Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-11-16
Running
A Gantlet.
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

N~talklnS ABOUT the question OF Eng
lands maintaining supremacy over
the Srez canal when one of them said:
'Thes may be able to take it away
from us by force of arms, but they
can't do it by process of law"
"How so?' asked one of the party.
I was 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. BE called me into his
private Office, showed me the dispatch
and told me to leave at once to do the
job. He said further that every large
power would be glad to control the
canal in this way, and If 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 1t. If 1t were
known that l 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 I stole out
after dark.
1.-THE route chose was by rail to
Genoa, thence by sea to Cairo. On the
train in the same compartment with
me was 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
Journey from Berlin to Genoa, and the
lady and were in the same compart-
ment together for long while. Smok-
ing was not allowed In the compart-
ment, but when at certain time all
had left it but she and she took out
box Of cigarettes and asked me in
French-the medium between different
nationalities on the continent-if / Oh
jected to her smoking. l 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 it that would counteract
an effect. Ny suspicious We're con-
firmed by peculiar odor in the smoke
and a languor stealing over me. l 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 I turn
ed again to the Turkish lady she, in
we'll affected surprise, said: 4
"'Monsieur is sensitive to tobacco
smoker
Very I replied.
II was satisfied that she had been
sent to delay me, and since by my man.
ner I indicated that 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. I did not
doubt that she would send message
to announce her failure, and some one
else who stood ready would take up
her work where she had left off.
'AThe first night out from Genoa I was
walking the. deck, taking my usual
smoke before turning in. 1t was quite
late, and there were but few persons
: still up. was near the stern Of the
vessel when a gentleman came from
the taffrail and as he reached me stop
ped and said in French with an Italian
accent:
""The PHOSPHORUS Illumination ii
the wake of the ship is very beautiful.
"Without forethought went the few
yards between me and the taffrail ant
had followed me seized me and lifted
me to throw me over. Luckily for me
had been an athlete at home. beins
fond Of cricket. rowing and especial!
wrestling. My man was very strong
but withstood his efforts.
''rhe next morning.
Hold on. What did you do with thu
other fellow?" asked one Of the lis
teners.
when l tell story" replied tn,
narrator, II tell the story as ! wisl
to tell it, and l don't feel obliged II
answer questions"
"Oh, go on!'
1.-THE next morning and all the res
of the time that was on the ship
kept my room. l had become satisfied
that some power-mind you, l dom
say it was German-had let loose it
bloodhounds to tear me to pieces
necessary to keep me from Cairo, ant
didn't care to give any more of then
an opportunity.
81 reached Cairo at night and, goin'
to hotel. went to bed thankful that
was not tossed about corpse in Medi
terranean waters. | would have en-
joyed a good sleep had ! not fearet
some spy with murderous intent wa
under my bed. AS it was, merel.