The Washington herald., 1912-09-15

rulers of his country have always been
hospitable and favorably inclined to-
ward my family. The whole affair is
of his design. One must reward ones
helpers. There is no reason. however"
! he added, with a meaning glance at
Peter, why other helpers should not
be admitted"
"The reward which you offer to the
Count Won Hern." Peter remarked, is
of itself absolutely inimical to the in
terests OF my country"
Listen!" the prince demanded, tap
ping the table before him. 1T is true
that within year ! am pledged to re-
ward the Count Won Hern in certain
fashion. It is not possible that you
know the terms of our compact, but
from your words it is possible that you
have guessed. Very we'll Accept this
from me- Remain neutral now, allow
this matter to proceed to its natural
conclusion, let your government address
representations to me when the time
comes, adopting a bold front, and |
promise that l will obey them. II will
not be my fault that | am compelled TO
disappoint the Count Won Hern. Ny
seaboard would be at the mercy of
obeyed."
at is a matter, this" Sogrange said,
for discussion between my friend and
me. / think that you will find that we
are neither of US unreasonable. In
short, prince, see no insuperable rea-
son why we should not come to terms
You encourage me" the prince de-
clared, in a gratiied tone. DO not be-
lieve, Marquis, that l am actuated in
this matter wholly by motives of per-
sonal ambition. A revolution is a Ger
tainty. How much better that that
revolution should be conducted in a
dignihed manner; that /, with my rep
utation for democracy which / have
carefully kept before the eyes of my
people, should be elected president OF
the new Spanish republic, even if it
is the gold OF the American who places
me there. In a year or two's time,
what may happen; who can says This
craving for a republic is but passing
dream. It is but short step from the
presidents chair to the throne"
Sogrange and his companion sat
quite still. They avoided looking at
one another.
1t was just at this moment that a
steward entered with a Marconigram,
which he presented to the prince The
latter tore it open, glanced it through.
and gave vent to little exclamation.
The fingers which held the missive
trembled. His eyes blazed with ex-
element He was absolutely unable
to control his feelings.
My two friends" he cried, in tone
broken with emotion, 1t is you first
who shall hear the news This mes
sage has just arrived. Sirdeller will
have received its duplicate. The final
report of the works m Havana Har-
Dor will await us on our arrival in
New York, but the substance of II is
this. The Maine was sunk by a tor
pedo. discharged at dose quarters un-
derneath her magazine. Gentlemen,
the House of Braganza is ruined"
There was a breathless silence
Your information is genuine:" So
grange asked, softly.
Without a doubt" the prince re-
piled. Il have been expecting this
message. | shall cable to Won Hcrn.
We are still in communication. He
may not have heard"
He hurried away 1t was already
half past ten, and the saloon was al
most empty. The steward came up 10
them.
The saloon is being closed for the
night, SIR" he announced
Let US go on deck" Peter suggest
They found their way up on to the
windward side of the promenade,
which was absolutely deserted. Peter
stood very near to his companion
Listen, Sogrange," he said, the az
fair is clear now save for one thing
You mean Sirdeller's motives?"
Not at ALL" Peter answered. An
hour ago | came across the explana-
ton OF these. The one thing | will
tell you afterward Now, listen Sir
deller came aboard last year for Twelve
months travel. He took great house
in San Sebastian"
where did you hear this?' So
grange asked.
Il read the story in the New York
Herald" Peter continued 1T is gross
ly exaggerated. of course, but this is
the substance OF it. Sirdeller and his
suite were stopped upon the Spanish
frontier and treated in an abominable
fashion by the custom officers. He
was forced to pay very large sum,
should think. He paid un-
der protest. appealed to the authorizes.
with no result. At San Sebastian he
was robbed right and left, his privacy
intruded upon. In short, he took a
violent dislike and hatred to the coun-
try and every one concerned in it. He
moved with his entire suite to Nice,
to the Golden Villa. There he express
ed himself freely concerning Spain and
her government Count Won Hern
heard Of it and presented Marsine The
plot was, without doubt, Bernadine's.
Can't you imagine how he would put
i? A revolution ne would tell Sir
ieller. is imminent in Spain. Here is
the new president of the republic.
Money is no more to you than water.
You are a patriotic American. Have
you forgotten that a warship of your
country. with six hundred of her de-
voted citizens, was sent TO the bottom
by the treachery of one of this effete
race? The war was an inefficient re-
5enge The country still flourishes. It
S for you to avenge America. With
money Marsine can establish a repub-
ic in Spain within twenty-four hours
Sirdeller hesitates. He would point
out that it had never been proved that
he destruction of the Maine was real
y due to Spanish treachery. 1t is the
dea of business man which followed.
He, at his own expense, would raise
he Maine. If it were true that the