Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-12-24


~ ~ courier, I had been sent,
- though due in the main to
&EaA, happy combinations of cir
M - 81 cumstances, had impressed
" q NJ both King Edward and Sir
N0rH| Edward Grey, the foreign
secretary. with a belief in
my abilities. In vain l pointed out
the happy accidents that had turned
defeat so often into victory.
We'll, say you are lucky, Captain
Adams" the king 'eplied as not
luck a constant asse of yours and, as
such, to be reckoned for?'
And now, when l had become puffed
mp and somewhat vainglorious over the
favor in which I thought I 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 l entered his private room he
looked at me in a peculiar manner
peering over his long, thin, aristocratic
nose and biting his thin lips nervously
He motiOned me to a seat and began
to pace the room, a 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-haf fur
tive-On his face.
Captain Adams" he began at last,
his majesty has commissioned me to
request your services upon a very sim
pie mission, and yet one fraught with
many difficulties. It does not require
diplomacy-a quality which we can
ind anyWhere-but watchfulness, cour-
age, resourcefulness and silence, quail
ties in all Of which l believe you to
excel
I bowed and suffered my thanks.
Sir Edward Grey walked over to ia
BILE and took up a black leather wallet,
which he opened. Inside I 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 it became a whisper, has
Just concluded a 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
tonso to sign. That is ALL
Il can start for Madrid tonight-'
began, but the foreign secretary
checked me.
mo, 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 it would not
De prescriptions in endeavoring to
obtain it l can assure you In fact
my dear Adams, to be concise. German
spies have been watching the foreign
office for weeks and the moment that
you entered you became a marked
nan. So, what with Spanish brigands
and the slow trains of the peninsula
and the Pyrenees to cross, I think il
a safe prophecy that you would
aevec reach Madrid. You may, how
ever, pet as far as Paris"
"Paris?" I repeated.
eyes. So important are the issue,
1t stake that King Alfonso has gon,
,ecretly to the Spanish embassy there
where he will receive you tomorrow a
.aoon. Can you take the night boa
rom Dover?"
Il WILL I said, "and I will delive
The treaty safely tomorrow to his ma
esty the king Of Spain"
Again Sir Edward Grey looked at M
n that searching and yet half furtiv
manner.
That's well, them" he said at las
But remember, Adams, you have t
aeal with resourceful and unscrup,
GUS enemies, who will never rest unit
hey have the treaty or until your mi
sion is accomplished" He took up tn
wallet, which I had laid down an
with many adjurations, urging upC
ne most emphatically that l shouI
1ot lose sight Of it's precious content
anless l had them about me, /
showed me to the door,
Of course did not intend to lea,
he treaty in its present location.
Intended, on my arrival at my lodgins
n Half Moon street, Piccadilly, to ha7
Talbot, my soldier servant, sew Il
document in my coat, while l wou
continue to guard the empty VALE
But on the way downstairs the inspir
ion came to me to withdraw the doc
uent at once and place it in the bose
Of my shirt. AS 1 left the building
sprucely-attired cabman urged b
norse up to the curb and leaned ov
The box
"Keb, sir?" he cried. He pressed tt
spring which caused the doors to +
open and instantly a griny street-ru
aer. one of those men who follow pa
sengers in cabs for miles, in hopes
beiTg permitted to help with the ba
gage, snatched at my wallet, as thous
L. no 10 If within for mo Aa his q