River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-10-30

hOnors that might legitimately have
been his, and had chosen instead
to wander from court to court
among the highways of Europe.
Wherever he went he made friends.
He was one of those silent Treshams
who have played ard gtt2l play so large
part behind the noisy politicians in
whose control the destinies OF Europe
are supposed to lie. At present, how
ever, he was engaged in a wider
sphere of operations than the field of
English politics allowed. He was sec
rotary to what was nicknamed among
it's exalted members the Black Cab
inet'-more Familiarity, the BLACKS"
Rumor ascribed to the aged en-
Deror of Austria, Franz Joseph, the
formulation Of this unique conception
of a club OF reigning mOnarchs. Ger
tainiy the proposition, whoever had
propounded 1t, was taken up with alac-
rity. In these days of democracy
kings must preserve the dignities Of
their order, even il it necessitates the
formation of a royal trades union.
What more fitting, then, than tina. the
club should be inaugurated in Paris,
where kings and emperors love to
spend their holidays, far from the
cares Of state and pomp of power?
Most OF the ruling sovereigns, and
not a few prospective or depOsed ones,
were members of the club, but not all
were Of the first order The Blacks"
in fact, comprised a limited number
of the graYer rulers, who we're pledged
to diverse things, but mainly to stand
by one another and discountenance
the spread of republican doctrines, to
preserve the peace OF Europe, and to
act toge Their in case that peace were
menaced by the ambitions Of the
smaller restless kings. The club was,
theoretically, always in session, though
it had no fixed meeting place. Lord
Claude TEesham was travelling secre-
tary, and carried the minutes of the
meetings under his hat. The leaders
of the BLACKS" were: Franz Joseph
OF Austria, Gustav of Sweden, George
Of England, Victor of Italy, George of
Greece, Charles of Roumania and Haa-
lon of Norway. Outside" members,
WAC were looked on with a certain
suspicion, on account Of their spirit
OF adventure and racklessness, though
they were nominally of the club, were
the car, the kaiser and Ferdinand of
Bulgaria
Given the black, the red must be
created il 1t does not exist The
Reds were not members, but it was
understood that they, too. were
pledged TO support each other in their
various schemes. They comprised Al
fonso Of Spain. ex-King Manuel of
Portugal, Peter of Servia, Nicholas of
Montenegro and a number of leading
statesmen. pledged in the main to
overthrow democracy and the consti-
tutional monarchies and to revive the
spirit of absolutism in Europe. But
for their support of Polish ambitions
they might have numbered the waver
ing Gar Nicholas among their mem
bers. They were represented in west
ern Europe by Jean Rosny of Paris,
and 1t was to him that Paul Lane,
E1neT1Can millionaire and Would-be adj
The successful issue of his Moroc-
can mission had given Paul the hope
that admission to the secret councils
of the Reds" might be his, that the
mysterious woman whose urging had
induced him to devote himself and his
fortunes to the League of Lost Causes
would again be seen by him, would re-
veal her identity and let him plead his
love. That she was in high rank
among the ancient families of Eu-
rope he was aware, that she scorned
him as a mere moneyed American he
suspected. But the memory of her
burned in his heart like an inextin
guishable fire, and the impossibility
Of even gaining audience with her en-
Uttered him. In his dependency he
preached the subject to Jean Rosny
anew
The latter looked at him quizzical-
iy
Paul. you are impatient" he said.
Tell me one thing; did you ally your
self with us in the hope of gaining
your lady's affections, or out of sym
pathy with our cause?"
1t was because l believed in the
cause" said Paul somberly But,
he added naively, undoubtedly it was
the charming personality of Mademoi-
selle-"
Yes, Of Mademoiselle. answered
Rosny dryly
Let us call her that, then" Paul
Lane responded. 1T was that which
had a leading influence upon my deci-
sion Rosny, my money is indispensa-
BILE to the league. You have admitted
as much to me- Then why
why should you be debarred from
meeting Mademoiselle again? Why,
she watches you, that she approves of
your work, to feel that some day you
shall assuredly meet her again? My
dear Paul trust yourself to US, with
the knowledge that by each success
you hasten the day when all that you
desire will be revealed to you, and
when you will be admitted into the
inner circles of the league Now lis
ten well, my friend We hSve need of
you again"
And he unro!led the plan which
brought about this situation: that,
while Lord Tresham gave to Monsieur
Gabriel, the restaurant keeper. his
last instructions as to the menu for a
certain banquet. Paul, in the guise of
a walter, stood patiently by, napkin in
hand, and a very clean white tie re-
posing on an immaculate, stiff shirt