New-York tribune., 1918-02-17


myself. He is known, of course, under
another name in England, where he is
considered very fine specimen Of John
Bull at his best-a jovial talkative, COM
mercial gentleman with nice spectacles
like Mr.. Pickwick, who subscribes to all
the war charities and is never tired of
telling his friends what he would do with
the Kaiser if he caught him.
l laughed aloud at this happy descrip-
tion of typical John Bull.
well" he continued II suggested to
Schumann the wild idea-as it seemed to
Us at tirst--of getting into the islands in
the guisc of a candidate for the parish
of Myredale. Two days later Schumann
came to me with his spectacles twinkling
with excitement.
Look at thisn said he
''He showed me a photograph in an
illustrated paper 1t was the portrait of
a certain Mr.. Alexander Burnett, minister
of parish in the south of Scotland, and
! assure you that if the name 'Adolph
Tiel' had been printed underneath none
of my friends would have questioned it's
being my own portrait.
The stars are fighting for u.s. said
Schumann.
"'They seem ready to enlist I agreed.
"'How shall we encourage them?'
said he.
81 shall let you know Tomorrow I
said.
Il went home and thought over the
problem. From the first l was convinced
that the only method which gave us
chance of success was for this man Bur-
nett to enter voluntarily as d candidate,
make all the arrangements kimself-nclud-
ing the vital matter of passport-and
finally start actually upon his journey.
Otherwise, no attempt to impersonate him
seemed to me to stand any chance of
success.
Next day | saw Schumann and laid
down these conditions, and we set about
making preliminary inquiries. They were
distinctly promising. Burnett's parish was
poor one, and from what we could gather
he had already been thinking for some time
past of making a change.
we began by sending him anonymously
q paper containing notice Of the vacancy
IciC. iltt VI SOuISc, was just W SCL MN,
thinking about it, The next Sunday
Schumann motored down to his parish
saw for himself the resemblance to me was
actually quite remarkable, and then after
service made the minister's acquaintance.
Imagine the good Mr. Burnett's surprise
and interest when this pleasant stranger
proved TO be Intimately acquainted with
the vacant parish of Myredale and de-
scribed it as a second Garden of Eden!
Before they parted Schumann saw that the
fish was hooked.
The next problem was how to make the
real Burnett vanish into space and substi-
tute the false Burnett without raising a
trace of suspicion till my visit here was
safely over. Again luck was with us We
sent an agent down to make inquiries of
his servant few days before he started.
and found that he was going to spend 9
night with a friend in Edinburgh on his
way north.'
Tie paused to knock the ashes out. Of
his pipe, and l remarked:
at first sight l confess that seems to
ne Homplicate the problem You would
ha wait till Burnett had left Edin-
burgh, wouldn't you?'
Tlel smiled and shook his head.
That is what we thought ourselves at
first" said he "but our second thoughts
were better. What do you think of a wire
to Burnett from his friend in Edinburgh
telling him that Mr.. Taylor would call
for him in his. motor car, plus a wire tc
the friend in Edinburgh from Mr.. Burnett
hat l.,
poned?"
Excellent" | laughed
Each wire may add contained care
iul lnjunctions not to reply. And I may
also add that the late Mr.. Burnett was
simplicity itself"
| started iryomntarily.
"The late Mr.. Burnett! DO Won
mean"-
What else could one do with him ?''
asked Tiel calmly. "Both Schumann and
believe in being thorough"
OF course this worthy pair were but do
ing their duty. Still, I was glad to think
they had done their dirty work without
my assistance. 1t was with q conscious
effort that | was able to ask calmly:
"How did you manage it,"
Mr.. Taylor, with his car and his chauf.
feur, called at the manse. The chauffeu,
remained in the car, keeping his face un-
ostentatiously concealed. Mr.. Taylor err
joyed the minister's hospitality till the
evening had sufficiently fallen. Then VIC
took him to Edinburgh by the coast road. >
Tiel paused, and looked at me as though
to see how I was enjoying the tale. AM