Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-23
diplomatic
Affair
1t Was Managed by
a Woman
By H HOLMES
By ETHEL HOLMES

Ills excellency has directed me to
admit you as soon as you called"
The attendant led the way to the
private office Of the minister of foreign
affairs, opened the door and announced:
mime. Chapelliert'
1.-THE government" said the minister,
"appreciating your past services. is de-
sirous of adding to the mounts al
ready paid you another 10000 francs"
"And l doubt not the government ex-
poets me to add to my past services a
corresponding amount"
"Can you leave for London tonightT'
81 can go anywhere at any time"
'Very well. l will explain"
The minister cast a look about the
room, habitual with him before enter
ing upon a matter involving secrecy,
leaned forward In his chair and spoke
in a low tone.
1.-The British government has made a
treaty with the ambassador of the sub
lime porte at London by which the sui
tan grants valuable concessions to
Great Britain. We have been negotiat-
ing with the sultan's ambassador here
| Ill dIlS lOE lutSG Sdluc PRIV lltStS, Dut
we are too late.
"Sir Bradford Chichester, one Of the
younger members of the British dinlo-
matte corps, has engaged passage by
sea for C~onstantinople In a ship sail
ing on the 18th. He will carry with
him the British-Turkish treaty for sig
nature at the Turkish foreign office. 1t
is our purpose to delay him either at
starting OF or the way"
Nine. Chapellier reached London the
next morning and reported in person
to Baron lie Brun, the ambassador.
"In order to assist you," he said, 81
give a dinner this evening at which
Sir Bradford Chichester will be pres
ent. Have you costumes?'
Everything except appropriate jew
els. l shall %personate a wealthy Amer
lean widow-Mrs. W~orthington Wood"
Every well. l shall expect you
at g."
At the dinner given at the French
embassy Mrs. Worthington Wood, who,
though born of French parents, had
lived the first fifteen years of her life
III IL tdhCh III " 01AthCt W
Sir Bradford Chichester. She knew
that his family, though ancient, were
not rich and that he would gladly take
q wealthy wife. She manifested SO
much interest In seeing his country
seat, the Dunes, Oh the Irish channel
and some 200 miles from London, that
he, thinking to benefit in the matter
~ -I.1,II - 1Aw. r..4h
desirable-arranged a house party to
go there to remain till the 18th, when
he must return TO theNcity to be ready
TO sail on the 14th. OF course Mrs.
Wood was invited.
The next day a small number of
guests assembled at the Dunes. 1t
was winter, but the house was cheer
fully lighted and logs blazed on every
hearth. Sir Bradford devoted himself
to the young widow. There are wom-
en- who possess the knack of carrying
an impossible man quickly off his
feet. Such was Mrs. Worthington
Wood. She administered, so to speak.
a love potion. There was in it a rea-
son-to cause her victim to feel that he
could never aspire to possess her.
Eyes that shot a spark to kindle pas
sion, feigned innocence to excite rever-
ence.
Sir Bradford, Mrs. Wood and sew
eral others of the house party had gone
up from London on the same train and
ia the same compartment. Mrs. Wood
noticed that her host carried a leather
hand bag that he never lost sight of.
If he left the train for a moment at a
station he took the bag with him; If
he went into the smoking compart-
ment to enjoy a cigar the hand bag
went with him.
Mrs. Wood also noticed that when
be entered the family equipage to be
driven to his home, while he gave up
his rugs, umbrella and other such be-
iongings to the servants, he held on
to the satchel. She deemed it neces-
sary to her plans to know where the
hand bag should be deposited. But as
soon as the host entered the house,
leaving his guests to be shown to their
rooms by the h~ousekeeper, he disap-
peared. When Mrs. Wood next saw
him the satchel was not with him.
Il have brought with me-" she said
to him. "a few of my finest jewels, not
daring to leave them in London. Have
you a safe In the house?"
Certainly he said. Zone moment.
1 will call the housekeeper. The safe
Is In my bedroom. She will go with
u.s."
us? Is 1t necessary for you to gof'
II never allow my safe to be opened
except by myself"
"On second thought, I will keep my
valnables locked in my trunk"
There was a faint reproach in the
glance she gave him and her tone.
Pardon me-" he said. 81 would
trust you, but my housekeeper"-
"You would not trust?"