Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1909 — A DIPLOMATIC ENCOUNTER. [ARTICLE]

A DIPLOMATIC ENCOUNTER.

apt dwell on how I, a wonmn, got into the foreign seeret serylce. Father died insolvent. Mother and I were reduced from affluence to positive want. I applied to a friend in the foreign office# for a clerkship. It happened that at the time the Americans were aiming at a treaty with Japan that would be prejudicial to onr interests. An emissary of the state, department, at Washington was on his way via the Mediterranean with the treaty. The vessel he traveled lnQvas to stop at Marseilles. In social life I had been considered what the Americans call “a flirt,’’ but I was never dishonorable. I would never attack a man unless he was Inclined that way himself. Now’ I was expected to win one simply for -pay- : rr ;ir r The temptation was ton great for me. I yielded. I boarded the ship at Marseilles. Roger Sutherland, whom I was to snare, was a modest looking, quiet man. I soon made bis acquaintance, and he seemed to mi™ to me at once. He said that If It were not for my accent he would not believe me to be English; that I had all the sprlghtllness of an American girl. The game I was playing was natural To me. I.didn’t have to try to win him. If I had possibly I might have failed.’ But, as to stealing the information, I didn’t know where to begin. We had passed through the canal before I ventured to make a move In that direction. I began by asking his occupation. He prevaricated. I teased him. He told me that he had a government position, and that was ail that I could get out of him for a long while. Then suddenly he told me everything. I wondered wliy he who had so long been reticent should have changed so quickly. He answered my every question, and truthfully. The treaty was in his trunk In his stateroom. Did he not fear it wculd be stolen? No. There was a lock on the trunk that had been made for it. They key was of a peculair kind. The next time we were on deck together, feigning to be moved by a natural feminine curiosity. I teased him to let me see the key. He took It out of his pocket and handed It to me. Feigning an Intention to frighten him I ran to the side of the ship and held It In my fist over the water. He didn’t even follow me. So I took it back and gave it to him. I had provided myself with a bit ..of wax and had squeezed an Impression of the key. Pretending that I had lost the key of my own trunk. I called for one of the ship’s mechanics to make me another from the wax impression. My victim invariably spent an hour or more after dinner in the smoking room. I took a great risk. I entered his stateroom and with the key made from the Impression opened the trunk, found the treaty, took it to my stateroom, copied it—it was In cipher—and got it back to the trunk In plenty of time to avoid getting caught. With success came the pricking of conscience. I told my victim of my circumstances, the loss of my father, my effort to obtain employment and ended by falsely telling him that I was going out to India to be a governess. From that moment his manner changed toward me, I had considered before that my success was due to having won his heart. Now I was sure of It. Then he asked me to be his wife. Now, for the first time. I realized that if I had won him I had been won In winning him. Whatever was good In my nature rebelled at my trickery. I longed to confess it and throw myself upon his mercy. But I dared not. From loving me he would despise me. I told him that I could never be his wife; that there was a barrier between us; that I was unworthy of him. He soothingly reassured me, said my Conscience was abnormally sensitive; that he was sure one so lovely could not do anything very wrong. The night before we reached Bombay we were on deck together under the starry heavens. "Sweetheart,’’ he said, “we part toour parting'shall be forever pr I shall call on you on my return. You are not cut out for a diplomat, but you will make a good wife for one!" "A diplomat! I a diplomat!" He took my hand. "I suspected yon the moment you began to play ?odr game, and I played mine to trap you. I gave you my key on. purpose and knew how you used It by trade of wax adhering to it. Certain pages of the manuscript you stole were loosely tacked together, and I found them detached. 1 was disappointed to learn all this, but when afterward you told me how you had been tempted I pitied you. You are a lady aflfl out of your element. I would be sorry for you losing your pay if I wished -you to earn pay in tbfet way." "And my copy of the cipher dispatch!” 1 faltered. "I will give it to yon at ones.’* "Don’t hurry. It '-is no cipher, but a Jumble Intended to deceive you.’’ "And do 7ou mean that You cmk love one who has mode this abject attempt?" ' “if we oily loved those who were perfect these would be no marriage. You have simply been parted for a brief tip* by circumstances from your natural self.”—Owsndolln Ad-