Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-28
Miss Brown Of X.Y.O.
By E. Phillips Oppcnhcin.
copyrisht E. oppnhem.
copyrish,. 1927. by E. Phillips oppenheim.


| hearing, paused in her task behind
| the wide-open safe doors TO revel ii
| the subtle glow of pleasure which
| crent through her veins. Marabels
nodded.
I'm content" he said. cot
course YOU know political tactics
and military tactics have this much
in Common--the surprise blow is the
great thing, We want IL get this in
and knock the wind ont of Frank.
lands sails and bring Abel Deane Ia
reason. The premier doesn't realize
how near he is to trouble"
Hell know after tonight - after
what we can show him. pessiter OBJ
served, FINISHED, Miss Brown"
Quite finished. sir
nessitcr rose to his feet. drank his
whisky and soda and threw the re.
mains Of his cigarette into the fire.
ITO make history then" he eX-
claimed. Come along, Marahels.
Let me carry the dispatch case, Miss
Brown -
At Downing street they found the
prime minister with his secretary
awaiting them in small room at the
hack Of the house free from any at
mosphere of otficialdom. He looked
0skanCe at Miss Brown. but Dessiter
quickly explained.
''You will understand. sir" he said.
that in my position / am bound to
trust some one. ! have selected Miss
Brown who did wonderful service for
mo Al n time when ! scarcely knew
whether l was going TO live or die.
and 10 whose efforts are due the fact
that I was able to preserve the records
of my work without having them fall
into the hands of The other side"
The prime minister bowed kindly
He used almost the same words as
Narahels.
One would never presume to doubt
your judgment. Col. Dessiter, as TO the
trustworthiness of either man or wo.
man
My position here is almost that of
an onlooker." Mara bells began. Il told
YOU. sir. that if you would give me
an interview tonight with Col. Dies.
sitter | would prove 10 YOU how in
finitely more serious things are in the
country than you believe The infor.
nation which Col. Dessiter is about
to place before you was some of il
gathered by him personally at time
when he was acting half officially
and half unofficially, and the remain.
VII SlaS btNli I'll SIiEtC tiit lii-
stitution of y. Y. o. and its affiliated
organizations very admirable
stroke OF policy" he added. but a
little overdue"
II am ready to hear anything Col.
Dessiter may have TO disclose" the
premier declared.
Miss Brown opened her dispatch
box. Dessiter motioned her 10 a chair
by his side
II will now try to lay before you
briefly, sir" he said. the exact situa.
ton"
For threequarters OF an hour. Des-
sitter, in an even. administrative
tone laid his evidence upon the table
and expounded from it. He produced
his proofs often without a word of
comment. Figures he either guar
anteed or admitted that they were
estimates. When he had finished, the
prenier's face was unusually haggard
He sat for a moment in a character
istic attitude, his hands fat upon the
table in front OF him, frown upon
his forehead.
You have made out a damaging
case. Col. Dessiter." he said gravely,
but why have you kept these facts
so much to yourself? Why have we
&Ap~ ANoAN Al 0A1A std DGlOit
Because" Dessiter replied, at is
almost impossible to break through
the officialdom OF certain members Of
your cabinet, sir"
The premier stretched out his hand
for his pipe. He filled it with tobacco
and lit it with shaking fingers. He
seemed TO have aged during the last
half hour.
"T am quite prepared to admit the
gravity Of the situation" he declared,
but what precisely do you want me
to do?"
II want you TO take a very unusual
course. sir" Marabels replied. 1T
won't appeal to you-youll probably
dislike IL intensely, but in my con.
sidered opinion it's the only chance
We've got Of saving the country from
disaster i cannot take Col. Dessiter's
Information into Parliament, attack
you from there and send you to the
country. Even II i succeeded in turn.
ing you out. the tat would be in the
fire. and, while we studied our election
addresses. the storm would have
burst. This 1s the only way. You
must act as though you were out OF
once. and you must give your support
10 my scheme. You'll have a lot OF
trouble from your own side. OF course.
but you've got to get the votes. and
you ran do it."
But what precisely il your
scheme?" the prime minister asked
Il am going to take the bull by the
horns. j am going to anticipate what
sane Labor. as represented by Abel
Ibeane ana his men, is on the point OF
demanding and give il 10 them before
they ask for IL. l am going TO bring
II forward as government proposal
ana you. sir, are going TO support H."
Do you imagine that you can pass
this through the House Of Commons?''
the premier asked wonderingly.
with your help. yes" was the cool
reply. "And you'li give your helm ali
right. Youu be an enthusiast on the
scheme before It's all over"
The prime minister rose TO his feet
we have gone as far as we can
with this discussion at present. !
think" he announced. Il accept your
terms 10 Tar as ubey 40, Nr. Marabels
WIN support your scheme. / VIII
stand on one side and sec what YOU
can DO. but ] reserve the right at any
TIME i find myself hopeIensly in con.
fict with you. 10 resign"
You can 20 10 the country the mo.
nent we've dealt with his plot" Mar.
abe.s declared.
Mss Brown and Desalter found
'hsmH Ives under n clear and etarIit
, SKY as they left Downing street nnd
| entered the car. There was a touch
of frost in The air 4 late newapa pei
boy vas stilI EhoutinE the news.
You can Drop ne at White
hall" Deseiter said. IN take your
% perg up"
MarabePs speech in the House 81
Commons. delivered without any al
tempt al elpquenCe On without any