A TEMPTATION. How a Young French Girl Un dertook a Bit of Diplomacy. By GWENDOLEN ADAMS. {Copyright, 13J0. by American Press Asso ciation.) A ball was It) progress at the Aus trian embassy in Paris. The host ap proached one of his guests. Mile. Ellse de Guillemette. a girl of twenty, offer ed her his arm and led her to a seclud ed spot. "Mademoiselle," he snIJ. "would you like to improve the deplorable financial position of your family?" "I certainly would, your excellency." "In my country the government helps those of noble blood who have lost the wherewithal to retain their proper station. A republic does not It Is in iny power to help you." The ambassador paused and looked searchingly at the girl's face as if wondering if he dared propose what he had in his mind. Then, with a plunge, he continued: "There Is a certain state paper that has been left in the keeping of the American minister. It is in the imme diate care of Mr. Ilugb nildreth, the secretary of legation. Mr. Hildreth is a bachelor, his mother and sister do ing the social honors of his house. It is In my power to secure you an invi tation to his house. Go there, find out where he keeps this paper, secure pos session of il without Ills knowledge that you have done so, copy its essen tial features, replace It, bring the copy to me, and I will give you 500.000 francs." "Why does your excellency select me for this work?" asked the aston ished girl. "Because you are sufficiently beauti ful and attractive to compel any man to love you. Love is the key we diplo mats use to unlock state secrets." Mile, de Guillemette was as pure a girl as ever lived, but she was young, •ind the wily Austrian used a process of devil reasoning which, with n cer tain fascination such a work had for her, secured her to his purpose. He Introduced Hugh Hlldreth to her, who spent the rest of the evening In her company, and the next day she receiv ed from his mother a formal invitation to visit at her son's country seat. The Austrian ambassador gave her certain data by which she would "1 HAVE BEEN BEHIND THAT CURTAIN." know it, the most important of whieh was that it related to the "open door" in China. Mile, de Guillemette was received with every attention by her hosts, and young Ilildretb was from the first devoted to her. Indeed, so kind were they all that she found It Impossible to attempt to extort the secret for which she had come. Furthermore, she had neither that cold, conscienceless nature required for such a work nor diplomatic experience to enable her to bring It to a success ful termination. She felt that any ■word uttered with a view to lead up to the subject of the state paper would result In a detection of her object. The result was that she spent a week with the Hlldreths without having made the slightest progress and an nounced that she would leave the next day. But Mr. and Mrs. Hlldreth, Instruct ed by Hugh, would not consent to her departure. The poor girl would have been glad to remain, but away from the malign influence of her employer the fact that she had come for a dis honorable purpose oppressed her, and she wished to wash her hands of what she had undertaken. But so pressing was the Invitation to remain longer that she consented. The same evening Hugh Ilildreth led her Into his library anil fell to asking her questions us to her family. She told him what they had been be fore the revolution—how her mother had struggled to maintain at least a respectable position and how she longed to assist her mother, but was powerless. Then Illldreth began to talk of himself and Ids aspirations In public life. Shame at the contempt ible work she had come to his house to accomplish prompted her to avert her gaze and cast her eyes upon the floor. Her host turned the subject to liter ature. For awhile he discussed books and their authors. Then, going to one of the shelves that lined the room, he showed her a book that he said he oeslrec especially she should read. Then after a trifle moro of conversa tion he left her and went upstairs. As soon as he had gone she took the book he had referred to from the shelf and, sitting down With It, began to read. It Interested her, and she continued her perusal of It for some time. Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Ilil dretli bid her good night as they went up to bed, and slie was left nlone. Between the leaves of the volume she read was a bit of paper evidently Intended for a temporary bookmark. Something was written on the paper in pencil, and a natural curiosity prompted her to read it. The words were, "Behind volume 2, 'Racine.'" The words seemed to mean some thing. She went to the shelves, found the works of Kacine and removed the second volume. Passing her finger along the wall behind where it had Btood, she encountered a raised but ton. Removing several more books that stood beside the first, she saw what she had felt—something that looked like the button of an electric bell. She was tempted to press it, but dared not. fearing to ring. While thinking it occurred to her that this might be the entrance to a secret space for keeping valuables— perhaps state papers. Might not the paper she hnd found in the volume be a memorandum of where the cham ber lay. Doubtless Hlldreth had In advertently used the slip as a book mark and forgotten to remove it. Moved by curiosity alone, she nerved herself to press the button. The door of a little safe a few inches square flew open. Within lay a paper. She took It out and read there in pencil on the outside, "The open door." What she had come to do and had not tried to do had been done for her. Here was tlie document she required. Ou a desk in the same room were pen. Ink and paper. She alone of the fam ily remained below. She might take the paper to the desk, copy its essen tial points, which was all her employer required, replace it, put everything back as she found it.and who would be the wiser? Another plan suggested Itself to her. She might take the paper to her room, copy It, steal downstairs, put it bark in the safe and replace the books be fore it. Mile, de Guiilemette stood with the I>aper in her hand, thinking of the 000,000 francs that she could gain by taking a copy of Its contents to the Austrian ambassador. With the money she could place her family at least be yond want. Her employer had told her that such were the methods In vogue among European diplomats; that he would not scruple himself to obtain the document surreptitiously; that she would be unwise to let pass such a means of re-establishing her family. Then she thought of the Ilildreths— mother, daughter, son. They had with true American warmth taken her to their hearts. They had pitied her for the position she occupied of one born to a station she could not support. Hugh had that very eveniug told her of his ambition. That ambition she would shatter by stealing the contents of an Important paper which had been intrusted to his care. He would never be forgiven for the leak, for he would be considered either a fool or a knave. She thrust the document back into the safe, closed the door, replaced the books before it and. taking up the volume that had been recommended to her, sat down all of a tremor. "How do you like It?" said a voice behind her. Turning, she saw Hugh nildreth ad vancing. "Something is wrong with you," he said sympathetically. She burst Into convulsive sobbing. "Tell me your trouble, little girl," he added, drawing a chair up before* her. "I am not fit to he In the home of such kind people. Please send me away!" "On the contrary, yon have achieved that which I have never achieved— you have resisted a terrible tempta tion. I myself ha% e been tempted and usually succumbed. And mine was not half the strain you have borne." She looked at him through her tears In astonishment. "How do you know that I have been tempted?" she asked. "That Austrian's methods I know well. He would give millions for the contents of the document you have Just handled." "You saw me!" She was trembling from bead to foot "Yes; I laid a trap for you. When the Austrian introduced me I knew he had a motive. I saw at once that you were not the girl for such work, and when you were going away without even an attempt I determined to put you to a severe test. I wished to see how you would act with the object In your hands for which you had come. I called your attention to the volume I wished you to read aud purposely left a guide in It to my safe aud left the safe unlocked. Then I went up stairs by the main staircase and came down by a rear one. I have been be hind that curtain, where I could see and not be seen. I have witnessed your temptation and your triumph." "You mean my degradation at hav ing listened to such a temptation." "Not at all. That Austrian fiend could start an angel on a downward course. You are excusable for the starting and to be commended for the ending. I confess 1 have been uuder the rack myself lest you should yield If you had yielded it would have broken my heart and I should have regretted tempting you. As It Is, I re joice that I did." The De Gulllemettes, at least that branch of tho family consisting of Mile. Ellse de Guillemette and her mother, were benefited some time after this occurretiee by a marriage between Mile. Ellse de Guillemette and the wealthy American diplomat, Hugh Hil dreth. EDIBLE ROSE FRUIT. Horticulturist In Berkeley, Cal., Pro duces Mock Pineapple. Hugo Lllenthal, u Berkeley (Cal.i horticulturist, announces the discov ery of an edible fruit from the cllmli lng rose. He declares that this fruit will In course of time take the place of the loganberry, to which It is allied. Lllenthal succeeded In obtaining the fruit by cross grafting. The fruit, which he says Is nutritious and has a flavor like a pineapple, may be eaten either raw or cooked. Jawala For Paraaoia. Jeweled parasol handles will be the rage this summer In London, but only those of the well to do class will be able to purchase the best variety. A set of six detachable jeweled parasol handles comes In leather cases BO con structed that they may be screwed Into any parasol stick. Those screw handles are fitted with emeralds, ru bles, topazes, diamonds and pearls and are In much d*>uiand by Americans. Ha Knew Better. Mr. Budd—Life is full of contradic tions. Mrs. Budd—And I say it Isn't. THE GRITJFGIM Story of How a Bill Was Collected and a Bride Won. By MRS. A. F. RANSOM. (Copyright. 1910, by American Press Asso ciation.] "Greyson," said the Junior partner, "I'd like to have you do some collect ing today. This bill of Stephens' Is a hard one. He's awful slow. If you collect there's a percentage In It for yon besides your salary." At the Stephens factory Grey son stated his errand to a man in charge of the office below stairs "Ifs against orders to pay «ut money from this deslc," came the reply. "Mr. Etephens settles all accounts. You'll have to see htm." "Where is he?" asked Greyson. So far this tallied with the reports of pre vious collectors. "On the fifth floor. He'll probably see you if you go up. There are the stairs, or you can take the elevator. Itun it for yourself." Greyson remembered the elevator and preferred the 6talrs. In a long "PLEASE TBLIj MR WHERE TO FIND THE FAUCET." room at the top of the fourth flight a man in a suit of brown duck was busy among packing cases, account bbok in hand. He was big and brawny, with a neck like a bull and an iron gray beud set square on a pair of fighting shoul ders. At Greysoua step be shot a side wise glance at him and deliberately continued his marking. Not a word was said until Greyson stood at his side, a packing case between them. "Mr. Stephens?" he asked cheerily. "That's my name." "I represent the Forbes company and"— Stephens straightened and pointed. "There's the stairs, young man. They lead down to the street, and your time Is too valuable to be wasted here. I'll pay thHt bill when I get ready." Greyson Indicated a conspicuous sign hanging on the front wall. "There's some pretty good advice right there, Mr. Stephens," he remarked pleasantly. "Suppose you follow it—'Do It Now.'" Stephens' heavy eyebrows drew to gether at the bridge of his big nose "I told you to get out!" he roared "There's the elevator. Try that if you're tired climbing the stairs. Get out!" "Perfectly willing to, Mr. Stephens In fact, I'm in something of a hurry. Got several other bills to collect this morning and can't waste time on any one of them. Just follow that bit of advice and settle now." The great fist came down with u whack on the top of the packing <-;ise "You insolent little whippersnupper"—- his voice sounded like the roll of a trombone—"l'm busy! Get out of this or I'll put you out!" "Just waiting for my cheek," Grey son acquiesced Imperturbably, "and I'll be happy to oblige you. Come on aud 'I)o It Now.'" Stephens came on. Ills 230 pounds of bone uml muscle, backed up by his six feet throe of height, bore down on Greyson like n freight engine on n handcar. But before he reached liiiu, with lists doubled up like a pair of battering rains, Greyson sprang nim bly upon the case. Another leap land ed htm aquure on the shoulders of Ste phens, legs hugging the sides, his hands clasping the wrists of his ad versary and holding them fast. Ste phens jurnyed, kicked. Jerked, doubled and tossed, but Greyson sat as secure on his perch as a cat on the back of n dog. After a struggle that landed them on the floor and bumped Stephens' nose till It bled Greyson rose, held out a handkerchief toward Stephens and said: "Please tell me where to tliul tho faucet, and I'll got the water rendy for you to wash up. You can't write checks with those bands, and my time Is limited." "Can't, bey?" retorted Stephens, fish lng In his pockets. Thou while one hand held b.s uose lie produced check book and pen from somewhere beneath the duck jacket. In a moment he tore the slip free and passed it to Greyaon. "Take that and clear out," he order ed. "Tell your firm to duplicate the last order and hurry It up." Greyson glanced at tho check before folding It. It was double the amount of the bill. So Stephens had taken to paying cash for his orders. He chuckled. "We'll bare the goods over tomor row," he said. "Many thanks for your kindness, Mr. Stephens, and good morning." On the stairs he took off his coat and shook It; then he tried to mold his derby Into something resembling a hat. The junldr partner looked up in sur prise as a scratched, dirty hand held a dirty check before him. "What In thunder you been doing?" he exclaimed. "Where you been?" "Collecting," returned Greyson "There's Stephens' check, tie wants the last order duplicated. Where's Jim? I want hitn to brush nie." "You need It nil right," grinned the other. "What happened? Get pitched down the elevator shaft?" : -Nope. llad a cushioned sent In tiio front row. Mr. Stephens Is u gentfe mnn." And Greyson started In the di rection of the whisk broom. That evening found him In the com pany of a gray eyed girl. Usually they met In the subway station on the way home from work or they wandered Into the parks with which the city had surrounded Itself. But this evening had been set apart as the one In which her father was to be consulted regard ing the all Important question, and It was with more trepidation than he felt when he faced the warlike Stephens that he tinkled the electric bell of the front door. She answered It In person, and Greyson noted with satisfaction that she, too, was In need of a nerve strengthened "Oh, George!" she cried softly. "Father came home with his face all bruised and blood on his clothes. He must have been In soma terrible acci dent, but when I mentioned It to him he Just glared. Perhaps you better not see him until next week." Greyson held her at arm's length and studied her face. Her name was Stephens. What if— Then the ab surdity of it struck him with full force. John Stephens was reported a millionaire. Ills rating could be found In Bradstreet's. it wasn't likely that his dnughter should be working for a living as typewriter In a lawyer's of flee and be the affianced of a twenty dollar clerk Nevertheless he asked: "What's your father's name and business, Alice?" She shook her head. "Ills name Is John, but I don't know his business. He's iu an office somewhere in the city, but he never talks business with me and has forbidden nie mentioning him to auy one. Almost every one thinks I'm au orphan. A little white after mamma died he told me that he wanted me to know what money was worth und I must earn my clothes. He said 1 must save a quarter of all 1 earned, and I've done It, but he's aw fully queer about some things." Greyson nodded. Her description fitted his John Stephens to a nicety. "Is he good to you?" She laughed. "Hoarlng lions aren't to be compared with him, but It's all roar. 1 just pull the lion's paws around me und snuggle up close." Before Greyson rose the picture of a man iu a duck suit sitting ou a floor writing a check. He made a resolu tion bom of sudden inspiration "Where is he?" he asked. "Let me 6ee him now and have It over." "In the room Just above this. And, George, he wears Just such an emblem as that ou your coat, it's a fraternal society, lsu't it?" Greyson nodded "Glad you told me; it'll all help. Don't worry, little girl. I'll win out." In the hall she pointed upward. "Right above us," she whispered. "He spends every evening there, and some times I'm with him, but tonight I'm afraid." The "Come" which Greyson received in response to his knock was as ami able as the growl of a grizzly. "I thought I got rid of you this morning!" he shouted, springing to his feet. "What do you want now?" Oreyson's spinal column stiffened, and thite was need. He also took care that the firelight shone strong upon the fraternal pin he wore. "It may be of some help," be thought as be answered: "I did not know I was to meet yon, a!r. I came to see Alice Stepheus' father." "What for?" The words were hurled at him. "To ask his consent to our mar riage. She has promised to be my wife." "She has. hey?" shot out to the ac conipanlment of two heel whacks on the floor. "How dared she make a promise like that? Who let you in here?" "She admitted tne to the house. You invited me In tills room. I believe May she marry me?" "Marry you"— Then he stopped "Alice. Alice!" he roared in Ills deep est trombone tones. Slie came running In with a quick ness which told of listening outsk! > the door. Her father looked Into her face: at Greyson, standing straipiu and stiff before him. Then he broke silence with: "Alice, this scoundrel came Into m.v office this morning, refused to leave when I ordered, assaulted me, punched my nose until It bled, sat upon me. compelled me to do something I swore I never would do and now has the uu spenkable gall to ask me to let you marry him. What do you think of It?" The girl's eyes ilanced with merri ment as she stepped behind him and her arilis formed a circle round his neck. "Are you quite snre, father," she asked demurely, "that he was not fol lowing the advice you are always quot ing, 'Find out what the other fellow wants to do to you and then do It firs! to him? 1 " Stephens' voice bellowed through the room in an elephantine laugh. Ills hand went out In fraternal greeting toward the man who had followed IIIH advice. "Shake," he said, "and then sit down. We'll talk things over." The Ingenious Magpie. The magpie is nothing if not ingen ious. lie always barricades his bulky nest with thorn so that to plunder It is by no means au easy mat ter, but when circumstances oblige the "pie" to build Inn low bush or hedge, an absence of lofty trees being a marked feature of some uorthern lo calities, he not only Interlaces his home, but also tho entire bush. In a most formidable manner. Nor does he stop here. To "make assurance dou ble sure" he fashions a means of exit as well as an entrance to the castle, so that If disturbed he can slip out by his back door, as it were—London Graphic. The Woman Question. Little WDlle—Say. paw. what la the "woman (juesfldn?" Pa—Jt's numer ous, my son. For example: What shall I wear? How does my hair look In the back? Is my hat on straight? etc —Exchanee. Stationary Youth. Rich Father—M.v daughter (s too young to get married. She Is onlj eighteen. Impecunious Lover—l know, sir, but 1 have waited patiently for rears, and she doesn't seem to get any older. | Little Stories ? Y "v* I'* g i «' "=* of ? r • • Ul • • {t si Big People. | irCrAlrCT*»/ ",t -■ <•" ' /OHM D. ROCKEFELLER TODAY. enr drivers—Timothy—back in the busi ness' early days. We liked to keep our teams looking nice, and so we In stituted an annual prize for neatness. "Timothy seemed certain of this prize, and when midyear inspection came sure enough his splendid work left nothing to be desired. "But as the Inspector took one last look around Just as he had made up his mind to give the prise to Timothy he frowned, for his eye had fallen upon a cobweb In a corner of the gray mare's stall. "Timothy saw the Inspector's face change nnd saw the cause of the change, and he spoke up briskly: "'I keep that there web there, boss," he said, 'to catch tiles. The way they torment the mare Is sumpln' tierce.'" A new movement that Is attracting considerable attention In this country HENHt w! BOSK. has recently beeu Introduced by Henry W. Itose, a newspaper wan from Ox ford. England. It is an educational effort designed to benefit mankind by giving instruction In certain lines which have hitherto been but little touched upon. Mr. Rose's hobby is the training of boys, ahfi the undercurrent of the whole Idea Is to teach the rising generation trie value and need of phys ical purity. The moveir -it is known as the B ty io w plan. -ue first syllable lu the Dames of o American poets Bryant and Lowe have been taken for a name. SI . Rose alms to establish branches a. over the country. Uaelasa. Wlfey (red hot)— Don't try any era •lon with me, fair! Where have you beeb? Hub (lnandlbly)—M'dear, lyha's abuse? If I ansh'cr your q'ues'un you will ques'un my ansh'er.—Boston Tran script. A Mean Suggestion. Pierrot—The only way for n man to understand women Is to get married, rierette —And study the ways of his wife, eh? Pierrot—No. Listen to what she tells him about the other women. 91 THE OTHER SIDE OFTHE WALL The Secret That Disclosed Itself to Miss Hargraves. By VIRGINIA LEILA WENTZ. ICopyrlght, 1910. by American Press Asso ciation. J When Miss Hargraves had driven home in her brougham from the art exhibit she was utterly weary. She aaked her nurse. Miss Brown, to tele phone for Dr. Imbrie. "Pulse quite regular, temperature normal." remarked r>r. Imbrie dryly. It was an hour later, and he had made the required examination. "My dear lady," he added briskly, pulling on his left hand glove, "as I told you at the time of my last visit, you no longer require my professional services. Miss Brown Is remaining more as compan ion than as nurse. What you need"— "Yes, yes," interposed Miss Har graves with an eager upward Inflec tion; "what I need"— —'is to get out of yourself." "Ah, that's precisely what I tried to do directly niter luncheon when I THK UIltL STOOD DEFOKB AN EASEL drove down to the art exhibit." Here she mentioned some well known gal leries. "Do you know they have a really wonderful collection there and unusually well bung?" "Half as many pictures would have hung easier, and a good score of those already hung could be spared," re turned linbrle brusquely. "So you have seen the collection V In her Interest Miss Hargraves had risen on one elbow, allowing the point lace to fall away prettily from her forearm. Here was a pretext to spin out the Interview. Ob, luckj "What did you think of 'Driving the Cows to Pasture" by Mauve? They say It has a money value of $3,000. Of course It's finely executed, but"— "A picture of cows always sells well," vouchsafed Imbrle. "even when not done by an artist of repute. The majority of people take to cows and sheep." "Well," she laughed frankly, "may be you like Henner better. He has three portraits"— "Too much blue in his skin," cut In Imbrle decisively. Ills keen. Inven torying glance lilt upon a small paint ing hung over the cabinet. "That fly Ing figure there, with the misty dra [>ery—a I'urvls de Chavannes, Isn't It?" nodding with appreciation toward the canvas. "Yes; Ills best period," nssented tbe lady, marveling ut luilirie's exhibition of sure artistie knowledge. "1 never knew before that you were Interested in art. 1 ' "No?" lie smiled, one of bis rare. Illuminating smiles, which had nil the surprise of n spring day In it. The ticking of the watch In his pocket was distinctly audible. lie seemed hover ing on the edge of a confidence, then: "I had once hoped to do something In the world of art myself, but the need of Immediate financial returns made It impossible." There was nctually « note of senti ment In Imbrie's deep voice. Why. she had eupjxised htm to be as devoid of sentiment and emotion as the gran lte bowlders of his native state. _"ln_the_ last three fears." he coti : tlnued. "how many famous pictures have been exhibited in those same gal leries we were speaking of? On only the other side of the wall, where they have hung, perhaps some little woman has been wielding brush and pencil, working, watching, waiting till she, too, shall come to her own. A little money—comparatively very little; a few friends—two, or even one—aud the way would have been easier, shorter and surer." To Miss Hargraves' chagrin the con fidential tone vanished almost as quick ly as It came. Dr. Imbrle extended his hand, "Good afternoon. Miss Har graves, and remember that you shall try to get out of yourself and your ac customed environments Is tny only prescription." After her physician had gone Miss Hargraves ordered her brougham again and dressed for a later after noon drive. "N'o, tny dear," she said In answer to a slight remonstrance from Miss Brown; "he said I needed plenty of oxygen." Presently she bade the coachman drlre to hor florist's. Selecting dofeni of exquisite yellow roses—all he had in his place—she asked for satin rltoon to match the petals. This she tied, with nice deliberation, In a knot pe culiarly of her own devising. Hand ing the florist her card, she gave him Dr. imbrie's address. • •••••• The next day Miss Hargraves stop ped In the galleries again to have a last look at her favorite among the collection, a translucent, delicate land scape of Corot's. Slowly sho made her way about the three small rooms, mov ing with the throng, which talked loud anil t'.i.- ; < ; »n "On the other sU> of the wall—on the other s;