tector had likewise been broken, when the good old English oak had met its defeat at the hands of this Hun of the world of science, and with it, very gingerly, he tapped the iro

st the shock, he touched his finger gently to this rude old paradox. There was no shock, a

old cannon-ball must have been here since-?" He gave a start

on-ball, made

Greenwood, Vi

1889 to Lor

e Bolling And

tate of

laimed. "These Americans ar

er office, and, glancing at his

tone and Sir Egbert Graves, and say that I should like to see them both here for a few minutes on a matter of the greatest importance, and t

of the smaller room, he said: "Place a sentry at that door when I leave

s message had found Lord Rockstone and Sir Egbert Graves toget

t for peace, and, with the aid of this discovery, render untenable any position in opposition to its will taken by England or any of the other Powers. Had

greeted them with serious face and at

my reasons for insisting upon a meeting here." Keeping both men still standing he continued: "I have a strange story to tell, so strange

it belonged to a head that had been stuck on the end of a pike and shoved out across the table for Underhill to look at, instead of to one well placed on his broad athletic shoulders. They both knew that Underhill was young and had inherited from his beautiful American mother a ne

to this room with me?" He pointed

ntinuing to gaze stolidly as their associate, closing the door behi

"I wanted you to see these in order to convince you that I hav

d recall. He showed them exactly where and how he had been sitting, and followed every movement made by Edestone, even to the ripping of the glass from the

n on that blooming old cannon-ba

ld relic of Valley Forge, but Rockstone did not offer to stir. With what was a

perience with the fakirs of India could have been taken in by so old a trick." He h

eal with a new agency that can neither be disputed nor sneered away, and unless we can contrive some way to oppose it, the United States will step in and force a peace upon us-a peace that

leting his inspection of the table. "What has become of him?" His thin voice

tly. "He left here only a short time ago. And you need not be afraid, Sir Egbert," with a significant gl

and then went o

ntials, there can be little doubt that the man is here with the approval of his Government, if not as an authorized repre

t that?" demanded

, "granting that the contrivance is of value, the United S

terrible instrument of war, in which case it would be most unwise to offend her. If he has not, there certainly can be no objection to allowing him the opportunity of offering to our enemies someth

ms, we must not forget that the United States has had these facts and mechanisms for some time. Therefore, it would be ill-advised to detain hi

olicy for this Government is to treat this man with the greatest possible consideration. If he has the power to do us harm, we must put him in such a position that he will not wish to do it; and if he has not, our treatment of him will have a tendency to draw the United States nearer to us than she is

d he is as proud of it as if he were an Englishman. He is the ninth in direct line from the original old chap, or rather young chap, who went from England to Virgin

facilitate in every way his mission as peacemaker. I shall take him at his word that he does not intend to sell to any one, and try to persuade him that, if he is bent on coercing any people, the En

ize him to open peace negotiations with the Kaiser, and I think he rather intimated

art I think that this young gentleman and his little trick box should be shipped back home with a very polite but emphatic note to the effect that when England wishes the good offices of the United States in bringing this war to a close,

. Edestone is in some measure at least the representative of his country. We cann

ed Underhill, "his manner

t he is an impostor. If he is, why should we allow the American comic papers to put us in the same category with their own Secretary

ts to sell, and sell it he will to the highest bidder. Why refuse to consider his offer on the one hand, or why appear to be too anxi

ou put it that way I think that perhaps you are right. Diplomacy is probably the strongest weapon with

t ruefully, rubbing his arm, "if I had the power that this chap has locke

d his professional tours to include London?" Graves gave his sly secretive laugh. Then as if ashamed of

Edestone should be given a fair hearing. The final answer to his proposition

e best way to leave the m

" said Graves, and they left t