Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1908)
rr-TT-r-. cnvn -i- n-D-rrinvT t Y T)nT7TT VT TlTTT'Tr'ITTi'P'T? K 1908. . m . 1 1 wj ft n rrrm "i 1 '."H W ! ITNI Mi COX V8 '-T' 1 I . .- I - I I Ik I . T . Silk. - . M-T WXJIXXJAJ&W , Op v niUf.. i njijQ aiDimi-w mump (i lyright. 1 9.'S. by W. (5. Chapman.) fCopvrigbt In Great P-ritain.) CAPTAIN DICKSON, a retired Secret Service officer, and friend of mine, was reading a dainty little note one niBht when I looked in on him on the way to my quarters from the club, and there was a very pleasant sjnlie upon hi far as he looked up from the tinted paper to greet me. The envelope, ad dressed In a graceful feminine .hand, lay upon the arm of his chair and the stamp uprni It was a foreign one. He knew I had come in. as I often did. Jo gut a story, and he never failed me. I could see by hie actions that a reminiscence had come to him. "I wan never a believer In interna tional marriages," sighed the captain, as he restored the note to its envelope, "but this has been one that lias turned out well in every respect," tapping the enve lope reflectively. "You wouldn't think I had ever acted as a matchmaker, now, would you?" he continued, looking at me mischievously. "No." I replied, smiling l ack at him. "I didn't think you had ever taken an active part In so feminine a trade." "Well," he replied. "I don't make a practice of it, but one time I got drawn Into an affair of that kind, and I had to arrange a wedding beforo I could get out of it." With these preliminary remarks he told the fallowing tale, and I give it in his own way: It wan when I was stationed at Wash ington as bodyguard for the President, a job I thoroughly detested, although the President was a most genial aud compan ionable man and did everything to make our work pleasant. That didn't help mat ters with me, for I always felt like a watch -dog when on tliat duty. The reigning bolle of. the season was -the niece of the British ambassador. She was one of the handsomest women 1 have ever seen. 1 didu't like some thing about her face and manner, how ever, for there was a suspicion of crafti ness lurking In her features and a cold re about her way of saying and doing things that didn't comport with my Ideals of womanhood. She was extremely popu lar, though, and it was generally thought that she as going to be married to the . first assistant secretary, a fine young man of about SO years of age. who was the second eon of one of the most distin guished families In England. His older brother, a disreputable scamp, stood be tween him and the title, but this older brother had so undermined his health by dissipation that it was understood that he would not be a barrier for long. The younger brother, whom I will call Gordon, was a deep student of public matters, and was rated one of the best 'iiplomats In Washington at that time; nd. If it hadn't been for his unfortunate accident of birth, he would have been a real ornament to the upper house of the British Parliament. His old father. Earl Somebody, wan anxious that Gordon should marry Lady Clare, as her llaeage was quite as distinguished as hi own, nd as it seemed highly probable that Sordon would come in for the title at his father's deatht It was thought proper by :he entire embassy that he should make i match with some peeress of his own -ountrv. I am sure that this was the reason that it became so generally ac cepted that Gordon and Lady Clare would a? married, for Uordon did nothing to give substance to the rumor. Whatever were Gordon s private views of the matter, he kept them to himself, and. further than to treat Lady Clare with a graceful courtesy that was notice able in all hi Intercourse with women, he seemed rather to avoid than to seek after her. On the other hand, I thought it was quite plain that Lady Clare had her heart much set upon the marrying of Gordon. I saw a good deal of them during my term ns a watch-dog. Congress had just convened, and among the promoted Congressmen was an old friend of my family, a mun I had known since my boyhood, who had been re turned as a Senator. He was a man of dignified appearance and of great wealth, but he was afflicted with a ". Dan, who was a disgusting a blackguard as ever slit a purss or made a burgher stand and deliver In the days when these pursuits were considered legitimate for the gentry of small moans and elastic consciences. Iun Hammond was eter nally getting Into troublo and the Senator was eternally getting him out. uud on more than one occasion Senator Ham mond called upon me to aid In extrica ting bis son from some disgraceful pre dicament into which foolhardincss had drawn him. I had an utter contempt for the son. but I could not refuse to 4ielp the father and, as some- of these matters wr of such a shocking-character that the family honor would havo been black ened by them. I worked like a beaver to clear them up and prevent the newspa pers from gettlr.g Information concerning them. During his father's first term In Con gress, which was before Dan had fallen a victim to the snares of Washington life, he had fallen in love with Miss Mar. Jorle Maynard. stepdaughter of oitb of the Supreme Court Justices. He had an impetuosity about him that quite swept everything before It. when once he made up his mind, and thin young lady hud been so captivated by Dan's melodramat ic courtship that she had become en gajred to him. When Pan began his proflleate course, she lfarned enough of some of his ad ventures to break the engagement. I'an loved her as much as a man of his sel fish nature could love any woman, and th" effect of Miss Maynard's termina tion of the engagement was to make Pari more than ever determined to marry her. He made some show of straightening up, but It was only a show. In less than, a week's time he had launched upon a drunk that lasted for a month and. while erased with the lliiuor. he got into a scraps that certainly would have sent him to prison If It had not been for my timely arrival on the scene. Miss Maynard was quite young at that time; in fact, it was her first season in society. Consequently, the boy and girl affair between herself and the Senator's son left no trace behind. I don't know when I first began to notice that Gordon was developing a regard for the young ludy, but I think it was at an army and navy ball where they sat out most of the dances and otherwise comported them selves as lovers are accustomed to do. Lady Clare was present on this occasion, and although she showed a calm exte rior. I saw that the action of Gordon was having no little effect upon her. It was not" long until Gordon was pro nounced In his attentions towards Miss Maynard and the gossips began to clat ter, as they always do in such a case. About this time Lady Clare and Dan Hammond formed a friendship. I believe it was of Lady Clare's own making, and I suspected that she had some motive back of it. for I had become convinced that she had a motive In everything that she did. I didn't like this development, for I knew that the Senator's son would be as wax In the hands of the crafty, beautiful woman, and I feared that some thing unpleasant might result from their intimacy. I had a vague apprehension of danger threatening Gordon and Mine Maynard, who were now quite as openly Infatuated as ever was a young couple, although both resorted to all of those en gaging littlo deceptions that lovers em ploy to blind the eyes of their acquaint ances and which only servo more firmly to convict them. I had promised Senator Hammond to keep an eye on his son, for the fath er's sake, and one night, at a reception which the president attempted and to which I was fragged like a cart behind a horse. I detected Lady Clare looking at Gordon and Miss Maynard with a malignancy which boded them no good. It was so much like the appearance of a snake when It Is charming a bird that I decided to keep a watch upon the handsome English woman and if she tried to injure Gordon or his lady, to balk her game if I could. I was satis tied that she would hesitate at nothing. Iady Clare was still covertly gazing at the oblivious couple with her sin ister expression, when Dan Hammond sauntered towards her. She greeted him with animation, and T saw a light of determination came Into her face that convinced me she had hit upon some plan to Injure her unconscious rival. I have always been a firm believer In my intuition, and It told me on this oc casion that Dan Hammond was the in strument I-dy Clare had selected, to carry out her scheme, whatever It was. The President had been taken out upon a long balcony by the Secretary of State, who had just arrived bulging with Im portance and, evidently desired to get the Chief Executive Into a secluded corner to import his news to him, aud I. as was my duty, lounged behind the Na tion's pride, always keeping him In view and following him through the conserva tory and out upon the balcony. - . I had been wanting to smoke for an hour, while the President had been pass ing silly commonplaces with painted and powdered society ladies, and this gave me my opportunity. The secretary and President stopped at the extreme end of the balcony where there were chairs, and I seated myself near a window of the conservatory, lighted a cigar, and settled myself down for a few minutes of solid comfort until my important charge should decide to return to the pleasant amusement of discussing noth ings with the guests Inside and 1 must, perforce, follow him. I had smoked my cigar half out, keep ing a watchful eye on the Chief Execu tive, when I heard tha rustle of silk and the patter of feet on the mosaic tilts of the conservatory. Without moving, ex cept to turn my head, I glanced in at the open window, and saw Lady Clare, lean ing on Dan Hammond's arm, pacing slowly past. She was as restless as tiger, and there was something in her expression and gait Whicli suggested this animal. Dan was perceptibly under the influence of liquor, and I could hear his maudlin,, thick voice protesting against something his beautiful companion had said. "Of course I will," he was saying. "You just tell me how it is to be done, and I am the boy to put it through." Iudy Clare muttered something in re ply, but I could not make It out, as they had pai-scd tlu: window. Soon 1 heard them returning. They wtua pacing back and forth ll'ie long length of the con servatory, and I could only hear what they said as they pasiwj the window where I was s:utione. Of course, it may havo been migenllenianly to eavesdrop, hut Mil is a part of y profession, and I 'have 'no qualms of conscience respect ing it, as any tneuiis is justifiable, when ynu are dealing with criminal or per sons plotting evil. I was sure that Lady Clare was evolving some dark' scheme that was to Influence Cordon and Miss Maynurd. W hen JK'Xt they passed. Lady Clare was speaking. Her voice was as soft and liquid as the notes of a nightingale. "You love her, do you?" she was in sinuating in her most engaging manner. Well, this' will mean that she will havo to marry you: there will he nothing else for her to do." I heard no more until they passed again. "She's too proud to think of making an explanation." I'an was saying, "and that snob. Gordon. Is too proud to ask for one. It will work like a charm and I am tiie boy to do It." This was all I heard, for at this junc ture the secretary had unbosomed him self to tiie President and that great of ficial arose and came towards me. I followed him into the conservatory and noticed that Lady Clare and Dan were Shaking hands as if upon some compact. They glided out ahead of the President, and. In fact, I do not think they realized our presence, so absorbed were they in the plot which they were scaling. The affair broke up in a few minutes and I saw the President safely within tha portals of the White House and was free until morning.. I went at onve to Mont rose, where Gordon had his apartments and. an hour later, when ho came jaun tily Into the lobby I hailed him and told him that I had something Important to tell him. I had thought the matter out fully and decided that there was no way to protect his lady except through him. for I knew that the plot of which I had heard such scant fragments had to do with her. I was in the dark as to its details anfl knew no other direction in which I might find aid. T went up to Gordon's room. Over a bottle of excellent sherry, for I had formed my besetting taste even then and Gordon knew about It, I told him of what I had beard and what I suspected. He was an Bngliehman and as imperturbable as any of his race, but he was greatly agitated by what I said to him. We talked until nearly 3 o'clock, when I left him. much disturbed and with as high a regard for him as I can have for any man. He was a thoroughbred and no mistake. He took me inlo his confidence . fully, and told me that he had not yet spoken of Ids love to Miss Maynard. This com plicated matters, as. under the circum stances, it was out of the question to speak pf the suspected plot to her. He loved her. There was no mistaking that and he told me, with the candor of a lover,, that while he sometimes thought that she cared for him, he was not sure of Mb ground and had never been able to get his courage up to the point of speaking to her about it. I didn't tell hint so, of course, but I ws as sure that Miss Maynard eared for him with all the ITALIAN fV!HSwtwe ml 3 e if "it" 3 THH FIERAMOSCA. NEW YORK, Nov. 1. (Special.) The Fieramosca Is one of the smallest qf the Italian naval ships. She is now in New York harbor, but will start on a short cruise soon. Jt is understood, however, that she will return to greet the Duke of the Abruzzl when he returns to this country to claim MlssvElklns. ardor that her sunny nature possessed as I was that the sun would come peep ing tip behind the dome of the capitol the next morning. It was a peculiar situation. There was mischief afoot; danger threatened the young lady, but the nature of It and when or how it was to develop was ut terly unknown. Gordon had told me something of the history of Lady Clare, and while he was guarded In what he said of her, I gathered enough to have my doubts of her fully confirmed. I had suggested to Gordon that I take the Supreme Justice, Miss Maynard's stepfather, into my confidence, but Gor don would not submit to It, and I re spected him the more for the delicacy of his feelings on this point. I thought of trying to intercept a. note between Lady Clare and Dan Hammond but, on reflec tion, I knew that the tigress, for so I had come to call her in my own mind, was too crafty to compromise herself by putting pen to paper. It would be a mouth-to-ear plot, and an ingenious one, at that The next afternoon I was strolling down Pennsylvania avenue, when I saw the Senator's son some distance ahead of me. pacing along at the mincing gait which men of extreme fashion affected at that WARSHIP VISITS THE UNITED , t ! .- ' " . i - " 1 - ' I : 1 ; period. He was bound for some definite place, and 1 made a guess at it. My guess was Lady Clare's residence. I fol lowed him and proved my guess to be cor rect. He did not tarry long at the am bassador's residence. When he came out there was as much of determination in his face as it was capable of showing. At the first telegraph office he entered he wrote two or three messages. I went In after he had left and, as I knew the operator, had no difficulty in seeing them. They were to young men of Dan's ilk. Inviting them to meet him at his apart ments at li o'clock that night, "sharp, for a little affair." I knew that the "little affair" was to be a poker game, but I thought that there was something more Important back of the messages than that. Dan Hammond had been lost in the throng of the avenue rhile I looked at the messages, and as I was off duty for the night, I went in search of Gordon, whom I found at his club drinking ( a 6cotch highball with the Japanese un-der-secretary, with as much indifference as if his heart was not torn into threads by the danger which threatened his lady love. I told him of what I had learned, aud let him know that I Intended shadow ing Dan Hammond that night. He asked STATES "i -BTSTyJrr if he might bear me company, which I readily agreed to as I really wanted him with mf. I felt that the attempt would be made to put the plot against Miss Maynard Into effect that night. As luck would have it. I stumbled into Hammond at the cafe where I took sup per. He was dining with two young rakes and they were oil "drinking heartily. I made it a point to finish about the time that he did, and as he feft his compan ions outside I heHfd lilm tell them to be sure to be on hand at his rooms at 11 sharp. He said that he had an engage ment that would occupy him for the early part of the evening. I guessed that this engagement would have to do with the plot. He went directly to his rooms. It was then 9 o'clock, and I took up a position close to the entrance to his flat, where Gordon soon joined me'. Hammond's apartments were on the second floor, and each suite had a separate stairway. I left Gordon on guard and stole tip the steps to Hammonds floor. There were two doors opening into the hall at the sida and one at the farther end. In both of the former rooms there, was a light and the transom of one. of the doors was raised. I had made no noise on the heavily carpeted stairway, and the hall was quite as well muffled. On reaching the landing. I could hear Hammond talking over the telephone. Ha was just finishing the conversation and was talking In a highly excited voice. "1 will come for you at once." he said. "Yes, I will hurry. Don't be uneasy, it may not be serious Yes, the doctors are here now No there is not tlmo for fhat I will sand a message for her At Sena tor Black's? All right. I will be there in less than ten minutes." I heard him put up the transmitter and come towards the door. I looked fer a place of concealment, but there was nono in the hall. I knew that it would be fatal if Hammond had caught me there, sa. as a last resort, I tried the second door. Just as I heard his hand- on the knob of the first. Jt was unlocked, and I pushed It open anil slipped Into the room as Hammond rushed out into the hall. "It's going to work like a charm," I heard him mutter as lie strode down tho stairs. I had no fear of Hammond's servants, for I had been to his apartments often on previous occasions, so I boldly walked into the room that he had vacated and took down the transmitter of the tele phone. When the girl answered I asked her to give me the number I had just been talking to. "You want Judge Morris. His phone is busy." That was all I wanted to know. I hung up the instrument and hastened down to join Gordon. He said that Hammond had hailed a cab and had driven away at a great pace. I didn't stop to explain, but hustled him out into tne street and caught the first cab that came along. I gave direc tions to the driver, and we were soon rolling away for the residence of the Judge at a rate, that promised to over haul Hammond unless he had a remark able horse. We turned into the street where the Judge lived Just as Hammond's cab stopped at its door, and before he could jump Irom the carriage I saw Miss Maynard run down the steps and across Hio pavement. She stepped into the car riage, and it turned and drove back by us at a terrific pace. We followed them. They drove directly to Hammond's apartments. Here we saw the young lady step out of the carriage and hasten up the stejs that led to Ham mond's rooms, accompanied by their oc cupant. Her face was as white as death. "Come on, Gordon, here's mischief, sure,' I said, as wo sprang from our conveyance and followed. It took but an instant to gain the .hall way. I put a detaining hand on Gor don's arm, for he seemed intent upon breaking Into Hammond's room, and there was a fixed look upon his hand some face that didn't mean good for that scoundrel. The transom was still open, and I could hear Miss Maynard pleading with Ham mond, anil Hammond reassuring her in a calm, even voice. "He Is doing fine," hu was saying, "but you cannot go in to see him Just yet. The doctors will not allow It. He Isn't hurt seriously, only stunned, and if you will only compose yourself you will bo admitted to him in a moment. . Just drink a glass of this wine, it will help you." Tim young lady remonstrated, but t heard the clink of glass asralnst glass as Hammond poured out thn wine, and, peeping through the keyhole. I could see Miss Maynard, a beautiful picture of de spair, standing- beside, tho table. Ham mond handed her the glass of wine, which sho drank mechanically. The ef fect of it upon her was instantaneous. She clutched feebly at the tablo and tot tered into Hammond's outstretched arms, limply and unconscious. I was glad Gordon was not looking through the keyhole, for I am sure he would have killed young Hammond then. As ,Miss Maynard rested helpless in his arms, he stooped over her and kissed her upon her rosebud of a mouth and gently stroked her hair. Then the whole of the devilish, plot be came clear to me. He had enticed Miss Maynard to his rooms upon the pretext that her stepfather had been injured and taken thore. His dissolute friends would arrive in a short time, and he would contrive, in some way, to let them see the sleeping beauty in his apartments, leaving them to believe that she had been overcome by liquor. Thus compromised, she could never remove the stain. Pains would be taken to inform Gordon of the incident. I well Knew mat two sucn proud natures as Miss Maynard's and Gordon's would never attempt to explain away the scandal, and tiiat their friend ship would be forever ended. There would be nothing for Miss Maynard. after this adventure, but to marry Hammond. I knew enough of the Senator and her stepfather to be sure that they would force the match, even if divorce proceed ings were filed the day after it. It was a dastardly plot and one that could only have originated in the mind sob sy w.g WWW of a demon of a woman, devoured by jealousy. Hammond had picked up the fair form of Miss Maynard and retired into his apartments. I opened the door and en tered the room that he had left. Reach ing the table, I touched a bit of the wine to my tongue And Instantly saw what ding he had employed. Turning to Got don With a firmness that I was far from ft fcllng. I dispatched him to the nearest ':mg store for a resuscl tant. This requitid hut a moment. When he had left I went after Ham mond. He was In his library when Miss Maynard lay upon a large dls-au as if she had fallen asleep there. HiUn mond stood beside the couch and gazed at her matchless beauty. I had my hand upon his shoulder be fore he realized my presence. "You dog!" 1 hissed. "I've a good mind to strangle you as you deserve." My wrath consumed me and I did. in fact, grip his throat with a force that made his eyes start from their sockets anil his face hoglti to turn purple. I couldn't help using violence with him, but threw him from me with a force that sent him spinning across the room and sprawled him flat upon the floor, where Ills head 6truck the log- of a tabic. Il was too spent to speak. I feared to let Gordon meet him at this time, as I knew that tho Englishman might attempt to kill him, nor could 1 have blamed hiin for it. To prevent this. I dragged Hammond into his bathroom, where 1 pit. lied him upon the floor and. having locked the door, returned to Miss Maynard, Gordon came back at this juncture with the drug. I sent him into the front room while I mixed the potion, and poured it down the pretty lips of the unconscious gill. In a few moments she sat up and looked about her uncertainly. "Where is my father?" she said, seem ing to make nothing strange out of my presence. "1 must have fainted. Tell me, is he .safe?" As gently as I could I told her every thing. A look of great relief came into, her face when she learned the deception regarding her father. She did not -eni to realize the danger to herself, so great was her joy at learning that it was a mistake about thu judge. I'.ut. as the full situation dawned upon her, she cov ered her face with her hands and wept. "Oh! The disgrace of it," she sobbed. "Oh, whatever shall I do? You are so kind, so kind, but how can 1 ever ex plain it?" I reassured her, hut sho continued to cry as if her heart would break. I gath ered enough from her broken sentences to feel that her gravest apprehension about the adventure was that some breath of it might reach her lover. It has always unnerved me to sec a woman cry, and especially as pretty a woman as was Miss Maynard, and I foar that I did a poor Job of comforting her. 1 blundered along telling her about ev erything, and wound up with tho infor mation that Mr. Gordon was in the front room, that he knew everything about it. I went further, and broke faith with Gordon, and told her that I was sure Gordon was madly In love with her. This did more to comfort her than all my disconnected attempts. She blushed rosily and hid her face, hut there was no convulsive sobbing accompanying It .and I took this as a good sign. As sho sat there, uncon scious of my presence, with her pretty face hid upoh her bowed hands, I stealthily slipped out of the room and joined Gordon. "Look here, young man." I blurted out, as he advanced (to moet me, his face drawn with -anxiety, "that little woman back there loves you, and if you don't go back there and tell her how much you think of her you are the lowest scoundrel unhung." He didn't resent my speech, but sprang through the doorway like a runner at the report of the starter's pistol. When I got to the door of the library, for I was not as quick as Gordon, I saw Miss Maynard look up from her bowed hands. A redder blush than I had ever seen suffused her face. She arose unsteadily and Gordon swept her into his arms, her head dropping confidingly upon his shoulder. As I turned away I hoard sonio ono coming clumsily up tho stairway. I. rushed to the door and found four of Hammond's friends laboriously lurching up tho steps. They showed some surprise at s-cingr me, and more when tersely, nml, I fear, rather im politely told them that Hammond had left tiie city suddenly and that there would be no game that night. While we were talking; three other' of the invited gamesters Joined us. T dismissed them abruptly and took the precaution to follow them down the steps and see that they left tho neigh borhood. Then I went back to look after JIIsr Maynard and Gordon. T made It a point, to approach them noisily They wern sining- on th- conch looking at each other with that light in their eyes that only lovers cfn conjure up. They greeted me cordially and Miss Maynard blush-id a good deal. She thanked me so prettily for what I had done that I blushed a little myself, and stam mered out a protest. In which I denied that I hud done anything worth men tioning. Hut sho would not have It. That raseai Gordon had been magnify ing my help outrageously, and she be-licvc-0 every word of it. Gordon didn't let any grass grow un der his feet. hen we took Miss May nard home that night he waited on her mother and stepfather and secured their consent. They were married soon afterwards, and while they were on their bridal tour Gordon's older broth er died and In; became tho next in suc cession to the title. That was a good many years ago and this note is from Mrs. Gordon, though that is not her name now. for she has been "Lady Somebody" Elnee the Earl died, asking me to visit them at their country place in the old coun try. It Is a rare old castle, I have i heard, and the invitation is so sincere and so vory urgent that I think I will havo to accept it. He paused as If the story was fin ished, sc I asked: "What became of the Senator's son?" "Oh, of course. I had forgotten him. Well, he escaped from the bathroom while I was reviving the young lady. That was the last of him in Washing ton. He drifted out West and was killed in a barroom brawl in Arizona."
