Evening star., 1925-07-22

voices uiSt the Owls ana WdhiHS
many echoes in the violet stiffness,
Then the last car glided off down the
hill and the villa was left in silence.
Toward it, from the other side of
Nice, came laundering through the
darkness a great limousine. with its
four lights faring and siren whistle
blowing. Outside the driver sat with
a face like a craven mask, with one
thought in his brain. Inside man
lay back amongst the cushions, upon
whose forehead the sign of death
seemed already to rest.
CHAPTER ".
Lord Yeovil, after the departure Of
the young people of the house. settled
down TO spend an evening after his
own heart. He rang for his servant.
ordered the wood fire to he replen-
ished. exchanged his dinner coat for
a smoking jacket. and lit q battered
looking briar pipe. which was the de
light of his life He was beginning 10
feel the need for a period of cool and
impartial deliberation For the last
10 days he had been presiding over
the meetings at Nice Of the Pact Of
Nations, an Eanization established
in Paris in 1880. and now, 20 years
later, the guiding force of the world
It's bitterest Critics-and at its lnau-
guration there had been many-Were
forced now 10 admit that the Pact had
become one of the brilliant successes
of the century. It's conception had
first been mooted at a trade confer
ence at Genoa in 1922, and its provi-
sions. subsequently drawn up with
the utmost care by a committee Of
European lawmakers, practically made
war among its members impossible.
France had been able to abandon her
self at last to sense of complete and
luxurious security Germany, ad-
mitted after some hesitation, had ap-
parently been among its most law
abiding members. The limitation Of
ornaments, the great pacific scheme
initiated by the President Of the United
States early in 1921, was still carried
on as a separate institution, but with
numerous affiliations. There was only
one great rawbaCk to the Pact. one
flaw alone which prevented its being
the greatest association ever formed
during the worlds history. and that
drawback was the fact which. at the
present moment. was giving both
Grant Slattery and Lord YeOvil cause
for the greatest apprehension.
The United States. after a period of
profound deliberation, during which
great dissensions had arisen. had de-
Cided 70 be the one great power out
side its influence. For the same rea-
sons which had kept her for so long
out of the war of 1914 she had re-
iterated her policy Of self-determina-
tion and had once more declared Eu-
rope outside the sphere of her political
interests. Her position had been the
principal subject of discussion among
statesmen and thinkers for many
years. No administration, however,
had been strong enough to change it.
and it was universally accepted now
as an unassailable attitude. She had
ample justification for believing her
self strong enough to fight her own
battles and defend her own honor.
Her position was in its way magnifi
cent and evoked the fiorid and rheto-
riCal praise Of many of her own
writer's, especially those who were in
any way TeutoniC in their origin.
Those who. like Grant Slattery. saw
the sinister side of the situation. We're
few and their voices unheard in the
great glad paean of thanksgiving in
which her press, day by day and
month by month. g1orifed and exag-
gerated her uneXampled and amazing
prosperity. Without doubt. America
had become the richest country in the
world
It was of America that Lord Yeovil.
who had once been an exceedingly
popular amba ssador at Washington
was thinking as he smoked his dis
reputable pipe. lounging in an easy
chair, his feet upon the fender. He
had a profound respect for Grant
Slattery, whose handling of various
intricate matters while first score
tary in London had won his un-
qualified approval. The young man
had seemed at that time assured of an
ambassadorship, and his complete
withdrawal from the diplomatic serv
ice had been a mystery even TO his
| intimateS. Lord Yeovil knew the rea-
son for that withdrawal and was day
by day growing more thoroughly TO
appreciate it. He was thinking of il
now as he smoked his meditative pipe,
wondering exactly how much real in
formation Grant had picked up I'm
Berlin; wondering, too. whether that
small cloud which had already ap-
peared on the political horizon was
destined to disturb seriously the 80
years Of peace.
The sound of wheels in the drive
and the pealing of the bell broke into
his reflections. He glanced at the
clock II was a few minutes past IL
an impossible hour for an ordinary
caller. Presently Andrews, a young
| typist employed by his private secre-
| tary. knocked at the door and entered.
I'm sorry to disturb you, sir" he
said. but Baron Naga is here and
! asks if you will receive him"
Baron Naga!" the prime minister
repeated in amaZement. AT this hour
OF the night
Continued in Tomorrow Starr