New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-09

Reservation, your nations mill
trv position would be weakened, and the others CORE
sDondinglv increased would it not; You do not sup
pose that that nation is ncgccng any chance to get
such information? In fact all nations have their agents.
as YOU know constantly working 20 get the military
secrets Of others. Wei, that is all had IN mind
Thought it would be a good bet that in the present
negotiations that other nation would be able to show
TO your government that it in possession OF ITS
greatest military secrets, and therefore could make
demands for concessions it could not otherwise get
THAT is all 1t is a simple sporting proposition with
mc-and ! am willing to take either side but lear
am the only here who IS willing 70 take the size
have proposed for myself
you are indeed" replied the Commandant. 81
have never been able to resist good bet,-and deny
that YOU have picked a good bet for youselt,-but
will admit the situation you mention IS legitimate
sporting proposition and, Sir, I'D cover your De' ana
give YOU odds, If YOU want.
"No. even money suits me, General the stranger
said with his quiet smile. 81 suppose we might as well
close the bet right now.
81 haven't a thousand dollars in my jeans Just now
the Commandant protested.
"Nor ]" the stranger SAID; but cash VIII DE I'M
necessary Let MS exchange mutual checks, dated say,
two weeks from today to mark the termination Of ihe
period Of the bet The winner will then cash the cheek
he holds while the loser will destroy his.
~Vcrv well it is a co. agreed the Commandant.
"Iust what are the terms OF the bet;
"Simplv that before two weeks are passed. the
stranger SAID q" will be made manifest to you or your
government that complete maps Of the military secrets
Of the Reservation will be available 20 the nation most
interested inst now in having thcn-that Is all
"You will excuse me if seem TO be leaving abruptly,
the stranger said folding the Commandments check IN
his wallet as he rose; but I've too much time tor
the midnight train thank you all for an extremely
pleasant evening. And goodby, especially to YOU Com
mandant ! am told or have read That Wmte moln
Reservation
bhghtcd them badly Watch out that the Wm'e molH
doesn't blight your guns"
He smiled pleasantly and went out The General ana
Animals and Commodorcs stood staring at one another
in something akin 10 CONSERVATION where they had
risen % bid him farewell.
THE Commandment sat on his yeranda with guest.
L They were smoking their aitcr-dinner cigars gazing
dreau,ilv through the scarcely drifting smoke at the
scene tina, lay before them under the cnchntment oil
the rising harvest moon. The spell OF beauty was on
both Of them as they gazcd contenedly over the land
scape.
Yet many places in that OF peace, caressed by
cD. zcuhvrs from the summer sea- were brsthng WIN
an the mighticst and doadhcst machinery oil modern
warfare. for IL was the Reservation itself behnd anu
,, these screens of vegetation lay the pits in which
crouchcd the great disappearing guns whose mouths
could burl ce1rs of steel beyond the horizon, with the
accuracy of a rifle in a sharpshooters hands as they
lifted their noses for moment and then sank back INTO
rcoose without belching forth more smoke to DeTay
their whereabouts than parlor match There were
too magazines built with their roofs level with the
earth; intrcnchcd passageways, sunSen roads ana
miniature electric railways % wait upon these guns All
concealed amid the smile OF drowsy green hills ana ter
races and forcstmuon.
The Reservation was impregnable to attack simply