Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-10-25
The
American
Girl
Why Her British Sister Can't
Compete With Her
By F. A. mitchell

in the Carleton club in London smoking
and slipping the beverage before them,
the topic Of cOnversat ton falling upon
the American women who were then
beginning to capture Scions of nobility
In England
How do they do it," asked one, u
burly man with mutton chop Whisk
erS.
They've got so much in EN-" re-
piled the other, a tall man with d
dropping blond mustache.
Have you ever had any experience
with them?" asked the burly man.
Experience? Well, / should think
so, said the other with smile that
indicated he could tell story if he
would. Then. setting down the glass
he was slipping from, he turned to his
friend and added, ITS all past and
gone now, and can't see how any
harm can come from my telling you
about it,
About what?"
That's what I'm going to give you,
but mustn't begin at the wrong end.
you know, 1t happened when l first
went into the diplomatic corps and was
attached to the Paris legation as Sec
rotary. At that time the eyes of the
powers were concentrated on Egypt
and the SUez canal. Our government
wanted to get it's hands on it in order
that it might maintain a supremacy
in Egypt as we'll as in maritime af-
fairs, both merchant and navy. But
it wasn't case of grabbing things as
we'd been used to dOing-that is, sig
nifying wish to open trade with a
people. then getting them in debt to
US, then send in a few war vessels to
collect the debt, then assume a pro-
tectorate to see that the thing didn't
occur again. Oh, no. It wasn't any
such simple case as that
"Well. the premier and all the cabi-
net here were thinking and scheming
as to what kind of a trick could be
played to get control Of the canal and
yet keep within the law Of nations.
One morning my chief the ambassa-
dor, sent for me in hot haste, and when
closed all the windows and whispered
in my ear:
"'There's large block of stock Of
the Suez canal offered for sale. The
German embassy has got hold Of the
fact. and Count Won Sterlitz, one of
its best men. will start for Berlin on
the 6 o'clock train to inform his gov
eminent of the fact in order that it
may buy this controlling interest
am going to rely upon you to delay him
while | send a man across the channel
to represent the matter to the premier
in London. that he may make the pur-
chase for England. Now. gather your
wits and go to work. | know you have
a genius for such matters and won't
fail me-
This last was taffy, you know, and
the ambassador only said it to spur
me on.
"'Have YOU been informed how Won
Sterlitz will traveI?' l asked.
81 have. My informant got it
from his valet. The count has told the
valet to have grip with toilet articles
ready for him at 5 O'clock and to call
cab off the street at 5:3O'
Every we'll; will do the best can
in the matter. but you have given me a
very Delicate job to perform. Let us
hope for the best
lit was then II o'clock in the morn
ing. and had made an engagement to
lunch with Miss Alice StringfeIIow, an
American to whom | had been paying
some attention. which | flattered my
self had not been disagreeabIe to her
/ left the embassy intending to send
her word that was unable to keep my
appointment when it occurred to me
in my perpIeXity that a woman in d
matter of dupiicity is worth a dozen
men, and. calling for Il cab. drove
straight to her house.
II had nothing to fear in giving her
my confidence. for she was not in
vOlved in diplomatic chicanery and the
United States was not especially in
tereSted in the Suez canal. At any
rate, threw caution to the winds, told
her what had been directed to do
~AAu OSe9SSu ueL hui uSdNeu sake 10
give me an idea. -.----
''It is now II 30 she said, glancing
ct clock, and you have but six hours
TO form plan and execute it-that is,
II you intend to prevent the counts
reaching his train. | think this should
be done If possible If not some one
must go with him, trusting to find an
opportunity to delay him on the way
or from communicating with his gov
eminent on his arrival at the capital
GOOD graciousv l exclaimed. You
have got it in a nutshelIr
Il was so bewildered myself that
the rapidity and clearness with which
her brain worked astonished me.
sat gaping at her while her fair brOWs
were drawn together with intense
thought Presently she arose and
paced the floor, still thinking 1t was
half an hour before she spoke. | all
the while sitting like Ounce waiting
for her tO solve the nrohIorn