Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-07-09

he exclaimed harshly. Your spies are|
too ingenious; do not let me catch,
them!' Then, calming himself by aRi
effort, he went on:
"'Ip any case It ID too late to Mako
objections. BY this time the nee6
is already entering the straits of Mes
sina.'
II trembled as 1 listened to this an
dacious declaration. You will perceive
the gravity Of the crisis. It was, Cd
I have said since. the case Of tho
cannon ball and the leg. signor Girls
pts object was to convince me thaaI
the cannon ball had commenced ID
roll; it was for me to establish "a
the contrary that 1t had not, and that
France had put her foot down In thd
way. i
1.-The feet may have started. but 81
is not too late to alter it's destina
tion,' I replied with flrmness. 1t win
be necessary for you to telegraph I'd
once. l notify you that France wil13
look upon an invasion OF Tripoh al
an attack upon herself
"Crispi turned pale. He saw the
prize of his stealthy preparations slip
ping from his grasp. But his resources
were not yet exhausted. /
"T implore you to withdraw your
notification he said earnestly. The
object of the expedition is already pub
lie. The Gazette Of Rome has 10
ceived the official intimation, and e
is no doubt already in typee
care you sure of what you sayn
responded with a meaning glance d.
rected at the half-hidden document
upon the table. You have no doubt
prepared the official notice, but per-
haps it has not been Dispatcher
"Crispi started.
"'You are indeed omniscient,' nd
murmured with bitterness. But after
all the Gazette is of no consequence
The secret Of the expedition Is already
public property; paragraph on the
subject appeared in the last edition
Of the Bocca di Roma this evening"
For moment was staggered. II
this were so the cannon ball had in.
deed begun to roll and to stop 1t would
mean war While l was hesitating /
suddenly recollected the paper which
had been thrust upon me by the news.
boy outside. unfolded it and glanced
at the name. 1t was a copy Of the
Bocca di Roma.
Then ensued a strange scene. With
trembling hands spread out the bad.
Imprinted sheet, casting my eye down
column after column, while the prime
minister of Italy sat back in his chail
watching me, the beads Of perspirat
ton rolling down his forehead. And
war between two mighty nations, g
war perhaps involving half Europe
and the lives of millions of men. huna
on the outcome.
"At last found the miserable par>
agraph on which SO much depend
ed. No sooner had my eye fallen
upon the heading than drew a deem
sigh of relief. It read: Expedition
to Africa
Il read the paragraph through, laid
down the paper, and looked Crispi In
the face
1T is not too late to alter the goal
of your expedition, after ALL said
There are other places in Africa be-
sides Tripoli. and the invasion Of
which will not mean war with France
For half an hour longer he resist.
ed, argued and implored. But l stood
firm as rock. At last he gave way:
A wire was sent that night to Reggie
to intercept the squadron, and In The
morning the people Of Italy Learned
that they were to acquire colony On
the shores of the Red sea.
"of course did not then foresee
the disasters that were in store fo1
this colony, on which l persuaded
Crispi to seize as an alternative to
Tripoli But had done my duty.
and am not responsible for the re-
Suits"
Surely that is not all you have to
tell me?" demonstrated, as my host
showed no sign Of proceeding. What
of that charming Nine. D'Urbino, in
whom you have interested me 90
strongly?'
His excellency first frowned and
then smiled.
You have done we'll to remind me
of the sequel to this adventure" he re-
marked graciously. Il have already
repeated to you the prime minister's
savage threat. It appears that my
friendship for Nine. DUrbino had al
ready excited attention among the
busybodies of the Quirinal, and it was
not difficult for our enemies to guess
something Of the truth.
I'm effect, few days later re-
ceived message from the countess
requesting my attendance at the pal
ace. On my arrival I found my beau.
tiful friend in tears. She had just
left the presence of the queen, who
had upbraided her bitterly with her
friendship for the enemies Of her coun.
try.
1.-The queen will never forgive me.
/ ATT A.