The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-01

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~ - courier, had been sent,
though due In the main to
"a happy combinations Of cir.
M - cumstances. had impressed
" g NJ both King Edward and Sir
N0r@ Edward Grey. the foreign
secretary, with belief in
my abilities. In vain pointed out
the happy accidents that had turned
defeat so often into victory.
We'll, say you are lucky. Captain
Adams" the king replied. rs not
luck a constant asset Of yours and, as
such. to be reckoned fort"
And now. when had become puffed
up and somewhat vainglorious over the
favor in which thought stood, was
to receive lesson that speedily re-
called me to an humber condition OF
spirit and taught me, incidentally, not
to rely too greatly on the praise of
kings.
Sir Edward Grey had summoned me
to the foreign office, in Whitehall.
When | entered his private room he
looked at me In peculiar manner,
peering over his long. thin, aristocratlc
nose and biting his thin lips nervously.
He motioned me to seat and began
to pace the room, cigarette between
his lips. evidently musing hard. Once
or twice he stopped at my side as
though to address me, and again
caught that curious glance-half fur.
tive-on his face.
Captain Adams" he began at last,
his majesty has commissioned me to
request your services upon very sim.
pie mission. and yet one fraught with
many difficulties. 1t does not require
diplomacy-a quality which we can
ind anywhere-but watchfulness. cour.
age. resourcefulness and silence, quail.
ties in all OF which | believe you to
excel"
bowed and suffered my thanks.
Sir Edward Grey walked over to a ia.
BILE and took up q black leather wallet.
which he opened. Inside | perceived
roll Of parchment. Sir Edward Grey
closed the wallet and placed It in my
hands.
His majesty's government" he said,
coming up to me and lowering his
voice until 1t became a whisper, has
lust concluded secret treaty OF the
utmost moment with Spain. It binds
us. under certain contingencies, which
are by no means remote, to come to
her assistance with all our military and
naval forces. In this wallet is the draft
copy, which you will take to King AL.
ionso to sign. That Is ALL"
Il can start for Madrid tonight"
| began, but the foreign secretary
checked me.
No, for Paris" he answered. "You
would never take that treaty to
Madrid. A certain great power is will.
Ing to move heaven and earth to dis.
cover Its contents. That 1t would not
be overscrupulous In endeavoring to
obtain 1t can assure you. In fact,
my dear Adams. to be concise, German
spies have been watching tho foreign
office for weeks and the moment that
you entered you became marked
man. So. what with Spanish brlgands
and the slow trains OF the peninsula
and the Pyrenees to cross. | think It
is safe prophecy that you would
never reach Madrid. You may, how.
ever. get as far as Paris"
"Parls?" | repeated.
Yes. So important are the issues
at stake that King Alfonso has gone
secretly to the Spanish embassy there,
where he will receive you tomorrow at
noon. Can you take the night boat
from Dover"
Il WILL" | said, "and | will deliver
the treaty safely tomorrow to his ma.
jesty the king OF Spain"
Again Sir Edward Grey looked at me
in that searching and yet half furtive
manner.
That's well. then" he said at last.
But remember. Adams. you have to
deal with resourceful and unscrupu.
lous enemies. who will never rest until
they have the treaty or until your mis-.
sion Is accomplished" He took up tho
wallet. which had laid down and,
with many adjuratlons. urging upon
me most emphatlcapy that | should
not lose sight Of It's precious Contents,
unless | had them about me, he
showed me to the door.
or course | did not intend to leave
the treaty In Its present location. I
intended. on my arrival at my lodgings
In Half Moon street. Plccadilly. to have
Talbot. my soldier servant. sew the
document In my coat, while would
continue to guard tho empty wallet.
But on the way downstairs the 'nspira-
tion came to me to withdraw the docu.
ment at once and place It In the bosom
cf my shirt. As left the building n
sprucely.attired cabman urged his
horse up to the curb and leaned over
the box.
'Keb. sir?" he cried. lie pressed tho
spring which caused the doors to fly
open and Instantly a grimy streetrun.
ner. ono Of those men who follow pas.
sengers In cabs for miles. In hopes OF