The Washington herald., 1914-03-27
DIPLOMATIC FLO

The former president Of San Bernadino
caressed his beard meditatively. To Flo
he looked like a man who is apt at any
moment to drop dead Of apoplexy. or
challenge somebody TO a duel. or make
love to someone-herself. for instance.
Yes, Madam, the insurrectos-"
Flo felt Carlos Luria was about to make
q fool Of himself at last II was the
moment she had waited for. the moment
she had sought to hasten by permitting
him to kiss her finger-tips. the moment
when he would take her into his Conf
dence and tell her certain things that
several very clever men in the secret
service had tried in vaid to leafn.
But just as all this was about to hap
pen Dick.-the idiot-burst into the room
and spoiled it. He glared for a moment
at Carlos Luria, evidently not relishing
the idea of the fat. fiorid and polyglot
former president taking tea with his
fiance, but Flo flashed him an optic mes
sage that silenced him.
He greeted Carlos pleasantly enough
and consented to have a cup Of tea Don
Carlos fumbled in his pockets. He must
ticular brand. and unfortunately he had
left his cigarette case in the pockets Of
his overcoat Perhaps Madam would
have the goodness to summon the butler?
Tammamota, the Japanese butler, en-
tered. Over her tea cup Flo watched Don
shrewdly as he gave his instructions. She
thought-but II might have been imagi-
nation--that he whispered something in
the buffers ear as the latter bowed. She
also thought that Don Carlos very deftly
sneaked a card under his saucer and into
the buffers hands and that the Japanese
rolled his eyes understandingly. 1t all
happened in a moment or two, and she
might have been mistaken. Nevertheless
She threw Don Carlos a tantalizing
smile. Excuse me for just a moment,
please" and she tripped away and over
took the butler just as he had extracted
a little silver case from the ex-President's
fur coat.
You may go, Tammamota," she said.
ct shall deliver this to Don Carlos"
The butler reluctantly surrendered the
case. AS he skunk from the room he
flashed a crafty glance at Flo. as soon
as she was out of the range Of Tam
mamota's cunning eyes she opened the
little case and extracted note folded
fat over a row of cigarettes She read:
Money o. X. will be at hotel at to-
morrow"
Flo pondered the cryptic note. What
ever it might mean. 1t confirmed her sus-
picion that there was some sort Of un-
derstanding between the exiled president
OIL san berndulnO ana lne JdpdnSse Dul-
Ter. Was it possible that Don Carlos had
dared extend his intrigues into the home
of the chief of the secret service? She
had caught Tarlmamota listening at the
keyhole one day when Dick. her fathers
assistant, had reported progress in his
of the smuggling of arms,
from the United States to South Ameri-
can republics. She had dismissed the in
cident as signifying nothing but the nat
NJ inf In
Z. matter a different aspect. She made
Mental note of the time mentioned and
a-. rried back to the room. Explaining she
.,4 been Obliged to send Tammamota on
errand, she handed Don Carlos the
g.. .=-rette case.
lie thanked her profusely. but there
was a trace of suspicion in his eyes. BuI
Flo's innocent smile and rambling chat
ter quickly dispeIled it. At length Don
Carlos rose and assured her he had ex-
perienced a most heavenly time.
She looked at him with dancing eyes
and begged him to call again. Dick re-
garded his rectangular figure speculative |
ly as he bowed himself out
I've had my eyes on that fellow" he |
murmured. Mighty clever. Cultivated |
his acquaintance at the Callas CLUB the |
All I learned was that he's a mighty |
good story teller. Some time I am going
to tell you, sweetheart"
Il don't think he is bit clever OBJ
jected Flo. AT the embassy ball the
other night he acted as IL he thought
every girl must go mad over him, and
he is nothing but a fat. greasy, rheu-
matte fool. Tomorrow
But Flo changed her mind. She would
surprise Dick.
At S:SO the following afternoon Room