Show I i N tc Sir Vc nut Huff mad madi one his I b 11 ht I Jt It liP ete T rull jr trl b 11 to ID I Jola l tbs tb's lmh Xo Now per per- fore torr bt be em t rl tiC ot r t Is 13 t j I ti 1 ra C It ID Ia r. r nrc t gns JIlt tl I nC C ite- ite tIUi UM tI b 13 A it pe hilt luit i hI he Is mill fl juit the UK PaD Mill ibe nr jt 1 II trul t- t gui ful Amp nip ti thA thAt H lion boa b been cn ITt t 1 tn r rc ot fiction 1111 inI hO r a rt tt tr tta that r. r Hi Jill arc tr re tn h hv by tl tI i mister of ot II all aU II cull b fc 0 m 15 tn It jf tac In lr lf th th fc e r f Tio Th Man rall ron t tU tUX X DItL l will II next 1 Surdy Sundar COYIt Co 1 J 11 JoT by tIt th 1 d Literary Inn Ires F In Jn Study with fist fist- t I t locked door Pet Peter r. r B Baron ron de Grost sat at reading word by word ord with zeal zeal- om ou care the dispatch from Paris which had hd iU just t been icen cred creel into his Is hands d From the splendid of rec reception roams which occupied the whole of ot oft t tte left hand side o of or the hall hail came camet t the taInt faint I sound of or music The street treet o outside t de was filled tilled with automobiles and I carriages setting down dot their gU guts guests ts Madame wa was rec receiving l tonight a i gathering gathering gath gath- ering ot of very en distinguished men and anil women and it was wac only for a n few mom mo- mo m nent nt- nt nta a and d on very urgent busine I Indeed in indeed In- In dee deed that her husband had dared ed to leave her side elde The room In which ho he sat was In darkness except for the single lIngle n hea heavily c shaded electric lamp which stood byI by I his hia elbow elbo e there was vas J sufficient Illumination to show that 1 I I Peter had achieved one at least of or hi his y I ambitions He was wa as wearing court dress dres with Uh immaculate black silk stockings j and diamond buckles huckles upon his shoes hoes i j. j A A Ared red ribbon was In his buttonhole and a French rench order hung from his neck His Bis passion for clothes was certainly amply ministered to b by the exigencies of his ne new Dew position Once moro more he lie read there last lut few words of ot this unexpectedly edly received dl dispatch patch read them with witha a R. frown upon his hla forehead an ant the light of ot trouble In his eyes ees For Tor three months he ha had done nothing but live the life lite of an sn ordinary man of fashion L and wealth His first t task for which to tell the truth he had been anxiously anxious anxious- ly waiting was as here before him and I Ibe he be found it little to his liking Again he read slowly to himself the last para para- paragraph graph aph of letter ietter r. r As s ever eer dear friend one of ot the greatest sa sayings which the men men of m my race have ever er perpetrated once more Justifies itself Ch la Ia femme Of or Monsieur we have hll n no manner of ot I dO doubt we p have te tested ted In e cr every way And to all appearance Madame I I. I should also be bc above c suspicion Yet Yet those things of ot which Inch I hav hA e r n have boY happened For FOt two to hours this mornin morning I IVI VI was closeted d with her herer here hete Very er reluctantly th he has placed place the rant nat t ter tr r In m rny my hands I pass pan It on to you ou It f Is 15 your first undertaking cher baron fIt and I wish you bon fortune A fn man manof n. n Jot of gall gallantry an as 1 I know n you ou arc are you ou out 1 t ma nay may regret that It should be a a. woman oman and a a. beautiful woman oman too against t 1 whom hont the finger Inger must u t be pol pointed rl Yet 4 after all alJ tb the fates a e are strong and the thet t task Is yours your GE I The music from the reception rooms grew rew louder and arid more Distinct P Peter i r rose rose to o his f feet ot anti ami moving mo to to the fireplace struck a ma match th and carefully i destroyed letter which he had bad been bee 1 reading Then he hp straightened himself i i glanced for a 1 moment at the mirror 7 f t and l left tt the room to join his guests I Sf i T J LE BARON BARO jests jet the 1 IVl VI 1 lady 0 d murmured t The Baron de Grost shook hook his h head hd d' d Indeed no madame h he answered earnestly Franco has offered d u us nothing noth noth- 1 lag ing g more delightful in the whole history history his hlf tor tory of ot our entente than the loan of ot yourself and your our brilliant husband Monsieur de Lamborne makes his history tor I amongst t us politically whilst Madame Mad Mad- ame e- e I eThe The baron baroa sIghed and nd his companion leaded a little towards him Her dark eyes yes were ere full tull of ot sentimental regard i Yes she sho murmured Continue It ItIs Is 15 n my wish a I am the good friend of ot Monsieur Ion leur I e tf e Imborne amborne the baron said and in I his late tone there t seemed to lurk some sonic I l away Ia ar touch of or regret yet ct Madame I I that her conquests conquest here have o been many The ambassadors ambassador's wife rife fanned herself her her- f self sif li and rema ne silent nt for tor a n moment ft n. taInt smile playing at tt th the cOn corners rs of or her hei full tull curving curIn She he was indeed a er very beautiful woman woman elegant le nJ a Parisian to the tips Ups with pale cheeks cheek but eyes es dark and soft e cy eyes s strained strained trained to her service Wh whose se flash wa was had hoE an nn Inspiration whose Rhose very er droop r set scat heating beating the tho hearts hea of ot men l Is s susceptible sue sus th than n the Baron naron de Grost Groft H Her gown gOn was m magnificent of or al amber b r satin a color daring but splendid t th the r outline out out- out out- line Iliac of ot her figure as she he he leaned slightly slight sight I ly back in iii her hen seat might ht indeed have hae been traced t b by the inspired finger of ot some great sculptor p De Grost Groat whoso whose reputation as n a man of or gallantry was wa well weli established hed 1 felt ft the whole charm of or her presence presence presence-f felt lt too the subtle Indications of t preference which she seemed Inclined to accord to him There was t nothing which c eyes e could s say which hers her were not saying durIng durIng during dur dur- ing those few minutes The Baton In Indeed Indeed In- In deed e d glanced around a little lItt nervously His wife wite had still her hr moment of oC unreasonableness un un- un- un l reasonableness nes it was just as n ell that she was was engaged with a 1 party of or he her guests at the farther tarther end of ot the apart apart- In ments ment You Youre are re trying to turn m my head his bis beautiful companion whispered You flatter Clatter me nie It is Js no not possible he answered the fan inn fluttered for a moment moment mo too- ment be before Core hr her face She sighed Ah Ab h. Monsieur sh she continued dropping dropping drop drop- pin ping her voice olce until It scarcely rose above nb a whisper there are arc n not nt t man many men Ike you ou You speak of ot m my husband husband hus hue band and his hale political gifts Yet what hat after all do the they amount to What hat I Is his position indeed if one glanced be behInd behind behind be- be hind th the scenes compared with yours ours The rIse face of f the Baron de Gro Gron Groat t be became became be- be came like a mask It was as aa though suddenly he had felt the thrill of or danger danger dnn- dnn dan dan- ger close at hand danger even een In that scented atmosphere wh wherein he sat Alas Aias Madame he answered it is isyou isyou you ou now who Mho are arc pleased to Jest Your husband Is a great and ami powerful ambassador I I. I unfortunately have no career reer no place In life lite save the pl place ce which th thc possession of or a few rOw millions gives to a successful financier nc I Sh She laughed er very softly and again her eyes ye spoke poke to him Monsieur he murmured you ou and I andT IndI I T r to together ether could make a great alliance Is It not so so Madame a ame he faltered d doubtfully If one dared hope hope hop Once more mor th the fire of or her ryes eyes U this thin time not only on voluptuous Was Wa the theman theman theman man man mant stupid t pid she he wondered or only cautious cautious cau cau- If IC that alliance were er once concluded concluded con con- eluded sho she said nid softly one ml might ht l hope Pc for everything everything- If It Ii iU ll rests anI only with me mc h he b be began an seriously oh Madame I- I I He semd m d overcome Madame was t gracious bat was as h he real really really- I stupid or oc r l touch much ch In earned earnest T To b be on oti of ot the worlds world's mone money kings f h she h T It is wonderful that It is supreme power power supreme absolute po power er There s nothing beyond there Is nothing greater Then the Baron who was oas watching t her clos closely i caught another In 11 her r e eyes es ud he began to understand He lie had seen it before rore amongst a c certain r- r tam tain type l e of her countrywomen the countrywomen women the the greed of or money H lie looked at her herI I jewels and he remembered that for an ambassador her husband was a reputed to be bo a n poor man The Tho cloud loud of or misgiving misgiving mis mis- giving gl passed aUn away from him him he settled settled set set- tIed down to the game If It money could only bu buy the tue de' de desire lre of ot r. r ones one's heart hert he hc murmured d Alas Ils His eyes seemed to seek Heek out ont Monsieur Monsieur Mon Mon- ion ion- de Lamborne amon amongst st the moving moving mo ing throngs She laughed softly and her hand brushed his Money Ione and one other thing Monsieur Mon Ion le lc Baron she nhe whispered I tl n n his hiscar ear car can cnn bu buy the Jewels from a crown can crown can bu buy e even e en the heart of ot a atoma woman t woman nA n A movement mO of or approaching Jue guests ts caught t them up and parted t them e for tor a LII The Ambassadors Ambassador's Wile Wife I J I Tt Q L 1 i t ci T 3 W e 1 6 1 L I l I i Monsieur she murmured you and I together could make a a. great alliance is it not BO so so time Th The de Gro Grost rost t was at I home from ten till one and her rooms were crowded The Baron found himself him him- self seIr drawn on one side a few minutes later b by Monsieur do Lamborne nina nina- self I I 1 have p been looking for tor you ou de Gost Grost th the tho In latter tI et declared Where hero can we e talk for a I. I moment 7 HI HIp His host took hie h ambassador b by the arm arni and led him hito tito 11 u retired corner Monsieur ur do Lamborne was a tall slight man somewhat cadaverous lookIn lookIng looking look- look In Ing with large features hollow eyes eeF thin but carefully arran arranged ed gray ra hair I and and a pointed gra pray gray beard heariL He wore a frilled d shirt and an e glass eye suspended suspend suspend- el ed b by a broad black ribbon hung down upon his chest His face as a rule was imperturbable enough h but he had the air just now of ot a man greatly die dis ls- ls We e cannot be overheard h here her rc do de Grost Groat remarked It must be an affair of or a few tew words only though Monsieur de Lamborne wasted no notime notime notime time In In preliminaries This afternoon he said I received from m my government EO papers or at Im Immense Immense Im- Im mense Importance which I am to hand handover handover over o to your our foreign minister at 11 ii o'clock morning The Baron Well fJ II De Dc Lamborne's lamborne thin fin fingers ers trembled as ali the they played nervously with the ribbon ribbon rib rib- bon boo of his hi glass ere 8 Listen ho lie continued dropping his Ills voice oice a little Bernadine has undertaken undertaken under under- taken to send lIend a copy COP of ot their contents to Berlin b by tomorrow nights night's mall mail How do you OU know that The ambassador hesitated We Ve e too have spies at work ork he lie I remarked grimly Bernadine wrote rott an and s nt a messenger with the letter letterI I to Berlin The mans man's body Is drifting MUting down th the Channel but the letter is in m my toy pocket The letter leUer from Bernadine Yes What does S he lie Ia say Simply that a IlL verbatim copy CoP of tho the document in question will b bp be this this- pa to Berlin tomorrow evening evening- without fall There are no secrets bet between en us d ile de Grost declared smoothly What Is the special Importance of ot this document document docu docu- ment merit De Da Lamborne shrugged his should shoulder shoulder d der e rs Since you OU ask Alk he said I tell you OU You kno know of ot the slight coolness which there thero has been licen J between our it respective e governments JoV Our OUI people have o felt tell that t the Iho policy of or your our ministers In expendIng expending expending expend expend- ing all their energies and anti Inthe in inthe inthe the building of or a great fleet to the tho ut utter utter utter ut- ut ter neRl neglect ct of or your our army is a n. who wholly sided one arrangement so far tar as we weare weare weare are concerned In the event of ot a simultaneous situ sim attack b by Germany upon France and England you ou would be ut- ut terl terI powerless to r render us an any m measure meas ure of ot assistance lI If It German Germany should attack alone alan it IK is the wish of or your our go government nt that we WEs should be pledged to occupy Lorraine Alsace You on the oth other r hand could do nothIng nothing noth noth- tn ing for tor us if ft German Germanys Germany's s first move moxe were ma made E against France The rhe Baron Daron was de deeply ply interested al althou although although al- al thou though h the matter was no new one one to him Go on ont he ho directed I lOr am am waiting for tor you ou to tell me inc the specific contents of ot this document The English government gO has ha asked ui us two questions first 10 lao how man many complete complete com corn army corps we consider she ahe he ought I to place at our disposal l in e even even- en and secondly at what point I should bould we expect them to be concentrated concen concen- The Thc dispatch which I received tonight contains the reply to these qu questions quest est Ion s. s Which Bernadine has promised ed to tu forward to Berlin tomorrow night the Baron remarked softly I DC De nod nodded ed You perceive lercel he lie said the thc Immense Importance of or the atra affair ir The cr very existence ex ex- ex- ex of ot that document is almost a a. casus belli At what time did the dispatch arrive arrive ar nr- ar- ar rive rhe the baron asked AntI And what has been Its history since It Jt arrived at 6 Ei o'clock the ambassador ambassador ambassador ambas ambas- dec declared It went straight into the Inner pocket of m my nay coat It has not been out of ot m my possession for a single second Even en whilst 1 I talk to you ou I Ican Ican Ican can feel teel It it And our plans plane How are you ou In Intending Intending intending In- In tending to dispose of It tonight On my mr return to the embassy I shall place It In the safe sare lock It up and re remain remain remain re- re main watching it until morning There doesn't seem to be much chance for Bernadine the baron remarked remarked re re- re- re marked thoughtfully But there must 1 be no chance chance no no chance at nt all Monsieur do L Lamborne with a 1 note of ot passion In his thin voice olce oIt It is incredible preposterous OU oils ous that he should even make male the at at- at tempt I want you OU to come home with me mo and m my Vigil You shall hall be bem bemy bemy m my witness s In case anything happens W p will watch atch together Dc De Grost reflected for a moment Berna lne makes maltes few tew mistakes ho he said thoughtfully 1 Monsieur de the Lamborne passed his hand across his forehead Do I not know knot It if he lie muttered In Inthis Inthis I this Instance thou though h It seems ImposIble Impossible sible Ible |