The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-09
Running
Cantlet
Bv WILLARD BRAKEMAN

" talking about the question OF Eng
lands maintaining a supremacy over
the Suez canal when one of them SAID:
They may be able to take it away
from us by force of arms, but they
can't do it by process of law
"How soY" asked one Of the party.
81 was a member of the British en-
bassy at Berlin when the ambassador
received cipher telegram from Lon
don saying that big block of stock OF
the Suez canal had been offered for
sale at Cairo. He was directed TO send
some one there to make the purchase
at any price. He called me into mas
private Office, showed me the dispatch
and told me to leave at once to do the
lob. He said further that every large |
power would be glad to control the
canal in this way, and II 1t were
known to the others there would be
race as to who would get there first to
make the purchase. The Germans
would be surely after it. II 1t were
known that 1 was going to Cairo
might be waylaid by the German Sc
cret service I considered this highly
probable, and instead Of leaving Berlin
in my own proper person l stole out
after dark.
1.-THE route l chose was by rail to
Genoa, thence by sea to Cairo. On the
train in the same compartment with
me was a lady who from her cast OF
features, her dark eyes and hair set
down as being Turkish. She was
certainly Of an oriental type and
very beautiful woman. 1t is quite
| tourney from Berlin to Genoa, and the
| lady and 1 were In the same compart-
| ment together for long while. Smok-
ing was not allowed In the compart-
ment, but when at q certain time all
had left It but she and she took out
| q box Of cigarettes and asked me In
Trench-the medium between different
nationalities on the continent-if OBJ
tected to her smoking. said no, and
she offered me the box. declined the
Offer whereupon she took out one,
lighted It and began to smoke.
my suspicious were aroused by See
ing her every few moments apply her
handkerchief to her mouth and nose, l
fancying that she did so to inhale
something on 1t that would counteract
an effect. My suspicious were con-
frmed by a peculiar odor in the smoke
and languor stealing over me. I at
tempted to lower window beside me,
but was already so benumbed that l
couldn't get it down. had just
enough command Of my forces to
smash the glass with my fist. The
fresh air revived me, and when turn
ed again to the Turkish lady she, In
we'll affected surprise, said:
Monsieur is sensitive to tobacco
smoker
livery replied.
81 was satisfied that she had been
sent to delay me, and since by my man.
ner l indicated that I was on my
guard she made no further attempt to
, interfere with me. When we left the
| train at the border to take another
kept my eye on her and saw her head
: ing for telegraph office, / did moi
doubt that she would send message
to announce her failure and some one
! else who stood ready would take VI
r her work where she had left off
E "The first night out from Genoa was
walking the deck, taking my usua
] smoke before turning in. 1t was quite
:, late, and there were but few persons
J. still up. l was near the stern Of the
vessel when gentleman came from
the taffrail and as he reached me stop
ped and said in French with an Italian
accent:
1.-THE PHOSPHORUS illumination ii
the wake of the ship is very beautiful.
without forethought went the few
+ yards between me and the taffrail ant
i was looking over when the man wht
= had followed me seized me and lifted
= me to throw me over. Luckily for m,
l had been an athlete at home. bein,
: fond of cricket, rowing and especial,
$ wrestling. My man was very strong
but withstood his efforts.
y THE next morning.
u Hold on. What did you do with tn
u other fellow?" asked one of the lis
e teners.
u "When l tell a story" replied tn
narrator, II tell the story as l wis
e to tell 1t, and ] don't feel obliged t
IL answer questions"
ie "Oh, go onv'
> 1.-THE next morning and all the res
o Of the time that was on the ship
kept my room. l had become satisfe
81 that some power-mind you, l don
say 1t was German-had let loose II
o bloodhounds to tear me to pieces
C. necessary to keep me from Cairo, an
N l didn't care to give any more OF Their
IL an opportunity.
IL Il reached Cairo at night and, goin
Ut to hotel, went to bed thankful that
ie was not tossed about corpse in Med
NJ terranean waters. I would have OF
10 Joyed a good sleep had l not feare
OF some spy with murderous intent wa
" under my bed. As 1t was, | merel
III dozed and the next morning afte
; breakfast went out to get a conye,
ance to take me to my destination.
D. 1ehu drove up, but before committin
or mVSQlf hiS 0ora I eo,,@,-...