Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-22

by all VINO WOuld corrupt InelT lelloW-
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, a menacing figure of right
eous anger. 81 will never betray my
country for such a 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 never
wish to see you or your League
again"
Paul! You are mad!" cried Rosny,
hurrying toward him.
Paul pushed past him toward the
door He turned there and looked
back. He saw the princess, white Of
face, tremulous, broken. Her hopes,
her dearest hopes, all she had staked,
forgetful of her pride, were shattered.
He saw Rosny agtated, stretching
forth his hands in vain plea for
hearing. Then, laughing savagely,
Paul slammed the door in their faces
and walked quietly down the stairs.
On the next day he caught boat
at Iavre for New York, arrived a
week later and hastened to Washing
ton. He proceeded to the White
House Immediately after his arrival
and demanded an audience with the
president His name secured this
with the briefest formality and after
only few minutes delay.
The president was standing in the
middle of the floor In his working
room; he was alone, for at that time
of the day he elected to read the doc
uments laid before him for signing.
Without any introduction Paul entered
upon his story.
When, flushed with anxiety, he fall
tered toward the close of 1t. he per-
ceived that the president was still
standing in exactly the same position,
apparently immovable, and dangling
his eyeglasses in a meditative man
ner. He watched the younger man
for a full half minute without speak
ing.
"Mr Lane" he said at last, your
father was known to me very well.
He was regarded as one of the most
patriotic Americans of his day, In
that, without tiamboyancy, without
partisanship, he made his duty the
conduct of his vast business enter
priscs. He thought of nothing else,
g., nf
my predecessors in office consulted
him upon important affairs of state
and without hesitation laid bare i'm
portant secrets, confident that his pa
trotsm would rise superior to all
thought of personal gain and that he
had the interests of the nation at
heart You, believe, do not interest
yourself in such affairs at all?"
Il have been living abroad, Mr..
President" stammered Paul. Z"
"Precisely. Mr.. Lane" replied the
president, with great dignity. "lou
are content to spend the proceeds of
the enterprises which your father es-
tablshed with so much labor and in
tcgrity. And now you, sir, an cXpa-
triated American, come to me and ask
me to believe that you are in posses
sion OF some cock and.bull secret in
volvlng the destruction of our navy,
and that motives of patriotism have
impelled you to hurry here from Eu-
rope to save the nation. Mr.. Lane, |
decline absolutely to place the slight
est credence in your tale"
Paul flushed hotly. In his native
land something of the glamor of his
adventures had departed; even to
him the story seemed more like a
dime novel record than matter Of
sober fact. But, remembering all
that he had undergone he could not
but believe that the League was pow
erful enough to attempt, at least, to
carry out its purpose.
This chart of the Pyloffs-of course
you took the precaution to secure 1t"
the president went on, watching the
young man In some amusement.
NO, Mr. President" responded
Paul. 81 did not"
Good day, sir" said the president.
cried Paul, vehemently. You, as
commanderin-chief of all the forces,
by land and sea, are at least able to
engage recruits. VIII you give me- a
letter to Admiral Blake authorizing
him to engage me as special seaman
Il mean to enlist as a seaman-when-
ever l present it?"
"I will do that very gladly, Mr..
Lane" the president answered. ITO
serve your country in any capacity
will do you a world of good, Mr.. Lane.
/ will write the letter at once and
you may present 1t as soon as you
are able"
He sat down at his desk and wrote
a short letter to Admiral Blake, sealed
it, and, rising, gave it to Paul with
slight bow which signified that the
interview was at an end. Paul walked
out into the street feeling as though
he had been whipped.
For a while he almost abandoned
his enterprise. He had offered his
been rejected. He had done all that
duty required. Suppose he did no
more! Suppose he let the fleet go
to its destruction and found his own
vindication thereby! Unconscious of
his surroundings, he tramped through
the streets of the capital, fiercely de-
batting. The sacrifice that he had
= made of all he held most dear had
thrilled him to finer sense of patri-
otism than he had ever attained-and
to this end And in his minds eye
he saw all the while the face of his