Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-07-27
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A Diplomatic:
Mission ,
II Was Attended With ;
Difficulties !
BY ELlNOR MARSH

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James Maitland, son Of an admiral
in the U. s. navy, fell In love with and
married Mile. Julie dc Lavalle, tho
daughter Of a French diplomat who
had spent many years in the French
service, considerable portion of
which time he resided in Washing
ton. M. do 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 1t 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 no wished
him to take It to the United States con-
sui at Vera Cruz, who would see that
1t reached its destination.
Delighted at being thus enabled to
make beginning in his profession,
Maitland took the dispatch - It 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:
ut is essential that the information
contained In that envelope reaches our
consul in Vera Cruz on or before the
18th. After that date 1t 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. 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 exhllaration Of youth told his wife
Of his mission, its Importance. consid-
ering the interests involved, and all
that, she failed to show similar en-
thuslasm.
what is It, petT he said. you
don't seem pleased"
Jimmie" she replied, "you will new
er get 1t through"
"Why notT
'They will steal It from you"
"What makes you think so, JulleT
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 q 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 a brick" said the
young Diplomat. ~ see your scheme
II would never do to leave the dis
patch I'm my suit case under cover of a
state department envelope, would ftp
mo. Now. Jimmie. do be careful Of
the suit case and don't let It out of
your sight n moment"
Maitland gave her a dozen kisses.
picked up the suit case. called A car
rage and 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 auit case.
when. remembering that thero might |
be other KEYS that would unlock Il,
he took the dIspatch out from under
he cigars and nut IL In his pocket. II
he was followed. with a view to steal |
ng the document. his baggage was
surely the first place the thief would |
ook for It. In order TO discover II tho
,ase had been opened for the purpose. |
n replacing the cigars he laid all OF |
hose on the top row with the ends in |
he same direction except one which |
le reversed. Having done this he went |