Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-01-05

squadron from destruction. ! had thC
self-depreCiation to acknowledge thai
this event was purely the result Of
chance. and not due to any ability Of
mine; but Lord Lansdowne waved
aside my explanations
my dear Adams" he said, please
remember from now on that kings
courier is judged by the success OF
failure Of his mission-not by his
deserts. Results are all that are de-
sired, and II makes no particle OF diff
ference how you obtain them"
had begun to think that my posi-
ton was to be more or less a sinecure.
g when one morning my servant Talbot
ushered little page boy, youthful
scion Of one of our noblest families,
Into my lodgings at Half Moon street,
Piccadilly.
Are you Captain Adamth, thir?' he
lisped, with the blase insolence Of
IL or 10 summers.
"At your service" ! replied. bow
ing.
"Hith majethty dethireth your
prethenth Immediately at Tht. Jameth
palath," said the page, clicking his
heels and retiring with a military ga
hite.
wasted no time, but hurriedly
changing into my frock coat, ran
down the stairs, polishing my silk hat
upon my sleeve as went l reached
the front door in time to see the page
riding OF in his automobile. l hailed
q tlxicab and drove to the palace. My
arrival was expected, and l was imme-
diately shown into a small room,
where ! saw an elderly gentleman.
dressed In the conventional attire of
London elubman. bending over file
OF newspapers. II was his majesty.
He turned round the moment that l
entered. came up, and shook hands
with me cordially, at the same time
nlotioning to me to be seated. Then.
drawing up his own chair close to
mine, he began speaking with evident
anxiety.
Captain Adams" he said, IT was
the first to regret the unfortunate ter
niination Of your career in the diplo-
matte service, and was also the first
to suggest to Lord Lansdowne that
your abilities should be employed in
the less legitimate hut unquestionably
more useful field. have not forgot
ten your deeds Of courage in the Az
shan campaign of 1897, and, with your
diplomatic training. you should be one
OF my most useful aides. But now to
come to the point
"As you know, the kaiser has just |
returned TO Germany after a trip to |
Morocco. and after making a bellicose |
speech there which has astonished Eu- |
rope. All the nations are ranged up |
Tor a diplomatic conflict, namely,
whether or not the kaiser shall be
compelled to submit his claims
against France 20 an International
tribunal.
Unfortunately, / have information
chat the kaiser considers that. with
Russia weak and exhausted after her
war with Japan, and unable to help
France effectively. the moment has
arrived to crush his old enemy. hum
BILE the republic so that she viii never
rise again. exact a tremendous indem.
nifty. and annex the northern prov
lnces. need hardly tell you that
Great Britain cannot see France con-
uuered by Germany, for this would
mean that the kaiser would be the
dominant figure IN the worlds politics.
Il have positive information that It
h his intention to make a public and
theatrical declaration Of war against
France from the balcony Of his palace
at Potsdam. within three or four days.
Arraying himself in the uniform of {
Frederick the Great. brandishing his .
sword and wearing the eagle helmet, {
be will. by this theatrical appeal. I
sweep the whole nation with him. At 8
al costs this must be prevented.
You viii proceed to Potsdam. then
Without delay. and demand an immedi. /
lte interview with the kaiser. In my
name you will insist that he abandon n
his project But. n he refuse, as he
probably VIII. then you win hand him h
his private communication which q
low place In your hands, stating that o
my such action against the French
vii result in Immediate war with d
England"
His majesty rose. indicating that =
ne Interview was at an end, and with :,
few appreciative words. and instruc. n
ions that / should not delay. dis. n
missed me. ] went out Of the palace !,
victim OF conflicting emotions Pride =,
'as dominant, pride at having been
elected for so important duty-one m
o less than that Of preserving the :,
eace OF Europe. But with n was
Mingled. almost as strongly. the tear :,
responsibility. the dread that I had
cen giv,n task harder than couId y,
erform. For my success virtually ~
ung upon the kaiser's whim. Ana :,
Eo years at the Berlin embassy had w
Iught me that this was the x factor
German diplomacy. =,
That evening ! caught the Hambprs ',
'at. and. travelling all. the following
y. reached Potsdam with the M
Users momc-tous speech still in the ~
ture. 1t was evident, however thar >.
mors OF impending war had gone
road. for there was curious tense. eh
SIS in the atmosphere. an attitude of
liting and. expecting, to be discov. II,
ed everywhere. and not only among Al
ofieials. More than that. sipcs n,