Evening star., 1918-02-24
BY MCDONNELL. BODKIN

W, We are siad to be abls to annsgses, - ahss-
ine. council held yssisrdsy Il WAS Va. a decided aa. ffs b.
discussion. that the principle Of compulsory pur
chase should not be included in the land bJil
early this session. The right honorable the homo
,,ecre0ry who is understood to favor this revo-
iiu.ionary principle. was absent from the meet
Then followed a long article in cor
dial approval of the supposed decision.
denouncing the radical revolutionists
VINO We're eager to devastate the fair
ancient aristocracy whose wealth and
privileges were the best guarantee for
the stability of the constitution and
the integrity Of the empire"
good deal of quiet enjoyment WAS
manifest among the members OF the
CABINET, especially of the more ad-
vanced section. at this announcement
~ was plain the Times had been badly
But Lord Weldon wore a look of deem
distress; the prime minister was grave
and stern. and James Brandal utterly
heWildered. The prime minister had
met hlm as he entered the house, and
made an appointment after question
time in his own room
You have seen the Times?" said
Lord weldon softly to the prime min
ister as they sat together on the front
bench at question time There was a
touch of genuine distress in his voice.
Il could not have believed II posi- Bile"
Nor l." replied his chief "I have
asked Brandal to meet me in my room
when questions are over I desire that
you also shall be present"
L wish you could excuse me- II VIII
be a most painful interview for me-"
have no doubt; but your presence
performed"
When Lord Weldon reached the prfme
minister's room he was a little sur
prised to find Mr.. Paul Beck also there.
standing modestly in the background.
Mr.. Brandal and Lord Weldon" the
prime minister began abruptly, and
plainly laboring under strong emotion.
Il have summoned you here on a mat
ter in.which you are both deeply in
terested. You are aware that for some
time past the cabinet has been dis
who sold its secrets"
Don't be too hard on him, Arthur
Lord Weldon whispered. But the prime
minister went on, with growing anger.
That treason ends here and now.
Through the skill and zeal of this gen.
tleman. to whom desire to convey nv
oeep personal gratitude, that despica BILE
traitor has been exposed. You, Charles
man.
Lord Weldon would have spoken
then, but the prime minister turned
upon him imperiously, with a leonine
,iash IN ms deepset eyes that awed
him into silence.
Denial is useless" he said, the
proofs of your treason are conclusive.
Tell him''-he beckoned to Mr.. Beck
tell him what you know"
You see, my lord" said Mr.. Beck
sweetly. "the word or two you care
lessly let drop. showing you knew how
the letter had reached the Times let
ter box. set me thinking. The subter-
ranean correspondent spelt Immediate"
I'm in hn fxyr ria L.
ter which was shown me in the Office.
] managed to coax a little note from
your lordship with the same word
misspelt the same way. Then 1 felt
two members of a cabinet would
make that blunder. But to mako
surety doubly sure, I took the liberty
of asking the prime minister"
Yes. my Lord Weldon" broke in
the prime minister. Il did the rest
After you gave James Brandal tho
false account of the cabinet proceed
ings, | gave him the true. You pub
lished the false account to convict him
OF treason, and you have convicted
yourself"
No word had Lord Weldon to an
swer. the sudden shock of the exposure
had so stunned him. He leaned with
trembling hands against a chair. and
his face was as the face of the dead.
But there was no pity in the prime
minister's stern voice False friend
and treacherous colleague" he said, II
regret that public interests forbid the
exposure and punishment of your
crime. But on two conditions only can
that exposure be averted You must.
of course. instantly resign your place
in the cabinet. and in the house; and
you must write over your own name a
full confession of your offense."
For what purpose" sasped out
Lord Weldon: his first words since the
blow struck him.
To be retained by the man whose
ruin you sought; to he retained as a
memento. of a peril overpassed. and a
security for the future
He pointed to the door, and LORD
Weldon crept through il like a whipped
hound
Mr.. Brandal" said the prime min
lister to the home secretary. with
look Of touching humility on his grand
old face. Il have TO beg your foregive-
ness for having wronged your honor.
even in my thoughts.
Then as the home secretary and the
detective passed from the room to-
gether Mr.. Brandal whispered TO Mr..
Beck: Come and dine with me to-
night-only ourselves. My wife must
thank the man who saved her hus-
band"
Copyright. 1918. by Mcuur. Syndicate,