The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-10-07
Copyright. 1915. by W. G. Chapman.)

Gleverest minister in Europe.
Cynic that he was. he would, be-
Rieve, have overlooked my indiscre-
ton at Madrid But he died three
months before that episode, to which
4 have no intention of abiding further.
&c Is an axiom that a British represen-
Eative must have a fiawless record,
and a score of years as an attache at
nearly every European capital in turn
did Eok save me.
Naturally / was embittered, and my
four years of retirement were the
EoHeIinest l had ever spent. When /
pes5tiOned Sir Edward Grey for rein
statement, even in some minor post,
had little hope that he would listen
to me. When, therefore, he sent for
n1e to Downing street you can judge
.of my citation.
But his first words dashed my hopes
completely. - -
1M x, what you ask is impossi-
be" he said. Il do not think you
were culpable in that Spanish mat
ter But you were indiscreet enough
to make reinstatement in the regular
diplomatic service impossible"
The word regular" seemed unusual
enough TO rekindle my hopes slightly.
She saw that l had understood that
there was something more to be said,
AL. taking me confidentially by the
arIa, he asked me to be seated.
You can serve the government
greatly he said, "and in this way
ZC&ere are great events pending. We
are Eizz9ting the edge Of the greatest
conhagration since Napoleons day.
Ycu know what was behind the scenes
Ri 1909, when Austria annexed Bosnia;
alEo in 1911, when Germany chal-
Eenged France by sending the Panther
70 Agadir.
There's a war spirit abroad. It's
like some evil thing which civilization
has downed, rising up to down civili-
cation. This new spirit is an artifi-
.cEaI thing. 1t is an organized thing.
Somebody is at the back of it, manu-
featuring it, melting it with the ex-
penditnre of unlimited money, for
8 cry concrete reasons Of his own. /
want you to use your ability and
knowledge in running him down.
Find out who he is and what his pur-
pose is. Will you accept the post Of
ambassador-at-large to Europe?" he
ended, with that charming smile
which is said to be the secret Of nine
Eentfls of his success.
Z accepted the mission. And that
was how found myself in Vienna, the
gossip capital of Europe. / had not
been there for number of years. /
Eest sure, however, that the key to
&he situation lay here, where every
erYtfIing that is being done in other
capitals comes to correct focus.
meant to steep myself in the po-
H6cal atmosphere, to get grasp up
ON those contemporary events which
are never recorded in the newspapers,
before beginning my investigations. /
knew how much turns upon the rela-
Efcns between king and his consort,
a. crown prince and his father; an am
bassador's indiscretion, a dignitary's
religious conversation, or a club wait
eKs memory of a conversation over
the port.
4 was on my way to the Diplomats
club, at Koenigstrasse, of which had
always remained an honorary mem
ber-
AS / passed through the district OF
government Offices fancied that
saw one or two persons watching me
rather closely.
Presently 1 saw before me the two
Corinthian pillars that flank the en-
trance to the Diplomats club.
AS made my way into the nearly
empty smoking room and took chair
at the end of the room farthest from
the door, saw the club members re-
@arding me furtively.
Then. one by one, they rose up and
went out unostentatiously, and yet
with a certain appearance Of concert
ed action.
All except one man, who, as the last
fs, leave passed through the door, got
uu and came quickly toward me.
uerceiyed a little, wizened fellow,
without a trace of that hall mark of
breeding which in my day had been
the primary qualification for admls-
sion to the Diplomats club. He took
che empty chair nearest me. drew 1t
nm close. and, leaning toward me,
.sa5d in a low tone and with mix
Sure of familiarity and ingratiating
Difference:
I'VE are assured beyond doubt that
Udmitrieff has those papers in his
pocket"
4 said nothing. have always been
n good listener, and the little man
aeemeo pregnant with mysterious rev.
citations.
I'VE know why he left Sofia on
Thursday night, and why he is In
Vienna pursued the little man. 1T