Evening star., 1925-09-02

was a very harmless and helpless Cor
neltus Blum, this. But for how long?
CHAPTER XVI.
The preliminaries of Grants mis-
sion to London seemed to him. cal ger
TO get into touch with the vital things
monotonous and a little wearisome.
He paid his respects to his own
ambassador and received the entree
to the embassy. Afterward he made
formal application for an appoint
ment with Lord Yeovil, and, after a
brief delay, was accorded an inter
view in Downing street at o'clock
that evening. The interval he filed
up by calling with the naval attache
of his embassy upon the admiralty,
and with the military attache upon
the war office. At o'clock pre-
cisely he was received in Downing
street by Arthur Lymane. who vel
coined him with a certain amount of
surprise.
Glad TO see you and all that, Slat-
terry" he said, but ! never thought
of you as being on the official side
of anything. | thought you'd abso-
/ lutely chucked the service some years
ago"
I'm on a special mission" Grant
explained. They've sent me over 10
see one or two people here and es-
pecially Lord Yeovil. I'm going back
on Saturday"
I'VE shall all be fellow passengers
then" Lymane observed. DO you
/ think America will be able to stand
the troupe of us? Because we're all
coming-even bringing our own little
typists this time"
rs Lady susan" Grant began
| heSitatingly.
Yes, Lady Susan's coming along. "
She's all right. / suppose Grant
inquired. 'I don't seem TO have
heard anything of her for some time. .
"In the pink. She's been doing the
honors for her father this season
and doing them wonderfully, too"
Engaged YETI" Grant yentured
with ridiculous affectation Of care
Iessness.
Nothing announced" was the
cautious reply. There are three or
four Of them running neck and neck.
Bobby Lancaster's fallen behind a bit
although he's as keen as ever. Lord
Glentarne's chief favorite for the mo
ment. and there are a lot of rumors
going about that buckingham Palace
| has its eye on her. No matrimonial
| news about you. suppose, Slattery?"
None"
A little bell rang. and Grant was
ushered into the presence Of the man
who, few months ago, notwithstand
ing the difference in their ages had
been his most intimate friend From
the moment of his entrance, however
he understood that those days were
past. Lord Yeovil was courteous. even
friendly. Nevertheless, the change in
his demeanor would have been ap-
parent TO a man of fewer perceptions
than Grant.
Very glad TO see you again. Slat-
terry" the Prime Minister said, mo-
tioning him TO a seat. 1t seems a
long time since We used to sit cudgel-
ing our brains about those bridge
problems.
History is giving US something
much more serious with which to oc-
cupy ourselves, sir Grant replied.
"All the things which you and I used
to speak about in those days are com
ing to pass"
Lord Yeovil nodded.
This time, | gather. YOU come to
me officially
THAT is true, sir. / am the bearer
of a message and representations
from my government to yours. May
beg for your serious attention."
BY all means the prime minister
acqIiesced. My car is ordered for
Z. O'Clock. Till then / am at your
service. l will just give Arthur few
messages and leave word that we are
not TO be disturbed.
Until a quarter TO Lord Yeovil was
an attentive listener When his visitor
had at last finished, he was looking
very grave.
Il have always felt a premonition
of something of this sort" he confded.
My invitation TO the States was praC-
tically founded upon il. But l must
confess l had no idea that things were
so imminent. Nor even at the present
moment is il quite clear TO me how
Germany and Japan propose to work
this thing"
There is a great deal that we have
to discover yet. sir Grant declared
Were reconstructingt the scheme more
thoroughly. day by day, but from the
facts we have il seems a S though the
central idea is that the Japanese fleet.
which we have reason 10 believe is
much larger than it should be. Will
approach the west coast of America
at exactly the same time that the
German fleet approaches the east
coast-the German fleet, by the way,
augmented, without a doubt, by the
Russian. We in America, as you
know, sir, being the instigators of the
limitations of armaments, have been
most scrupulous in keeping Zealously
to our official tonnage in every class
of battleship. and the consequence
seems to be that the American fleet,
even if it could meet either of these
others undivided. would be greatly in
ferior in numbers, and the idea OF
dividing ii to meet these two opposing
forces simultaneously would be sim
ply to court disaster"
This, of course. is all supposition,
Lord Yeovil observed.
f.i D.r1AN of
proof. which / shall presently pro-
duce," Grant went on. The most
urgent matter, however, which | was
begged TO discuss with you, sir, was
the attitude of certain portions of
the American press toward yourself
and this country. l shall offer you
presently an explanation of that atti-
tude and / am TO beg you most sin
cerely. in the name of the President
and the Government, to use your in
ffuence with the press OF your own
country TO aviod, so far as possible,
recrimination and reprical."
"It is true, l suppose" Lord Yeovil
inquired. that the New York is no
longer conducted in the interests of
your Government?
'The New York" Grant replied,
has been purchased by Cornelius
Blum, and is the most dangerous
organ in the State today.
The prime minister glanced AT his
watch.
II fear that, for the present, we
must postpone our discussion" he an
nounced. at has been a great plea
sure to see you again, Slattery. and
to receive you in an official capacity.
No one could have been more vel
come-as representative Of your
people"
Grant felt a sudden chill. He took
his courage into both hands, however.
81 fear, sir" he ventured, that L
seem to have forfeited in your eyes
the position of which l was once very