The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-08-08

TX had Issued A diplomatic
EN scapegoat had to be OBJ
tanned in order to save Eng.
land from humiliation at the
hands of a powerful neighbor-and !
had been chosen. Upon the threshold
OF my career, the diplomatic service
seemed to be forever closed to me.
I'm sorry for you. Adams" said
the foreign secretary, Sir Edward
Grey, to me, heartily sorry. But the
element Of luck has evidently deserted
you. II you are really anxious to con-
tinue to serve your country, however,
I might be able to make use OF you
at some time In the secret service,
which constantly requires the air OF
gentlemen having certain social
status, with training in the legitimate
branch. And, to facilitate matters
since you are in favor with his maj
esty in spite of your misfortune-I
will ask him to appoint you as one Of
his couriers-at-large."
Who has not heard Of the kings
couriers-that small band of private
gentlemen who carry bis majesty's
heads and statesmen? A kings cou-
rier often bears the peace Of Europe
in the little black leather wallet
which, whether he sleeps or wakes,
must never leave his person until It's
contents have been delivered In safety
to their destination. He Is the unof-
fetal, as the ambassador Is the official,
Two Of
Of the most hazardous nature often
fall to him to perform; and never. by
any chance, whether he fail or sue
coed, does he receive public acknowl-
edgment.
A few days afterward I received no
tice Of my enrolment. The salary was
small, but sufficient to enable me to
continue to keep on my bachelor
apartments in Half Moon street, Pic
cadilly, where l resided with Talbot,
my ex-soldier servant, who had at
tended on my wants when I held q
captaincy in the Fourth Lancers, and
now refused to be separated from me.
Six years in exile in the far east as
a legation attache had made me prac
tically q stranger In London; the
friends whom had had formerly had
married or moved elsewhere or for
gotten me. SO remained week after
week, held to the capital by the terms
of my engagement, which required my
constant attendance upon his maj
esty's pleasure, yet confident that
had long since been cast, along with
other failures, into oblivion.
And then one afternoon I received
an Official document requiring my pres
ence at the foreign Office Immediately.
I jumped into a hanson and lost no
time in presenting myself Sir Ed
ward Grey himself came out Of his
private Office to receive me. led me in
and motioned me to a chair.
Captain Adams" he began abrupt
ly, you are. believe, the hero Of q
certain desperate adventure In AZ
ghanistan, for which you received the
Victoria Cross7'
murmured something. OF course
those things come by luck. am sure
all our officers are equally brave.
"His majesty's government is in
need of man with dauntless courage
and inexhaustible resources Of will
and ingenuity, In order to carry out a
dificult and momentous duty" Sir
Edward continued. His majesty has
been pleased to indicate yourself. How
soon can you be prepared to start for
TERRA del Fuego. via New York;"
thought. I'm four hours" I an
swered.
Good" replied Sir Edward. "Then
will recount, as briefly as possible,
the situation" He sat down at my
side, handed me a cigar and lit one
himself, which he consumed In his
rapid, nervous way.
CAS- you know" he began, lever
since Lord Paunoefote died, England
has been unfortunate in the matter OF
her American representatives In some
subtle way they have not seemed to
hit it OF right, either with the prssi.
dent or with the American people,
Now, my dear Adams. you are aware
that to preserve the best possible 70
lationship with America IL the corner
stone Of both British and German
policy, and, since the rivalry between
US and our neighbors across the North
sea Is intense, the alliance of Americs
with either would be fatal blow tc
the other.
What has sorely strained amicablt
relations between England and Ameri
ca has been the Anglo-JApanese al
lance. That it Is directed agains'
American interests seems to be the
opinion in Washington. This Ill feel
ing has been increased by the bel
licose japanese attitude toward Amer
lea over the schools questions, which
has eliminated in the dispatch Of th'
American feet round South Americs
through the straits of Magellan, to thu
Pacific ocean. Somehow or other, Mr.
Roosevelt has got the notion that Eng
land is privy to the attitude Of Japan
In short, we are face to face with :
three-cornered quarrel