The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-08
A Diplomatic
Mission
1t Was Attended With
Difficulties
BY ELlNoR MARSH

+ 4 4 i 4 J. j. + i T. + 4 =
James Maitland, son of an admiral
in the o. s. navy, fell in love with and
married Mile. Julie de Lavalle, the
daughter Of a French diplomat who
had spent many years in the French
service, a considerable portion of
which time he resided in Washing
ton. M. de Lavalle never represented
his country as an ambassador He was
an adept at secret methods then in
vogue between nations, but, since the
open diplomacy of the late Secretary
Hay, now largely done away with.
When any quick Machiavellian work
was to be executed it fell to Lavalle.
Maitland and Mile. de Lavalle were
married while the bridegroom was
employed in the state department. At
the time the Panama canal was being
located and there was any amount Of
chicanery perpetrated both as to its
location and the prevention Of its loca-
ton both by Central and North Amer
leans. Then came young Maitland's
opportunity. One morning the secre-
tary sent for him, handed him a dis
patch and told him that he wished
him to take it to the United States con-
sui at Vera Cruz, who would see that
it reached It's destination.
Delighted at being thus enabled to
make a beginning in his profession,
Maitland took the dispatch 1t was
placed in an official envelope of the
state department addressed to the con-
sul-and was about to leave when the
secretary said to him:
1T is essential that the information
contained In that envelope reaches our
consul In Vera Cruz on or before the
18th. After that date it will be too
late. 1t is well that you should know
that its prompt delivery will involve
the making or the failure to make
millions Of dollars by certain capital
lists. You will therefore be very guard
ed in speaking of your mission and
watch well the dispatch. 1 send 1t to
Vera Cruz by you in order that no one
In this country may know its ultimate
destination. Nevertheless there are
plenty of spies about, and we may have
them right here in the state depart
ment Be careful, and good luck to
you"
When Maitland went home and with
the exhilaration of youth told his wife
of his mission, its Importance, consid-
ering the interests involved, and all
that, she failed to show similar en-
thusiasm.
what is it, pet" he said. "You
don't seem pleased"
Jimmie" she replied, ''you will new
er get it through"
"Why not?"
'They will steal it from you"
what makes you think so, JulieT"
From little girl have heard my
father tell the ways people take to out
wit one another. know all about it.
You know nothing"
However, the little woman packed
her husbands suit case-all the bag
gage he proposed to take-then took
the dispatch to the library, and when
she returned handed her husband box
of cigars. He opened it and removed
the top layers and below was an en-
velope addressed to Sonora Sanchez,
Mexico City, In Mrs. Maitland's own
hand.
little one, you're brick" said the
young diplomat. II see your scheme.
1t would never do to leave the dis
patch in my suit case under cover Of a
state department envelope, would it?"
mo. Now, Jimmie, do be careful Of
the suit case and don't let 1t out Of
your sight a moment"
Maitland gave her a dozen kisses,
picked up the suit case, called car
rage ard started for the train. He
reached New York during the after
noon and went at once on board the
steamer which was to sail early the
next morning. He was about to lock
his stateroom door on the suit case,
when, remembering that there might
be other keys that would unlock it,
he took the dispatch out from under
the cigars and put it in his pocket. If
he was followed. with a view to steal
ing the document, his baggage was
surely the first place the thief would
look for it. In order to discover If the
case had been opened for the purpose,
in replacing the cigars he laid all Of
those on the top row with the ends in
the same direction except one, which
he reversed. Having done this he went
on deck for air.
The next morning Maitland found
himself out on the Atlantic ocean head
ing for the gulf of Mexico. He walk
ed the deck alone, having resolved not
to make a single acquaintance. In the
afternoon he went to his stateroom for
a nap, and before lying down it occur
red 10 him TO examine his suit case.
Not that he really expected to find evil
dence Of any one having been there,
but simply to satisfy himself that it
was as he had left it.
What was his establishment to find
every cigar in the box laid in the same