CHAPTER XXIX
At eleven o’clock the next morning Topham, Rutile and Miss Byrd were ushered into the presence of the President. No train had been convenient, and the Watson had brought them all the way to Washington. Her coming had been wired, ahead, and an automobile had been in waiting to rush them to the White House.
One by one the President heard their stories, his square jaw growing squarer and squarer as he listened. Now and then he asked a question, sharp and pertinent, but for the most part he kept silence—a sure proof that he regarded the case as very serious.
When at last the stories had been finished, he nodded. “Between you,” he said, “you seem to have gotten the thing down pretty fine. What you have told me today confirms what I felt sure of yesterday after I had heard the story of Commander Topham brought from San Francisco and had read the dispatch Miss Byrd sent from the Southern Cross. Mr. Rutile’s informationwelds it all and makes its inferences unmistakable. Now that I know, I can checkmate my great and good friend across the water. In fact, I have checkmated him already.”
The President turned to his secretary. “Have you a copy of today’s New York Gazette?” he asked.
The secretary handed him a paper, and he reached it out to Topham. “You heard me promise Mr. McNew a scoop yesterday, Mr. Topham,” he remarked. “So I called in his correspondent last night and gave him this. It was quite widely printed this morning. Read it aloud, please! I suppose none of you have seen the papers.”
Topham read:
“It is officially announced that the President has decided to send the entire Atlantic fleet on a cruise to the Pacific coast. Sixteen battle ships will leave Hampton Roads in a few weeks and will steam southward around Cape Horn to San Francisco. They will probably make an extended stop at Rio Janeiro and other parts in Brazil. It is hoped and believed that the present rebellion in southern Brazil will be at an end by the time the fleet reaches there. Three vessels of the present south Atlantic squadron will cruise along the coastof south Brazil until the fleet arrives, when they will come northward if all is quiet in South America. Then the battleship squadron will go on to San Francisco and perhaps across the Pacific to Japan.”
“It is officially announced that the President has decided to send the entire Atlantic fleet on a cruise to the Pacific coast. Sixteen battle ships will leave Hampton Roads in a few weeks and will steam southward around Cape Horn to San Francisco. They will probably make an extended stop at Rio Janeiro and other parts in Brazil. It is hoped and believed that the present rebellion in southern Brazil will be at an end by the time the fleet reaches there. Three vessels of the present south Atlantic squadron will cruise along the coastof south Brazil until the fleet arrives, when they will come northward if all is quiet in South America. Then the battleship squadron will go on to San Francisco and perhaps across the Pacific to Japan.”
There was silence for a moment as Topham ceased. Then the President turned to Rutile. “Well, Mr. Rutile,” he smiled. “Will that serve?”
“Serve? It will knock the rebellion endways, quiet Japan, and smash the Kaiser’s plot. And all without firing a shot. Oh! ByJove!” Rutile paused; his feelings were too deep for words.
“Glad you approve,” smiled the President. “I understand that Germany’s plans depend wholly on the preliminary success of the Brazilian rebellion. If the dispatch of the fleet crushes the rebellion, as I feel assured it will, it ends the whole conspiracy. Further, Mr. Topham, I cabled your report on the San Francisco riot to the Japanese Government last night. A reply has just come stating that the Japanese ambassador here will be recalled and another sent in his place. The inference is that they consider that he was behind the Countess del Ouro Preto in her plot, and wish to disavow it. I don’t believe he was, but its about the only thing Japan could do to save her face.Meanwhile, until the new ambassador arrives all claims against the United States will be dropped. This, of course, is confidential. I may add, though—you will see the news in the afternoon papers—that the governor and the leaders of the California legislature are going to be more conciliatory, and avoid giving needless offense to Japan. Also the mayor of San Francisco has promised to prevent any more anti-Japanese riots. So I think everything is about straightened out.”
Lillian had been listening with wide-open eyes. For a wonder she had held her tongue. But now she burst out.
“Goody! Goody!” she cried. “Oh! Mr. President, you’re just splendid. I can tell you so if these men can’t. I’m going to cast my first vote for you when we get women’s suffrage, even if it isn’t for fifty years!”
The President smiled. “Thank you!” he cried. “I’m sure you won’t forget.” “Now, gentlemen,” he turned back to the two men. “I’m not going to thank you for what you have done. You have done your duty, neither more nor less. For the same reason I’m not going to reward you. But I am going to tell you that I am delighted to know of two—no, three—people who are clever and ascapable and as courageous as yourselves. And I’ll add that I am going to use you all to the extent of your abilities—not as a reward but simply because you are too capable not to be used. I guess we can find a post as minister somewhere for you, Mr. Rutile. Please consult with the Secretary of State about it. Now, Mr. Topham—”
But Miss Byrd interrupted. “Place aux dames, Mr. President,” she cried. “What do I get?”
“What do you want, Miss Byrd?”
“I want three months leave for Mr. Rutile. You see he wants to get married and he’s too bashful to tell you.”
The President’s eyes twinkled. “Oh! Ho! So that’s it, is it, Mr. Rutile?” he asked.
Rutile blushed. “Yes! That’s it, Mr. President,” he admitted.
“Journalism will lose an ornament, but diplomacy will gain one. Mr. Rutile shall have his vacation by all means, Miss Byrd.” “Now, Mr. Topham, I have some news for you. It—or rather she—is waiting in the next room. The Countess del Ouro Preto came to see me this morning. She had read the news about the fleet in the papers and knew the game was up. She came to confess, and to tell me a secret or two about herself.Ahem! You have my permission to go, Mr. Topham! Through the right door yonder. Yes! That’s it! Good-morning, Mr. Topham.”
THE END
Transcriber’s Notes:Numerous silent changes have been made to correct punctuation around dialogue.Obvious typographical errors have been corrected; variant spellings have been retained.Hyphenation has been regularized across this ebook.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Transcriber’s Notes:
Numerous silent changes have been made to correct punctuation around dialogue.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected; variant spellings have been retained.
Hyphenation has been regularized across this ebook.