signed himself to await developments. to his room. He seemed to be in excelHe was busy at his daily observations when the green curtain hanging over the door of the hut to keep out the light was drawn aside, and Sir Henry's welcome figure appeared in the doorway. He was armed with a butterfly net. "Good-morning, Mr. Atwood. You look like a magician in this dark place and handling those queer instruments. What's it all for?" Harley explained the uses of the various testing instruments, and later showed off the antics of the wiggly streak of light by which he read off his messages from the other stations. Then he put out the lamp and drew back the curtains of the door and window, letting the daylight into the hut. "All very interesting," said the diplomatist. "I'm very glad to have an opportunity of seeing something of these cables of yours that have ruined our trade. On this occasion, however, I think the tables are turned, and diplomacy has to come to the rescue of the cables. Eh, Mr. Atwood?" "That's true, Sir Henry, and I must congratulate myself on having secured the support of such an able and distinguished representative of the art." Sir Henry burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Oh, come, young man, you stick to your own calling and leave the soft soap to me. These seem to be fairly comfortable quarters," he added, looking round the hut. Good deal more space and air than in a cabin on board ship, and I must say the sea rippling on the clean sand down there looks most inviting." "Yes, it's delightful," said Harley; "I often take a dip here." lent spirits, and even gave vent to occasional suppressed chuckles during breakfast and dinner, much to the edification of Flamingo. Early the following morning he copied out very carefully, from the scribbled leaf of his note-book, the letter to the Commander of the Almirante O'Halloran, which Sir Henry had drafted for him. It was very polite and ceremonious, and expressed in the most delicate way that Harley did not desire to intrude on Captain Pacheco's valuable time, as he was in the unfortunate position of being quite unable to impart any information regarding the supposed telegraphic message to which Captain Pacheco's highly esteemed letter of the twenty-second instant referred. The missive was rounded up with the proper allowance of the letters of the alphabet that the high-flown courtesy of written communication among the Latin races demands, and was despatched by a special messenger. A little later Harley started for the cable hut. VII WHEN he got within view of the beach the first thing that caught his eye was a small Union Jack flying gayly from the bamboo pole, which had been lashed to one of the corners of the hut. He narrowly escaped breaking his neck as, in his eagerness to reach the hut, he clattered down the rocky path with loose rein. Arrived there he found door and window wide open, and Sir Henry, in his flannels and blazer, reclining comfortably in a deck - chair, smoking a pipe, and holding a yellowThey went outside the hut and backed novel. On the table were the strolled up and down the beach. The silver-topped implements of Sir Henry's diplomatist gave Harley some instruc- dressing-bag, a small Russian coffeetions, wrote a few words in pencil in pot and an empty cup. Hanging out his note-book, and took from him the of the window was Sir Henry's bathingduplicate key of the hut. They chatted suit. They chatted suit. The bed was neatly covered up for a long time, and then Harley locked with a rug, and various articles of clothup the hut and rode off with quite a ing were laid on it in orderly array. cheerful air, while Sir Henry sauntered The place had quite a comfortable, along the beach looking for butterflies, home-like air. which were about as plentiful in those parts as in Cheapside. 'Good morning, Atwood. Sorry you've come just too late for a cup of The rest of that day Harley kept close coffee. I've had a most delightful bath. Really, I think this is the most charming seaside resort I ever was in. It has its little inconveniences, perhaps, and it's rather a nuisance to be without a man, but anything's good for a change. The quiet of this place is most seductive. I feel as if I could spend a whole month here." Harley gazed at him in open admira tion. How did you manage to get out here without attracting attention?" he asked. "Very simple. Some of the officers went to visit the Almirante after dinner. I put on a uniform coat and cap, and steered the boat. After leaving them on board we pulled back some distance toward our own ship and then turned down the bay, and the men rowed out here for all they were worth, landed me and my traps, fixed up the flagpole, and got back, I suppose, without arousing any suspicion. I made myself comfy here, as you see, turned in early, slept like a top (that stretcher-bed is a capital contrivance for warm nights), got up with the sand-piperthere are no larks here, I believe, except ours, about to begin-had my dip and my coffee, and now I feel fit to receive any visitors that may come this way. And, by Jove," he added, as he rose and looked out of the window, 'here they are, sharp on time." Harley looked round and saw a manof-war's boat bearing down on the hut. Her flag proclaimed that she came from the Almirante O'Halloran. Besides her crew she carried a corporal and file of marines and an officer with several stars on his cuff. As the boat approached the beach, Harley, in obedience to Sir Henry's suggestion, tethered his horse to a big stone and went inside the hut. The boat grounded, and in a few moments the marines were drawn up on the sand and stood at attention, while the officer, with drawn sword, walked up to the hut. He was scowling savagely. Something had evidently upset his temper, possibly the sight of the flag fluttering over the hut. Sir Henry stood up in the doorway and saluted the Lieutenant with a graceful wave of his cap. He opened the conversation in fluent Spanish. "Buenos dias, señor teniente, you come visiting early." "My visit is an official one, sir, and I have a mission to perform.' He stopped a yard or two from the door. "But there must be some mistake," said Sir Henry, gravely; "I am not here to do any official business." "I don't understand," returned the other; are you an officer of the cable company?" " "No," answered Sir Henry in his suavest manner; "I have the honor to represent in this country Her Most Gracious Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain. My name is doubtless familiar to you. He held out a visitingcard, which the Lieutenant took gingerly, and regarded as if it were some exceptionally interesting curiosity. "This is my residence for the time being, and I shall be charmed if you will consider it yours also. But as it is, technically speaking, English soil, you must excuse me if I ask you to put up your sword." This was delivered with truly Castilian politeness. The Lieutenant stood in blank amazement; he looked from the smiling diplomatist to the card he held between finger and thumb, and from the card to the Union Jack standing out gayly in the morning breeze. At last, with an effort, he recovered his speech. I This is an unexpected honor, Seer Letton. I come with specific orders from my commander, and it would appear that I cannot execute them. must return and inform him of the distinguished visitors that the cable company entertains. I regret that I cannot at this moment accept your amiable invitation." With this the Lieutenant clanked his sword into its sheath, gave a formal salute, turned on his heel, and stalked down the beach. He gave a curt order to his bewildered men, who were out of earshot from the hut, and in another minute the party had embarked and were rowing back to the harbor. VIII WHEN they were fairly off the diplomatist threw himself back in the chair, and for five minutes everything in the hut vibrated. Harley smiled sympathetically, but was too nervous for more. He did not see that he was out of the wood yet. 'Glorious! Wouldn't have missed it for a K. C. B.," said Sir Henry, weakly, when he managed to get back his articulation. "That fellow's face would be a fortune to a comedian. Oh! If you had only had a camera trained on him while he stood there," and he went off again. "Well, I am glad you enjoy it so thoroughly," said Harley, when he could be heard. "It is certainly mate so far, but I don't quite see where checkmate is going to come from." "Ah! we need an extra man for that. He ought to be here pretty soon, too." Sir Henry rose as he spoke and looked out of the window. No, no sign of him yet." An hour or more passed while the two discussed the Lieutenant's discomfiture and the probable effect on the Comandante when he reported the reception he had met with. Suddenly Harley, who from his position commanded a view seaward, uttered an exclamation. Sir Henry looked out and saw an ironclad rounding the point of the outer bay. "There's the missing man," he said, quietly; "and very soon I think your mind will be quite at rest. That's the Negra Escalera, the flagship that will relieve Captain Pacheco of his command here. The Admiral is an old friend of mine. I have left a note for him with Carter, as I knew he was due to-day or to-morrow. We shall probably have a visit from him in an hour or two, and then you will be able to enjoy the pleasures of checkmate. Or rather, I shall, as I think I have been playing this little game-aided by luck. Great luck," he added, reflectively; "for, without the Admiral, it might have ended badly after all. But I look to him to pull us through now." The two watched the grim, gray battle-ship until she disappeared round the second point into the harbor. Then they whiled away the time with a traveller's chess-set that the minister produced from his dressing-bag. Harley struggled manfully, but he lost every time. He was startled from an absorbing study of a difficult situation in the fifth game by a shrill, piping whistle that sounded just outside the hut. Jumping for the window he saw a steam pinnace stopped about thirty or forty yards from the shore. A small boat was alongside, just ready to shove off as the last of three naval officers stepped into it. "There's the Admiral and Carter, and that other, I suppose, is the ferocious Comandante Pacheco," said Sir Henry. He walked down to the water's edge to meet the visitors, while Harley looked on from the window of the hut. Sir Henry greeted the Admiral warmly, and was introduced to the Comandante, who did not look at all ferocious, but was quite smiling and affable. four stood chatting and laughing a few minutes on the beach, and then walked up to the hut. Captain Carter got in first. 66 The He Well, young man, it's all right. The Admiral brings word that the outlaw was neatly nabbed down South there. Your message was delivered to one of the spies watching the beggar's house. Better tell your friend to be more careful whom he delivers messages to, eh? But I tell you it's deuced lucky I happened to bring Sir Henry along with me up here. saved you. Captain Pacheco was going to string you up to the yard-arm, bombard this box of tricks, and drag both your cables out into the middle of the Pacific. You can thank your diplomatic representative for averting all that. And now the Admiral comes along like a fairy godmother to make everything lovely at the finish." "It is a beautiful settlement of an international episode," put in Sir Henry. "And only think what a splendid despatch I could send to the Foreign Office. The people at Downing Street would want to send me to Constantinople next, to settle the Eastern question. But they shall hear nothing of it, Mr. Atwood," he added, considerately. The Admiral insisted on taking the whole party back to the flagship to breakfast. The breakfast lasted about four hours and a half, and Harley wondered the next morning if he had really embraced the Admiral and Captain Pacheco, or if he had only dreamed it. He was quite certain of having drunk the latter's health eleven times, but after that he had lost count. A few days later Harley met Palivetti in the club. The 'abstract influence of the Union Jack' came out pretty well after all, didn't it, Mr. Palivetti?" Har ley was not able to translate the other's reply, and, even if he had been, it could not be printed. The companies interested in those cables never heard anything of Harley's scrape and its lucky ending. If this account should come to their attention they will recognize that the information is entirely unofficial, and, as such, not to be credited. WALDWEBEN Aubade I LIVE aforest, and hard by My thoughts from cloudland bringing, A little russet bird had sprung Out from the shade, while the wood rung Yet till then had he never sung. I knew him well; and he was young And yet unapt at singing. His song still downward ringing; And fainter, farther ever flung, Songs strange, and of my soul unsung; The flowers from it springing; Until he vanished in the sky- But singing. singing THE PEOPLE OF THE CITIES SKETCHES OF AMERICAN TYPES By Octave Thanet ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALBERT E. STERNER NE day last August I saw a picture at the gates of Jackson Park that is like to vex my memory for a long while. A young man and a young woman, husband and wife, were stepping into their phaeton. The dainty little vehicle sparkled with a kind of beamy splendor, all white and silver. The groom at the horses' bits, restraining their impatience while they tossed their heads and their chains jingled, was in white and silver also. The young man wore the picturesque and comfortable summer bravery of a fashionable young man, including a dazzling straw hat with a wide brim and a blue ribbon. The young woman's sweet face dimpled and siniled under a foreign masterpiece of lace and flowers. An adorably simple gown of a shining fabric-whether silk or linen or lace it was not for the mind of man, not in the haberdashery line, to decide-seemed to have been built upon her pretty figure, for there was no apparent way for her to get into it. She carried a glittering parasol wherein were blended all the hues in her hat and gown. As she settled herself on the cushions she said something at which the young man laughed, and they were whirled away. All the while on the curbstone stood a little child, close to another child, holding its smaller hand tightly in hers. A ragged old shawl did duty both for covering and head-gear. Her feet were bare, her face was thin and dirty, but she was smiling in the purest delight. She did not envy the lovely lady in the lovely carriage, she only admired her; and bending over the mite beside her she pointed out the spectacle. She was not a pretty child; but her wide, blue eyes and her freckles were illumined by that radiant gaze. How easy to soothe one's uneasy sympathies with a careless gift and a careless kind word; not so easy to do anything that will count for the child herself, or for the real solving of the baffling and disheartening problem that her presence suggests. I know the young people. They and the child live in the same great city, a fact that led me insensibly into a number of idle musings of no especial value to the social student, since they were of a sort common to most thinking Americans. The great cities represent our failures and our achievements. For once I had a view of the two extremes of the working of civilization. The young people in the carriage were born to whatever of happiness love and money could procure for them. Archie, the young man, is a good fellow in every detail of the phrase. He has abundant sense, a sweet temper, an honest, unpliable Anglo-Saxon will, and a simple conception of his duties in life. He is not likely to be tangled up in a mesh of enthusiasms; and he will never expect to reform the whole structure of society off-hand; he will be content to do his best to help those nearest to him, and to put his shoulder to his own wheels. There will be enough for him to do, for his father has a great army of working - men. To meet the young fellow at a dinner party you would see nothing but a rather unusual modesty to distinguish him from a hundred other young fellows with an English accent and an admirable tailor. He shambles into the room quite as they do, and fills the interstices of conversation with a faint smile and inarticulate ejaculations in the most approved manner. He has not a great deal to say. He neither tells stories nor makes epigrams. But you might notice that he takes very little wine with his dinner, and that after dinner he has gone to the side of an elderly woman who was his mother's friend, or to the shy girl to whom this is a first dinner-party, or to the hostess's |