Sportsman. "Last two cartridges, Dan. What's to be done now?"
Dan'l. "Ye'll hev to take to the bainit, Colonel."
[It is rumoured that Cinema playwrights, following the example of certain well-known stage dramatists, are likely in future, in addition to the film representations, to publish their works in novel form. The manuscript of one of the earliest of these productions has just come into our bands.]
LOVE AND DIPLOMACY.
Chapter I.
The last rays of the setting sun, shining through the windows of the Foreign Office, fell upon Clement Carmichael, the brilliant young Foreign Secretary, as he sat at his desk studying despatches. A slight noise caused him to raise his head sharply, and he observed a stranger of alien appearance standing before him.
Without a word the intruder produced a revolver and levelled it at Carmichael. Caught like a rat in a trap, the latter, after a moment's hesitation, handed over the despatches and leaned back with an expression of bitter despair.
"It is Raymond Blütherski!" he gasped when he was again alone. "I am ruined!"
Chapter II.
There was not an instant to be lost. Dashing down the steps of the Foreign Office, Carmichael leapt into the waiting motor and shouted hoarsely to the driver. A moment later the car was disappearing rapidly down the street.
Chapter III.
Felix Capperton, the detective whose fame had penetrated two hemispheres, was playing chess with his daughter Madge, a tall and beautiful blonde. Suddenly the door opened and Carmichael entered hastily. In a few tense words he explained the situation to the famous sleuth, while Madge Capperton stood silent, pressing her hands to her heart.
The detective pointed meaningly at the chessboard, and Carmichael bent over it with an expectant face.
"It is checkmate!" he said.
"We will checkmate Blütherski!" replied the other confidently.
The eyes of the Foreign Secretary met those of the girl and a sympathetic smile passed between them.
Chapter IV.
In his private sanctum Capperton with skilful fingers fixed a moustache and side whiskers to his lean and mobile face. His daughter handed him a soft hat and a Gladstone bag, and he was transformed before her eyes into a commercial traveller.
Chapter V.
Raymond Blütherski paced the deck of a Channel steamer, deeply absorbed in the fateful despatches. Suddenly he turned smartly on his heels.
He was face to face with Capperton, disguised as a commercial traveller.
Accustomed to such emergencies his mind was made up in an instant. Rolling the papers into a ball, he hurled them into the mouth of a large ventilator which stood near.
Unhesitatingly the detective threw himself into the ventilator and disappeared head first. With a cry of baffled rage Blütherski followed.
Chapter VI.
In the bows of the same steamer stood Madge Capperton and Clement Carmichael, gazing anxiously before them. Her fingers tightened on his arm. Their faces took on an expression of horror and despair.
A huge liner was bearing directly down upon them!
