The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| were nuttered by the following an =
| nouncement prominently printed in
| the Times: n
We are glad to be able to an. =
nounce on absolutely unimpeach-
able authority that at the Cab ri
met Council held yesterday. It was s-ss
decided by substantial majority,
after very animated discussion. -
that the principle Of compulsory
purchase should not be included
in the Land Bill which the Govern
ment arel pledged to introduce
| early this Session. The Right
Honorable the Home Secretary.
who is understood to favor this -
revolutionary principle was absent -
from the meeting" -.
Then followed a long article in cor. =.
dial approved Of the supposed decision. y
denouncing the Radical revolutionists =
who were eager to devastate the fair
fields Of ENGLAND and uproot her an
| ctent aristocracy. whose wealth and
privileges were the best guarantee for.
the stability OF the Constitution and =
the integrity of the Empire"
| A good deal of quiet enjoyment was s
manifest amongst the members of tho =
| Enthusiastically Of the more ad.
vanced section. at this announcement. !.
1t was plain the Times had been bad -,
| ly hoaxed.
But Lord Weldon wore a look Of s
deep distress; the Prime Minister was
grave and stern, and James Brandal
| utterly bewildered. The Prime Min
| lister had met him as he entered tho :.
House. and made an appointment after =
question time in his own room. a.
You have seen the Times?" said =
nd TyA1I
lister as they sat together on the front
bench at question time. There was
touch Of genuine distress in his voice r,
L could not have believed It possible ;.
Nor L. replied his chief. Il have :
asked Brandal to meet me in my room
when questions are over. I desire that
you also shall be present" =.
4 wish you could excuse me. It will =.
be Almost painful interview for me-" q.
Il have no doubt; but your presence
il essential. and painful duties must ;
be performed.
When Lord Weldon reached the =
Prime Minister'S room, he was a little =
surprised to ind Mr.. Paul Beck. also =
there. standing modestly in the back :
ground. q.
Mr.. Brandal and Lord Weldon s
the Prime Minister began abruptly, -
and plainly laboring under strong emo. -
ton, Il have summoned you here on q
matter in which you are both deeply
interested. You are aware that for
some time past the Cabinet has been
disgraced by a sordid spy and traitor :
who sold its secrets" ar
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 gentleman. to whom desire to =
convey my deep personal gratitude, q
that despicable traitor has been ex-
posed. You, Charles Launcelot, Wis.,
count Weldon. are the mani"
Lord Weldon would have spoken :.
then. but the Prime Minister turned :,
upon him imperiously. with a 1eonine
flash in his 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 LETT :
ter box, set me thinking. The subter-
ranean correspondent spelt Immediate
with one m" in the typewriter let
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 felt
pretty safe 1t was not likely that
two members of a Cabinet would
make that blunder. But to make :
surety doubly sure took the liberty
Of asking the Prime Minister Z.
Yes. my Lord Weldon" broke in
the Prime Minister. Il did the rest
After you gave James BrandaI the
false account OF the Cabinet proceed
ings. I 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. 7 )
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: ana
you must write over your own name Q
full confession Of your offense."
For what purpose?" gasped out
Lord weldon: his FIRST words since the
blow struck him.
ITO be retained by the man whose
ruin you sought: to be retained as . !,
memento. of a peril overpassed. and Q
security for the future" -,
He pointed to the door. and Lord :
Weldon crept through 1t 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. IT have to beg your forgivs-r