The Washington herald., 1914-05-31

Iit down and undid the parcel. Its con-
tents were soon disclosed-a brown tube
Of some hard waxen material. Knox
held It In his hands for a moment a very
slight smile upon his lips. Then he made
his way to q corner of the study. where
stood his uncle's latest toy. a phono-
graph. After some time he succeeded in
starting the instrument He slipped on
the cylinder he had brought. adjusting
the reproducer, and waited. At first
there was only a slight buzzing. Then
he gave little start. The conversation
which began to unfold itself was almost
uncanny in its distinctness. His uncle's
voice was quite unmistakable.
MY dear young lady-my dear Vera,
since you permit It'll am glad. believe me
I am glad to find that you are beginning
to take some interest in my work and the
problems with which we are associated
day by day. In q general way. nothing
gives me greater pleasure than to discuss
these with you. but there are things
which in my Official position 1t Is better
for me tc discuss with no one"
Her little laugh was amazingly nat
ural. you are SO wise, SO cautious. All
great statesmen are like that. know.
Yet with me, how different It is. It is 50
little ask. 1t is you who have made
me curious"
There was an inaudible sentence, and
her soft laugh, then Lord Tamworth's
voice again. a trifie reluctant.
1T is true, my dear child. as you say,
that We are alone. and that within a
week the whole world will know the
policy upon which we decided last night.
Very well. I will give you its outline.
Then you can follow everything which
happens You will understand my speech
tomorrow night. The policy of the cabi-
net Is to prevent France at all costs
from Joining with Russia IL the latter
should move against Austria France is
bound to help her ally, but she Is also,
in a sense, dependent upon England Ou-
understanding with Russia Is apparently
a cordial one. but 1t is not the policy of
the government to allow France to be
drawn into this war. or to be drawn in
herself The reply to be given to the
French Ambassador on Thursday"
Knox stopped the machine and leaned
back in his chair. He heard his uncle's
ponderous footsteps outside A moment
or two later, Lord Tamworth came in,
frowning slightly.
What, here again. AlgernonT' he ex-
claimed. May I ask what business you
can have Of sufficient importance to keep
you waiting around here for me?'
Alsernon Knox surveyed his uncle
through his eyeglass with mild intent
ness My dear uncle" he said. Il have
called round to know IL you will be good
enough to give me brief exposition of
our political attitude toward Russia,
apropos Of the threatened war between
Austria and Russia"
Lord Tamworth was for q moment
dumfounded- Have you lost your
senses?" he demanded roughly.
Knox calmly started the instrument.
He held up his finger. "Just listen"
he begged. soothingiy. 7 never before
appreciated how delightfully."- supplicat-
ing q voman's voice could be. Listen.
There was q little pause. and once
moro the conversation commenced Ar
worth's face was most amazing study.
What the" he began .franticafiy.
''Hushr' Knox Interrupted Better
hear It all"
The conversation unfolded itself With
every word Lord Tamworth's condition
seemed to approach a little nearer to
imbecility. Incredulity. anger. and ter
ror in turn distorted his features. When
at last Knox. with a little cough. stopped
the instrument abruptly, his uncle was
incoherent
Now II you viii Just compose your
SELF" the former said calmly, leaning
back in the easy chair and tapping q
cigarette upon the case from which he
had just withdrawn II, IT will explain
was In the back room at Vera Gus
teneifrs this afternoon. While was
there. some enc rang her up on the tele-
phone about something she was to send
to Dover. A special messenger was want
ed to motor down there. Well, to cut a
long story short, she made up her mind
that should take the job. Just as she
was explaining 1t. all very mysterious
and terriically important and all that
sort of thing. she was called away
heard her talking in the next room, and
heard you both come and sit down in
the corner. There was a little curtained
recess, and the moment you began to
talk heard slight buzzing. knew the
sound at once-a phonograph- Seemed
queer. didn't it?''
Lord Tamworth wiped the perspiratior
from his forehead. My Godi" he ex-
claimed. That woman-what a fiend,
She has always pretended that she hated
politics-wouldn't even discuss them at
all. Yes. she would have me sit in that
particular corner. There was a blue cur
tain with large black dots. One of them
might easily have been the mouth of the
pbenograph. She wouldn't let me wear
my glasses. Go on-go on. Algernon-'
Presently" Knox continued. II was
given the chuck. Two other chaps turned
up to fetch that precious parcel
had an idea The phonograph wasn't
ticking there for nothing. and I felt
pretty certain you'd been giving yourself
away. Anyway, I played the stand-and-
deliver game, sneaked the cylinder from
the two men who were taking 1t down
to Dover. and pretty nearly got bullet
by head for my pains Now.
let's hear the end. shall we?' he added.
turning toward the instrument There
was something about a little SUP"
Lord Tamworth's fist struck the table.
"Hushr he cried out hoarsely. your
aunt is in the next room Give me the
cylinder. Algernon. Give It me at once"
Knox shook his head. He laid his hand
upon the instrument. I'll spare your
bushes. uncle" he said, but you know
I am, as you admitted this afternoon, too
big a fool to earn my own living. You
docked my allowance today to five hum
dred a year. until I come in for my own
tin in four years time. Sit down. please,
and write me a note. Say you've recon-
sidered the matter. and that am to have
a thousand until my twenty-sixth birth
day."
You are bribing me," Lord Tamworth
spluttered. TT is an imposition
Dash It ALL" Knox sighed. tits the
cheapest get-out you ever had in your
life,"
Lord Tamworth sat down and wrote the
letter. His nephew glanced 1t through
and thrust 1t into his waistcoat pocket.
.'In leave you the cylinder, uncle" he
stepping on one side.
Algernon took up his hat.
Lord Tamworth rang the bell. 'If at
any time I discover that I have been
t-N- l.. A L.