Newspapers / The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, … / May 12, 1918, edition 1 / Page 15
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CABINET (Copyright, l&18,'by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.-) THE Right Honorable James Brandal opened his-Times -with eager, fingers, glanced down the front paK . and flung the paper so vio lently on the hearthrrug lUiat it fright ened the bis fluffy white- Persian cat Into hysterics. "Again," was all Mr. Brandal said, but his wife, who sat alone with him at he comfortably appointed breakfast able, seemed to understand. She came round to where he sa$. With one hand laid gently on his shoulder, and the other playing with his crisp curls, now flecked with gray, she looked down upon him with loving sympathy shining In her soft, dark ' eyes. "Well, Fanny, Til try to take It fluietly," he said, in answer to her silent, tenJer pleading for patience. But the cloud was still , heavy on his strong, clever face; for worries will -mrrv'in spite of man's will. TTa could not sit still-for the life -oft him. Leaving his breakfast untastedJ jie began pacing tne room resuessiy. "We have had some rough times to gether. Fan," he broke out again; since that day ten. years ago when you trusted yourself to the briefless barris ter ho 's now Home Secretary of England, but I don't think you ever saw jne so upset before. Just listen to this: He picked up the paper, smoothed It cut and read: v ,; .... t.- "We are able to state oh absolutely unimpeachable authority that at thei Cabinet meeting yesterday it was , re solved to take the whole time of the House frc-a next Monday. There were only two dissentients to this strong measure, of whom one was Lord Wel don, Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Is it true?" "Absolutely true, darling that's the devil of it." "But, rim," touching the paper, "does Jt really matter so very much? . "This particular disclosure does not matter very much it hardly matters at all. But it igjthe fif th time within the last month that Cabinet secrets have been betrayed to the Times, quite plainly by a mmber of the Cabinet! The last was a matter of vital im portance.'' "It's very horrible, of course, dear est, but you can't help It; and I don't see why you should worry about it. It does not affect you." "But it does affect .me, Fanny, most vitally. It affects my position, -my hopes, m;' honor. I .hardly .know, how to tell you, darling, but I feel there Is a growing suspicion amongst my col leagues in the Cabinet that I am the traitor." - , "You, Jim, you!" There were tears in her dark eyes, but the light of her anger flashed through them "Who dares to suspect you? "The Prime Minister himself, I great Iv rear. Lord Weldon, I'm almost cer tain." "I don't believe it; I cannot believe It You are too sensitive. I met Lord Weldon the night befcre last at a ball at the Duchess- ef fitoiiiheYn'sr He was- most courteofls, "sat xrut with me for more than an hour, and spoke ever so kindly of you." "Lord Weldon is always civil to a beautiful woman. Ton needn't blush, Fan; you must know you were the best looking woman in the room, not ex cepting the lively little Duchess her elf. His lordship is too straight Til do !.im that justice to let the wife see he distrusted the husband. You re member, Fan, I was very rough on him in the House when I was graduat ing Lelow the gangway; too rough, I tnmK now. though:! meant 'it at 'the; time. He has behaved very well to me: I knew he was in favor of my inclusion in the Cabinet, and he has been most civil since we were colleagues. But these things leave their sting, in spite or a man. He wouldn't be. human if oe hadn't a lurking prejudice against. me, nowever hard he may strive to rtifle it. I'm the younrsst, the newest. and the poorest member of the Cabinet The others rre te.-ted veterans whose character and position set them above suspicion. The disclosures began the wee after I joined. I declare. Fanny, I'm half inclined to suspect myself wi tne evidence." M- - ... . . -roppea into a chair with a snort laugh that had no mirth in it. She read in his face anxiety almost deepening into shame; and the shadow In his eye was reflected h. her own; but she was still true to the woman's ro'e of comforter. . courage, Jim." she whisnered soft ly, "the truth must prevail. Tou have -ever yet failed to face trouble or See "r bravelydonrt fail now, for my The Right Honorable James Brandal not the only one sorely troubled y this treason in the Cabinet. Tne "ime Minister was broken-hearted about it. Six weeks of the harassing tiS 6ty of this shameful treachery had jpw more on his- health and spirits an fifty years' fair. and square, polit ical conflict. On thj afternoon of the same day he In z-inZ his private study in Down Da a1 3mDatiently. as Mr. Brandal Jcea his breakfast room, oblivious of cn.lmP0rtant Papers that lay open n Ms desk, entreating attention, when mid knock came on the door. in obedience to a curt "come in," a Bervant entered with a card, tht as a clear siS sharp was PL , ln 0n hi nerves, that the rnVT n lster usually the gentlest of vant a "patiently oh the ser- y,yi? 1 not tell you, William, ex Pressly," h h9n .vL - - wnt was I to be disturbed? Oh!" Quick glance at the card a Weldon. Show him un at onc A moment later Lord "Weldon came softly into, the room, A very handsome man was Lord Weldon. of about fifHr. five year of age, with Jron-gray hair.'i a. iresn, ctear complexion, and younger even than he was. There was none of the arU or affectations of the elderly fop about-him, and no man had more gracious manners. He was still a bachelor. The Jest ran amongst his Intimates that Weldon dare not marry for fear .of -spciiety suicides.. ';;. There was a shadow an the genial face as Lord Weldon closed the door carefully behind him. "You have seen that wretched para-' graph, of course, Charles?" said the Prime Minister, nodding ii the direc tion of the Times, which lay crumpled up in a- corner of the room. "I'm sorry to -iyX;have very muc& worse news than that for you, Arthur We are being, betrayed at home and abroad. I have positive knowledge that certain war measures which were but recently discussed in the Cabinet have been disclosed to high officials in the German Government.' "It's terrible, terrible!" said the Prime Minister, pacing the room In a very ferment of rage. "Never before has the ; honor of British statesmen been so degraded in the face of the world. Never before has the British Cabinet harbored a sordid spy. ' We cannot let this matter1 . rest, Charles. What is to be done about it? Have youi any notion what's best to be done?e It is plain to me, we must either purge the Cabinet of this traitor or find some pretext for resignation, and let the Tories in. There would be no treason in their Cabinet." "No, you cannot do that, Arthur. Tou have too big a majority in the House, and a bigger still, as you know, in the country. The Tories couldn't carry on lor a day. There would be a general ejection, as a matter of course, and a general election would send you back stronger than ever." "Then the one thing left Is to catch the spy. "Thafs easier said than done, I'm afraid. Have you formed any suspic ion who the man is?" "The thing is so horrible, so utterly vile that I hate to whisper suspicion of any man, even in. my own mind." Remember, Arthur, that, disgraceful as tie offense is, some member of the Cabinet is unquestionably guilty. We must--, not let c scrp-ules stand in the way of his detection." Lord Weldon spoke with a stern gravity quite out of keeping with his usual easy grac iousness. There is one man," said the Prime. Minister in a low .voice, with manifest reluctance, "at whom suspicion seems to point Cannot you guess his name?" Lord Weldon shook his head. The Prime Minister, though they were alone In the room with closed doors, came a step nearer and whis- j ered the name. ' Brandal I" .said. Lord Weldon, in a tone -ot . absolute .amazement. "It is quite - impossible he should stoop to.,. this." Impossible we should say that any member of the Cabinet should so de grade himself. But remember, as you said Just now, there must be some one? Who is less impossible? "I cannot believe It is Brandal. I should as soon suspect myself." "But why, Charles why?" urged the Prime Minister stirred to something like eagerness by his incredulous con tradiction. He is the latest member, for one thing, and the treachery has begun since- "his - appointment. "Put ; it on the" lowest ground, Ar thur; I would not risk it. Brandal has gone out and" is bound to go farther. Tou hav too big a majority in the in the country; he is . the best de bater, except one, in the House of Commons.'-'- "Except none, Charles. I have no false modesty, and no false vanity, I hope. Brandal is the most powerful erica lrr I have ever heard . in the House." . "He has a tremendous hold on the people." "Deservedly, I should say; or, rath er, I should have said six weeks ago. He has stuck to his principles through thick and thin, through evil report and good, and there is no denying that he has, to a large extent, forced them upon us." "Well, but is such a man likely to risk his great career by petty treason, to give his enemies for he has bitter enemies, we knowsuch a handle against t him ?" . : , "The danger may seem slight, and the temptation is great. I hate to say it, but Brandal-is the only poor man in' our Cabinet.. ' - , . "But it is not the' poor .tnat are always greedy. Brandal has never shown any love for money. He mar ried his beautiful wife, Fanny Power, Th fair maid' of Erin ' as she was called,.., without a farthing. There is no corner in the man's character, Ar thur, for suspicion to lay hold of." The JPrime Minister laid his hand kindly on his friend's shoulder. "Charles," he said, "the generosity of your character blinds you. This man has frequently and fiercely attacked you, therefore you feel bound to de fend him. He is. your sole rival for my place, fwhich in .; .the course of nature, X cannot? hold, much' Ipriker; therefore your instinctively and chival rously uphold him. If you had not pressed me on his behalf, he would not now be in the Cabinet. I wish he Vern't." , ; ; "Don't say that Arthur; you'll find I'm right." "I cannot even say I hope you are right. :: If r it isn't Brandal, it's some one else. The matter must be tested, and I have taken the first t step. There's aanan here in London whose methods in running down crim inals and imposters . are curiously - un likehose of the rest of the prof es sonH .;He- acknowledges no theory ,of detecting4 except the" Rule of Thumb. 'ffiit'I confess that the reporsybf -his waive nanaimg of certain -cases have got under my skin. This man, Paul Beck, is coming here - ihis morning at my request. I'm going, to give him the job. of finding, the leak- in parliament.'' . Lord Weldon had heard of Mr. Beck and - expressed his approval of the Minister's action. He was in terrupted by the entrance of the ser vant with Mr. JBeck's card. The Prime Minister, motioned his friend to re man,. and Paul eck was shown in. The Rule of Thumb detective was as usual unhurried and quite obviously unaffected by the importance of an interview with England's Prime Min ister, But with characteristic blunt ness he canie;; straight to the point, after he had acknowledged the brief introduction to Lord Weldon. "Tou have sent for me, sir, I take It, to tell Tme' of the trouble in the Cab inet; I suppose; . the ; whole town is talking of it." - The Prime Minister winced as If he had been, stung; and for a .moment or two couIcV hardly trust 'himself to speak. , : ' Then he turned to the imperturbable detective with that impressive dig nity that so well became him. "I have heard," he said, "you have already engaged in matters of great delicacy and of great public impor tance, and that your descretion has been equal to your abilityj Mr. Beck acknowledged the compliment -svith a deprecatory smile "but never before, let. me assure you, In a matter of del- m mr -r r- j - v it IC yd -n',f them sensational, but all of them ac M4L J&w curate. The subterranean correspond icacy or importance comparable to this. The honor of a Cabinet, the fate of a Government, the vital inter est of an empire are involved in the detection of this treason." "I will do my best," said the Selec tive tranquilly. It was his universal fomvla. "Need I say that the most absolute secrecy is essential?" said the Prime Minister. "You need not," said Mr. Usok short ly. -If you want me, yoj must trust me, of course," Then very briefly and clearly the Prime Minister set the meagre facts of the, case before him. One thing alone was certain a Cabinet Minister was tln culprit. Not a look or tone escaped Mr. Beck while the Prime Minister spoke. "You suspect some one?" he said, when the other concluded. "I -do; but I would rather not tell bis name. It, is not that I doubt your discretion," he-added quickly, "but I should never forgive myself if I were mistaken.".. - "j don't want his name at. present," said Mr. Beck. "Later on ,, we may have to make that suspicion certainty, one way or the other. The first step, however, is plainly to call on the editor of the Times. ''Do you think he will; help, us?" "Not if he can avoid it. You see, he knows nothing of the foreign com plications, and he will regard the home revelations as good newspaper busi ness; - but he" may ' help us in spite of himself. If-you want to catch a se cret, Qhe best way is to go where' it is. NOW. I happen to know the editor of the Times;'; L did 'him. a good turn once on a . time. s He'll be civil to me anyway." c .' " . . f Will yoji kindly report progress to us here at two o'clock to-morrow?" said the Prime Minister. g "I cannot promise any progress," said Mr. Beck, "but m come without fail." The Times editor, Mr, McDougal, stood with his back to the cheerful fire In his own private office, gazing quizzically at Mr. Beck, who had Un folded his delicate mission with his customary simple candor. "So you want to know the . name and -address of our subterranean cor respondent," said Mr. McDougal at last very slowly. "Well, I cannot give them. Mind, I don't say, I woujd ff I could, but simply I cannot for the best of all reasons I don't kno wtheni my self." .' - v. ; "But you have his letters,' Mr. Beck persisted, "you might give me a peep at one of them." "Certainly," said Mr. McDougal, laughing. He crossed form the, fire place to his desk at the window, un locked a drawer, took out a letter, and handed it to Mr. Beck. , . "That is the very first we hadjtrom him," he said. . ' Mr. Beck gravely unfolded the let ter. It was a plain sheet of common typewritten paper; no name, no ad dress; no distinct mark whatever, ex cept a little cross with red ink at the top. It began and ended abruptly: "To the Editor of The Times:", Whenever you receice a communi cation with the small red cross at top, be -sure it is genuine, and-puplish im mediately." "There was a most interesting item of news enclosed," said the editor. "We did not publish it. We were sorry afterwards, because it proved to be correct in every detail.. Since then we have trusted the red cross. We have had half a dozen revelations. Lord Weldon Got the Note and cnmA rT rnftm imuorLa.ni. duiuu ja important, ent is now an accreditee, memnw uj. the staff." "Do you pay him for this?" "Well, yes; and a pretty stiff price, too ; but you must excuse me from going into details. I know the money passes, but I haven't the faintest notion -into whose hands." Mr. Beck turned the letter carefully over, as if he half hoped to find the writers' name there. "Might I see the envelope?" he asked, after a pause, "Certainly; but It's a common envelope, and dropped by private letterbox. No postmark, you see: "I see," said Mr. Beck. "Well, I won't waste any more of your valu able time." "You will pardon me for not being mbre explicit, Mr. Beck," said the editor. 'You see this thing helps us from the press and political point of view: It gives us exclusive and im portant news, and it hurts the Gov ernment. I could not give the man away." ; ' "Don't mention it," said Mr. Beck. "Besides, I'm not sure that you have not put me on the right track." With this parting shot he passed out Reaving the editor puzzled and uncom fortable." " , "You don't seem to have made rnuch advance," said Lord Weldon,-. when this interview was.. related with perfect frankness next day. "That's as it may be," said Mr Beck, "one can never be sure." 1 ": "Could we catch the letters to the Times in the Post Office ?" .suggested the Prime Minister, "it's a -hateful expedient, of course, but desperate diseases need desperate remedies." "I understand the letters are dropped in by private hand," said Lord Wel don. r ' "Your lordship has guessed quite rigthly," said Mr. Beck; "the Post i - arnn't hln . Tftll. B IT . iYBewritteji. I tie hand Into our f y Office . cannot , help ,us.. i . , - '"Have yoiilrariy'thlng yourself . to propose f4 asked- the "Prime HlnisteK & little impatiently. .. ') : "The - next step it. seems to me? said Mr.; Beck quietly,: "is to put your sus picionsj to the .test.", : : -. - . . "Can you do that effectively T-- i T think I can." . V "Without knowing the name?" r 'Wlthqut knowing the name, if . you and his ibrdsbip will help jk"f 1 "Let us hear your plan?", said -Lord Weldon. ...... ... . , ; "First, I must know, has the sus pected man. been , present at all, the Cabluet meetings: whose proceedings were betrayed?"- . "Not all," answered the Prlme in ister; there were two at least Jr am almost certain there were three-f rom which he was absent." "Does . not that fact alone clear him?" "I'm afraid not, because he would be entitled to hear, and naturally would hear, from some other member of the Cabinet, what had gone on in his ab sence. I remember I told him myself on: one occasion." 'That brings me straight to my plan. Ton .can arrange, I presume, that ha shall be absent, from the next meeting. Let him have an account of the proceedings the reverse of the fact, as circumstantial as possible. . If this, account appears in the, Times there will be no doubt who put it there." The Prime Minister shook his head. T don't like the notion," he said; it seems a shabby, treacherous, trick," s' , ,"To. me, on the contrary, it seems perfectly fair," broke in Lord Weldon, 'as ..well as exceedingly Ingenious. If the man is . innocent, as . I believe him to be, it does not hurt him Ihany way quite the contrary. If he is a Salver with His Coffee in Bed. guilty, no device is shabby that con victs him. It is an additional recom mendation, in my opinion, that there is an off-chance of making a fool of the Times." "But who is to give the false ac count to Brandal there, I've let his name out now,'' cried the Prime Min ister, irritably. "I for one will have nothing to do with that. I could not if I tried." "Then I will," replied Lord Weldon, "if you wish it. I don't share your suspicions, Arthur, and I think the suspected man is entitled to the op- Iportunity of vindicating his character. an accurate acount appears, he's 'ar of it. At the Cabinet Council, Ou know, the day after to-morrow, we are to consider the inclusion of compulsory purchase in our English Land Bill. There is intense excite ment on the question; it's just the one to tempt a spy. If you can keep Brandal away from the meeting, I'll undertake the rest." "I'll have no difficulty at all in providing him with an urgent appoint ment, elsewhere," said the Prime Min ister. . Mr. Beck rubbed his hands in placid enjoyment of their adoption of his plan. "It's a step in the right direction," he said, "and it may lead us straight to the heart of the mystery. This is Tuesday. There is nothing for me to do, I fancy, until the Thursday's Times appears." " But Mr. Beck proved quite - mis taken in this prophecy. Early on Wednesday he found himself knocking impatiently at the door of Lord Wel don's private house, which was enly a short distance from the Prime Minis ter's residence.' f s "His lordship is not risen yet,' said the footman. "All right, ; I only want you to take him a note at once; it is most urgent.'!; and Mr. Beck offered him a note: which, he had brought written and directed. Lord Weldon got the note on a sal ver with his coffee In bed. It ! . fllylLorji; . I think.it essential' 1 that should nave- an taterrtew" -to-day. with. Prime -Minister a soon as possible. I did not like to .disturb him. so I hav taken, ; the liberty; of -calling on. your lord- shin, Kindly "Jefcv me have a line to say if you can see him soon -to ! arrange it, On a blotting - pad in-his bed iLord. Weldon -wroier-- TDear Mr. Beck I will see the ' Prime Minister lmmedately. If you will Icindly call back at about twelve, I will let you know the result.", Mrl Beck smiled a gratified smile as he read the note, and" departed ap--parently well pleased. At twelve o'clock heA received an.ap pointmeUt to meet the Prime. Minister and Lord Keldon at Downing Street at two. When he opened his business it seemed hardly worth the fuss he had made about it.- It was no more than a suggestion that the Times letter box should be watched .ky a policeman in plain clothes. WelL it can be arranged, of course," said the Prime Minister, a little testily, but I do not see what possible good It can do. We cannot arrest every man that drops aletter in." "Besides," chimed In Lord Weldon, If the letter is dropped in by Brandal he convicts himself." "Tou were quite right to mention it, Mr.. Beck, "said the Prime Minister, seeing that the detective looked a little crestfallen. "Ton will excuse-me now, but this is one of my busy, days." "That's a hint for me, too, said Lord Weldon, laughing. "Can I give you a seat, Mr. Beck; my carriage is waiting." At the corner of Trafalgar Square, Mr. Beck suddenly remembered an ur gent appointment, so Lord Weldon put him down, nodding affably from ' the open window as he drove away, Mr. Beck, waited till the brougham had disappeared through the traffic in the direction of Piccadilly, then in stantly hailed a taxi and drove straight back to Downing Street. 'Important this time," he wrote on the card which he sent up. The Prime Minister received him somewhat coldly, but after the first few words from Mr. Beck grew eager and excited. "Tour first scheme was hard enough to sanction," he said, "but this goes much farther." "The proofs Tseem strong," Insinu ated Mr.. Beck. "That may be, but it is quite im possible that I should take any per sonal part in the miserable affair." "Then," said Mr. Beck, with a quiet earnestness that gave dignity to his homely face and figure, "you must for give me if I decline to have further hand in the business. I will not know ingly make myself the instrument ' of the punishment of the innocent and . the triumph of the guilty. Let me re Ipthwiaiwprds of Lord Weldqn, ' It's a trial I ask for, not a conviction.' The man suspected and suspected, too, on such strong proof is at least entitled to his trial." "Have your own way," said the Prime Minister reluctantly, after . a .moment's pause. "I feel there is Jus tice in what you say, though the task you have set me is most repugnant to my feelings." . The Cabinet CoUncil was held in due course the next day, and the Right Honorable James Brandal, Home Sec retary, was unavoidably absent on ur gent official business. After a very animated discussion, it was resolved that the principle of . compulsory pur chase should be Introduced into the Land Bill, and the Government should stand or fall by its adopton or re jection. Mr. Brandal went down to the House before the dinner hour in time for an Important division. Very soon he became sensitively alive to the fact that his colleagues of the Cabinet were strangely cold and reticent in their manner to him with one exception. Lord Weldon was cordiality Itself, insisted on their dining together, and after-dinner gave him the arranged account of the .proceedings at the Cab inet Council with great particularity of detail. "I'm bitterly disappointed. I must confess," said Brandal. "I knew you were against it, my lord,sJxiCpiirse. But I thought there was a strong ma jority in favor of the principle of com pulsory purchasev Tm convinced it's the only remedy for agricultural de pression and the over-crowding of our towns.. I wish I had been there." "It could , not have altered the re sult, my dear Brandal," said Lord Weldon, "there was a big majority. What! are you off so soon?" "Well, yes. I feel a bit done up and depressed, and I'd best get straight home. I have asked the Whips; there is no danger of a division to night." . But he did not go, straight home. As he went past the door of the library, an attendant met Him with a note from the Prime Minister himself, re questing to see him -for a moment in his private room. It was a brief interview. Mr. Bran dal came out from it more cheerful but more bewildered than before, ''A most extraordinary mistake," .-he muttered to himself, as -he lighted his cigar with one of the paper .spills pro vided for the legislators In the dress in? room close to the Palace Tard Then he walked home at a brisk pace to work, off his excitement -,and curiously enough passed the Times office 'en his way. . - -v : Next morning the political- dovecots werefluttered by? the , following: an 1 1 i ueoncement i&rommentiy printed '4n p I :' "We are glad to be able tq an- nounce .on absolutely unimpeach- i able authority, . that at . the Cab- ' If , 'lUSt Council held yesterday, Jt' wasvt j L .idjsctdsA, b.y,OTlAtertfal majority 4 II after very animated discussion : thajt the principle of compulsory.; I i purchase should not be Includediuj ; -in the Land Bfll which the. Govern- :? ?;J ment are pledged " to introduce' -t arly this Session. The 'Right .U Honorable the Home Secretary; 1 1 who IsV understood to favor this VifV r ? revolutionary principle, was absent jj ; from the meeting." - - . - -'mKq Then followed a long article in eor-v l. ' dial approved of the supposed decision, V : uenouncing the Radical revolutionists . who "were eager to devastate the, f air j ! fields of Englahd and uproot her -an- i cient aristocracy, whose wealth arid vVl privileges were, the best guarantee for f the .stability , of , the -ConsUtution --&ni "'; the integrity of the Empire., ; f'' -fi :; f . Jl good deal of quiet enjoyment was-? ' manifest amongst the members of thef Cabinet especially of the 'more ad vanced section, at this announcement. It was plain the Times had been , bad- J ly hoaxed. . j. : But Lord Weldon wore a look of v: deep. distress; the Prime Minister, was grave and stern, and .Tamen Rnii i.?. utterly bewildered. The Prime Min-' ister had met him as he entered 4he s House, and made an appointment af ter question time In his own room,, ? "Tou have seen the Times?" said Lord Weldon softly to the Prime MraV: ister as they sat together on the frent ''ih. Dencn at question time. There, was ?a touch of genuine distress in his voiced ,T could not have believed it possIbletJ n"Not V replied his chief. T h&Ve asked Brandal to meet me in my room , when questions are over. ' I desire that ' you also shall be present" fi "I wish you could excuse me. It will ' be a most painful interview for me." : '1 have no doubt; but your presence1 is essential, and painful duties must be performed . vv nen , Lord Weldon reached the Prime Minister's room, he was a little surprised to find Mr. Paul BeoJr . Ill there, standing modestly in the back- 1 ground. i Ir. Brandal and Lord Weldon,": : the Prime Minister began abruptly, and plainly laboring under strong emo tion, "I have summoned you here on-a matter in which you are both deeply interested. Tou are aware that for , some time past the Cabinet has been ' disgraced by a sordid spy and traitor who sold its secrets." ; "Don't be too hard on him, Arthur." Lord Weldon whispered. But the! Prime Minister went on, with growing! anger. "That treason ends here and now. Through the skill and zea4 of this gentleman, to whom I desire to convey my deep personal gratitude, that despicable traitor has been ex posed Tou, Charles Launcelot, Yl 'louxrtfc fjrtfir Jtrfetlne man!" ) Lord Weldon would have, spoken j then, but the Prime Minister turned upon him imperiously, with. a Jeoninel flajth In bin riunsat vm that d him . into . silence.. "Denial is " useless," he said, "the proofs of your treason are conclusive. Tell him" he beckoned to Mr. Beck ti:'j; "tftll yim what' vmi Irnnnr " -. I ' "Tou see. my lord," said Mr. Beck sweetly, "the word or two. you care lessly let drop, showing you knew how the letter had reached the Times let ter bjox; set: me thinkig. ,Tbe, subter ranean rresj&ondent spelt ,lminedifLte . with- one m" . in the typewritten ' let- ; ter which was slibwn me in the office. I managed to coax, a little note. from your lordship with the same, .word misspelt tne same way. Then I felt pretty safe.. It was pot likely that ' two . members ; of a Cabinet ' would ; make that blunder. 1 But to maks ' surety doubly sure, I took' the liberty of asking the Prims Minister--" "Tes, my Lord Weldon," broke in , the Prime Minister, "I did the rest After you gave James Brandal the false account of the Cabinet proceed-; ings, I gave him the true. Tou pub lished -the false account to convict h2ftf of treason, and youi have convl yourself." . No word ' had Lord Weldon to an swer, the sudden shock of the exposu had so stunned him. He leaned wit; trembling hands against a chair, an his face was as the face of the dead. But there was no pity in the Prim Minister's stern voice. "False frien and treacherous colleague," he said,J regret that public interests' forbid the exposure and punishment of youf crime. " But on two-conditions only'caa that exposure be averted. Tou' itAjs of course, instantly 'resign 'your "plaeb in the Cabinet, and In the House ; 'a&S you must write over yourJowri name full 'confession of your offense."" ' "For what purpose?" gasped ott Lord Weldon'; his first words since th blow 'Struck him. ' ' ' "t6 be retained by the man whose ruin" you sought; to be retained' as i memento,-of a peril Overpassed, and". security for, the future." He pointed to the door, and'Lo; Weldon crept through It like a whippe hound ' ".' ' "Mr. Brandal," iald the -Prime Min-f- ister to ' the Home Seefaryj' with dT look of tohchtog humility 'ohTflsTerand old face,: ThaveVto beg your'forgfve-' ness for having' wronged y'ouf ? bnor even in. my: ihuUghtsr . r ys.'i t i Then as the Home"Seeretary andthav detective Tassed '-frbm:theLirooni?sto4 gether; Mr. 'Brandal -whispered .tOfllrf Betk: ; i Corns sjxd JdSne -with me'vfo night-Tfonrjr oursehresl. y My iwifs. must thank the man who saved 'her btts4 band." $ 1- 'IS? . V ( : i'V; ;' it Mi at I, u it -i-t. it-. .if. ,t : t ' c "I-r!' . i ". ''A
The Wilmington Dispatch (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 12, 1918, edition 1
15
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