Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-12-19
The Pilot of the Fleet
Copyright, 1913. by W. G. Chapman.)

Princess, pledged my allegiance
to YOU" he said, triumphantly. Il
will obey no league but yours. love
you. Answer me, as you love truth
do you love me, or was your pledge
upon the sands Of Tripoli but a jest?"
She did not resist him. She dropped
her head, with its wealth of heavy
hair, upon his shoulder. He bent over
her and their lips met.
Il love you only, Paul" she whis-
pered. do not think me untrue. But
just now dare not think OF love,
there is SO much to be done. Paul
will you trust me little longer, and
waltz"
"a thousand yearsi" he cried exul-
tantly-and just then Rosny came in.
Paul discerned a meaning glance
which the Frenchman shot at Clio
thilde. 1t puzzled him; but still his
mind was dormant under the force of
the mighty passion in his heart.
Paul." said the princess calmly,
will you undertake another mission
for the Lacquer"
For your League" answered Paul.
Yes, and it will be the strongest
test of your devotion" she answered
with intense seriousness. I'VE mean
to strike blow at the heart of dem
ocracy-can you guess where? In
your own country.
Listen, Paul America is ripe for
monarchy. That great people, groan-
ing upder the corruption OF her gov
eminent, has come to understand that
king is necessary to a nation, IL 1t
is to prosper and be honored. But the
democracy controls the state. 1t must
be broken. Only after a defeat in war
can America be liberated and come
into her own.
Listen again, Paul. His majesty,
the emperor Of Japan, is planning to
strike home at the republic. That is
well known to your president and pub
lie men. 1t is admitted that hun
dred and fifty Thousand Japanese
could seize California, Washington,
/ Oregon, all the Pacific coast states,
and hold them forever; no force Of
equal strength could ever be trans
ported, without bases of supplies, over
the deserts of the west. Japan is now
threatening Magdalena bay In Lower
California. That is feint. She aims
really at Alaska. But first the Ameri-
can navy must be destroyed, and that
, is the only obstacle which lies be-
tween Japan's aspirations and their
accomplishment, Do you follow me,
Paul?"
He nodded, for he could not speak.
He saw her through a red cloud, and
thousand tumultuous passions ham
mered upon his heart. She stood quite
| close to him, her breath was warm
against his cheek; she was almost
shamelessly oblivious of the presence
Of Rosny, who watched cynically from
the opposite corner Of the office.
Then, Paul, Sou are to be the
means whereby this blow shall be
delivered. You are an expert yachts
man. You have summered, you told
me once, off the Alaskan coast in your
own yacht, in those days when your
father controlled the corporation and
you looked forward to life of leisure
and plenty
Next month the American feet en-
cages in target practice of the Alas
| kan coast We have secured the infor-
nation of the exact locality The fleet
will put in at the roadstead between
the newly formed volcanic islands
called the Pyloffs, thrown up last
year, and as yet hardly charted. The
pilot, one of their most trusted men.
whose duty 1t is to lead the flagship
through the narrow pass, is In our
pay. It is your money that has paid
him, Paul; you are deeply implicated
in the affair already, you see. You
shall take his place, lead the flag
ship to ruin upon the rocks-we have
a chart of them-and all the following
vessels will be swept to destruction
! likewise. Thus japan will obtain her
opportunity. And in the confusion you
will easily escape. There will be lit
tie loss of life. Then, your reward.
the reward for which you have
asked"
She could say no more. The agita-
ton which possessed her was greater
/ than Paul's. 1t was her most despe-
rate cast for victory And Paul, star
ing at her eyes. the only thing now
visible through the thick, blood-like
haze that floated before his face, un-
derstood that she was offering herself
as the price for his treachery.
He clenched his fists until the nails
of his fingers pierced the flesh. Ali
that he valued most, all that made life
tolerable, his love, was balanced
against his duty; and the scales
swung low They hesitated, trembled
and suddenly the mist cleared away.
One does not barter principle SO cas-
lily as that-not one trained as Paul
had been. That is the mistake made
by all who would corrupt their fellow.
men. He saw the princess face clear.
ly again, and for the first time he real
lied that his was the stronger will.
He laughed into her face.
This is my answer" he cried
drawing himself up until he lowered
over her, menacing figure of right.
eous anger. 81 viii meyer betray my
country for such reward as you offer
me. would not take the reward you
offer even without the deed. You have
duped me too long, Princess Clothilde
loathe and despise you-and l never
wish to see you or your League
again."
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