Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-08-18

Jg vi bored and l was uneasy.
4 We stood by the window
q GNI looking out on the ex-
panse of Washington, typ
~ flied by the amplitude of
zoevIvania avenue. For four days
had been on a tame, unsatisfac-
hunt for some lost papers In a
If Virginia salt-mining deal, and
i now merely lettering on our re-
IN New York, little dreaming of
drama on which the curtain was
ut to rise.
j negro bell-boy turned away from
1 call-desk just then, and his mu-
4, voice, rolling through the sea of
ztter. was summoning:
disto Lawrence Ra-and."
Confound him!" said Rand. Get
quick"
hat name, all too well-mown, had
hded once only, but score of eyes
bwed me with interest as l took
u the boy the message that Rand
wanted on the telephone, and re-
led to him.
Rand rejoined me, when he
rged from the booth in a few min
he said succinctly:
count Won Bela-Moulkna has heard
are in town, and, as something has
happened at his wife's reception,
wants us to come instantly to the
assy."
n ton hats and all that?" I asked,
I've hurried toward the elevator.
suppose we must" said Rand,
a slight lifting of the corners Of
Thin lips.
81 fifteen minutes We were dressed,
{ downstairs, and rolling along the
halt on our way to the handsome
residence in F street, which his
ernment had purchased for its dis
uished diplomatic representative.
he air of function and the inevi-
awning and carpet from the door
8he curb marked out the house.
were met by an extremely tall,
zrly servant, very widespread as to
S elbows and very tight as to the
bon breeches, but with shrewd
kle In his guarded eyes, neverthe-
He showed us hastily into a.
room, and back through others
were en- suite with it, instead of
Big us through the hall, where we
BIT have been seen by the guests,
we reached the rear of the house,
e an important wing projected.
difference in furnishings made
bparent that this was the ambas-
rs own ground.
e were ushered into large room
be second floor, half-library, half
s. by room, and the ambassador rose
% from behind big, fiat desk, at
h he had been sitting, smoking
ely. He was a short, sturdy man
rty, with a blond face and an I'M
hg head of iron-gray hair. His
cleaned under heavy black brows,
a large mouth was shielded by the
tacle, which one often sees on
who have walked in the shadow
Bismarck.
S courtesies were a trifle exag-
ted, it seemed to me, and Rand
them short by a somewhat abrupt
FRY as to what we could do for
Tou can tell me who took from
square, teak cabinet there in the
Ter a thin package Of papers, the
ents of which were known only
be, and which, IL disclosed, will
Europe into a seething hell of
S in three months. I put them in
cabinet with my own hands at
e o'clock this afternoon. They
gone at four o'clock. It is not
o'clock, and in this hour, other
81 telephoning you, I have done
ling else than puzzle over the
profound mystery that I have
encountered in my diplomatic
#er. Other than the door by which
came, there are no entrances to
room but the windows. They
locked, and have not been opened.
only approaches to the door be-
you are always under the eyes
ervants who have been brought
- my own reich estates, and have
Fidelity of centuries behind them.
pne has been seen to enter this
since three o'clock, and. the only
pms in the house meanwhile have
my family and domestic staff,
our two hundred guests. There
absolutely no clue in the room,
Fhich, by the way, nothing has
disturbed except this antique
elet, which was lying on the top
e cabinet. I must have those pa
back again, and I must have
before they can be copied, which,
are their nature and length,
d take two hours. I must not
you what they contain, but in or
hat you may be able to identity
If you happen on the one chance
hundred and do recover them, l
you this packet, which is identi-
appearance"
held out small manuscript bun
half an inch thick, formed of thin,
matte correspondence paper, and
red in pale blue, with veined