent to. "And now"
she added, 81 must explain to you
good people. I am a sufferer from
facial neuralgia. When one Of the at
tacks leaves me I need bracer." She
took a gold mounted flask from bag
and several tiny glasses. Filling one
Of the glasses, she handed it to one
of the men, who took it. Then, filing
another glass, she handed it to the
next man, who tried to beg off. But
a certain winning, dominating force
that was about her prevailed The
next man she offered a drink was Won
Holwig. He declined, and the lady
could not persuade him. She then
gave glass to her woman fellow
passenger, who after frlitless effort
to put it aside accepted 1t.
After all who held glasses had emp
tied 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 look
as if 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 a 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.
"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-
er and another was aroused, Won Hol-
wig among the number. He awoke
with a start and looked about him for
his suit case.
"Lost anything, sirY' asked the
guard.
Won Holwig, white as a sheet, did
not reply for some time, then answer
ed, "No." 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 bench and
tried to recover from both the effect Of
the drug he had smoked and the ruin
of his career as 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 look
ing for would not come. when a cab,
the driver lashing his horse. came gal
Looping down the street The gentle
man hurried to the dock and handed
out lady, who held in her hand a suit
case.
"Good," he said "You have won,
and you shall have your reward. Go
to Paris and report that your mission
was successful, and there is good rea-