Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-16
The Argus Daily Story
The American Girl-By F. A. Mitchell
copyrighted 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

Two gentlemen We're sitting together
il the Carleton club in London smoking
and SLIPPING the beverage before them.
the topic of conversation falling upon
the American women who were then
beginning to capture scions OF nobility
in England.
How do they do it?" asked one, n
bury man with mutton chop whisk
ers
They've got much in EN-" re-
piled the other. a tall man with a
dropping blond mustache.
Have You ever had any experience
with them?" asked the burly man.
Experience? Well. | should think
So said the other with a smile that
Indicated he could tell a story If he
would. Then. setting down the glass
he was slipping from, he turned to his
friend and added. It's all past and
gone now, and l 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 its hands on 1t in order
that it might maintain a supremacy
in Egypt as well as in maritime az
fairs. both merchant and navy. But
ii wasn't case of grabbing things as
we'd been used to doing-that is.N sig
nifying a 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 pro-
tectorate to see that the thing didn't
occur again. Oh. no! 1t wasn't any
snch simple case as that.
"Well. the premier and all the cahi-
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
| appeared he locked all the doors
closed all the windows and whispered
in my ear:
There's a 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 or
/ the 6 o'clock train to inform his gov
! - ~ tn hot
may buy this controlling interest.
am going to rely upon you to delay hin
while I send q man across the channe
to represent the matter TO the premie
in London. that he may make the pur
chase for England. Now. gather you
wits and go to work. know you hay,
a genius for such matters and Won
fail me-
This last was taffy. you know, AM
the ambassador only said 1t to spu
me on.
"'Have you been Informed how Vol
Sterlitz will travel: I asked.
~ have. My informant got
from his valet. The count has told tn
valet to have a grip with toilet article
ready for him at o'clock and to ca
cab off the street ut 800
Very well; will do the best ca
in the matter. but you have given me
very delicate job to perform. Let u
hope for the best
ut was then IL o'clock in the morn
ing. and 1 had made an engagement t
lunch with Miss Alice Stringfellow, a
American to whom | had been paying
some attention. which | tlattered my
self had not been disagreeable to hel
| | left the embassy intending to SEN
her word that | was unable to keep m
! appointment when il occurred TO N
in my perpleXity that n woman in
men. and. calling for cab, | drov
! straight to her house.
u had nothing to fear in giving he
nv confidence. for she was not IN
vOlved in diplomatic chicanery and tn
United States was not especially in
terested in the SUeZ canal. At an
rate. threw caution to the winds. toll
her what had been directed to d
and begged her for heavens sake t
| give me an idea.
1T is now II 30. she said. glancin
at clock. and you have but SIX hour
to form n plan and execute it-that is
II you intend TO prevent the count
reaching his train. ! think this shoul
be done if possible If not some on
must go with him. trusting TO find a
opportunity to delay him on the wa
or from communicating with his GOV
eminent on his arrival at the capital
Good gracious" / exclaimed. 'Yo
have got il in a nutshell!
Il was so bewilderod myself tina
the rapidity and clearIess with whic
he: brain worked astonished me.
sat gaping at her while her fair brow
were drawn together with intens
thought. Presently she arose an
paced the floor. still thinking. 1t wa
BALI an hour before she spoke. n
the while sitting like Ounce waitin
for her to aOlve the problem.
Suppose she said. suddenly pau'
Ing in her walk and turning to mi
that can suggest Il way Of laidnapin
the count. DO You know Of any piac
where you can take him and keep hiI
for awhileT
TsgThfa oa,-a mn JuGri.n .