The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
By E. Phillips
Oppenheinn


day--you c guess where-about
treaty with a certain power. There
are some peculiar complications, are
there not"
There have been-some very Pc
culiar complications Sir James re-
marked smoking his cigar with evil
dent relish, and gazing with a faint
smile upon his lips into the Gepth of
the open dispatch box by his side.
The whole story OF our negotia-
lions will never become really
known" he said. The fact is, a cer-
tain royal personage--not his maj
esty-was very much opposed to the
signing of the treaty. All along, we
have had to contend with a very
strong antagonism FROM do not
know why l should conceal it from
you-from the Quee' 80
By-the-by," remarked, you
used the past tense. Is there any
chance, do you think, of getting the
treaty signed, in the face of such
opposition"
There was a slight triumphant
smile on Sir jane lips as he
glanced into the depths of the
dispatch box. 1t was standing at his
elbow, and he had been carelessly
playing with the lid. The perfume
Of violets, faint and sweet. seemed
to be filling TIE room.
The treaty will be signed within
fortnight" he said, quietly. Il do
not think th;. we will ever have
any trouble again. m that quarter.
OF course. you will understand that
| do not wish this to go any further
al present, but l may say that means
have come into our hands which will
put a summary end, now anu for
erer, to the opposition L spoke of [
cannot say any more, even to you, at
present, but the whole affair will be
public property before long"
I leaned back IN my chair and
nerved myself for what was to come.
Il trust not" L said, slowly.
Sir James drew a bunch of keys
from his pocket and calmly double
locked the dispatch box. Then he
rose to his feet and turned frown-
ing face upon me.
Il am utterly at loss to under
stand you, Lord Wendover," he said.
coldly. BE so good as to explain
yourself"
firmly. Il am here for no other pur-
pose. The means to which you al
lude are these! You have obtained
possession Of compromising letters.
written by certain parsonage to my
friend Reginald Thurlow. Those let
ters made public would be the ruin
of any wom~n-even a Queen. You
propose to maxi them public-and to
ruin her, It is very simple.
Diplomacy might sanction such
use in such, a case, il the letters had
come into your hands by other
means, Sir James" l continued.
"They were brought to You the day
| before yesterday by young man
named Harris, a distant connection
of your own, and one of the Embassy
secretaries at the capital in question.
| Now, / know you to be an honest as
uyd rolitici.p
James. and L am perfectly sure that
you have been misled as TO how
those letters came into Harris pos
| session."
He found-never mind I will
hear what you have to say, my Lord,
! first"
He doubtless assured you that he
found them. He did not. His zeal
in your service led him further than
that. He o. an accomplice, chloro-
formed and gagged Reginald Thur
! lows servant. and distracted the let
tiers from his private safe. opened
with the Embassy keys. In other
words, he committed gross and
criminal burglary! 1t is in your own
interests l bring the information. Sir
James. 1 think you will admit that
such methods are going a little too
far"
My nephew's conduct was indis-
| Greet and exceedingly ill-advised" he
said looking UP at last. IL neces-
| sary he must answer for it. I can
not shield him nor should attempt
! to do SO At the same time the vio-
| lence that was offered was within
the walls of our own Embassy That
| is the crux of the matter. I admit
| that the means were deplorable, but
the end that has been gained is great.
l am sorry for your friend, Lord
Wendover, at whose instigation
suppose you are here. But in the
face of the great national gain, the
welfare of individuals must go to the
| wall L shall hold to my course"
He laid his hand upon the bell, but
] | checked him.
Then prepare yourself for a fur
Their shock, Sir James l said. Last
night your nephew paid the penalty
for his over zealousness. He was
| murdered in Soho lodging house,"
Sir James sank into a chair, pale
to his lips. l took the Globe" from
my pocket and showed it to him.
There is a full account of the
murder" l said Il ara very sorry
to shock you, Sir James, but"
The name is Shalders" he ex-
claimed, suddenly. # read this last
night! 1t has nothing to do with
! BertI'
1T has everything to do with him."
l answered. grave1y. Il suspected
that the name was a false one. Mr..
/ Thurlow has been to Soho police sta
| tion this morning and identified the
| body as Harris"
Sir James rose to his feet. He had
regained his composure, but he was
| evidently shaken.
1T is impossible to connect me in
any way with my nephew's blunder."
! he answered. L was not even the
instigator. The letters were placed
in my hands. OF his history l am
completely ignorant. ] shall not give
them up!'
Very well, Sir James 1 declared,
your refusal leaves me but one
| alternative. | have an audience with
the Premier at O'Clock 1t is now
ten minutes to. l shall go to him.
tell him all | know, ard get him to
| wire orders that the seals which [
have had placed on your nephew's
| belongings are not disturbed until
special envoy has been through his
| correspondence. You may not have
been his instigator. TIL. to be
proved, In any case Sir James your
resignation will BE- demanded within
the next 81 hours
Sir James walked to the window
and came back again. Slowly he
drew from hi" pocket a bunch of
keys, and unlocked the despatch
box. With t little packet in his
hand he fingered for a moment as
though even now loath to part with
it, Then, with a slight bow, he
handed it to me across the table and
the perfume of crushed violets had
never seemed so sweet to me-
You are quite right, Lord Wen-
dover!' he said drily. My position
is untenable. Present these letters to
your friend with my most profound
apologies, for the manner in which
they came into my hands"
We parted without formal leave
taking. l drove rapidly home, and,
mounting the stairs, found Reggie
y rnl inn, f1A.. /