AMBASSADORS ON THEIR TRAIL
The entire matter was laid before the Prefect of Police shortly after
the Battleship Boys had been removed to another cell in the
Conciergerie. He listened gravely to all the facts, nodding his approval
of the work of his assistants.
At the direction of the police head a message flashed over the wire half
an hour later, as follows:
"Farnham,
"Commanding U. S. S. 'Long Island':
"Two men giving the names of Davis and Hickey, accused of having
held up and robbed two women in this city to-night, claim to be
sailors on your ship. Do you know them? Not only this, but they
assaulted the officers who sought to arrest them. The prisoners are
believed to be Apaches. The courtesy of a reply is solicited.
"Lepine,
"Prefect of Police."
Day had barely dawned, when another message was flashed over the wires.
This one, however, came from Boulogne and was addressed to the American
Consul to France, instead of to the prefect of police. It read as
follows:
"Hamlin, Consul,
"Paris:
"Those crazy French police say they have two men, Davis and Hickey
from my ship, locked up accused of highway robbery. Preposterous!
They are two of my best men. Get the men out at once, please. No
finer types than these two to be found in the enlisted force.
Kindly acknowledge at once.
"Farnham,
"Commanding U. S. S. 'Long Island.'"
Consul Hamlin was a man of action as well as a diplomat. Urgent though
the captain's message was, however, international diplomacy would not
permit the consul to go direct to the office of the Prefect of Police.
There were certain set forms that must first be observed. But the consul
lost no time. The wheels of the great government machine were set in
motion on the instant. The first move was to communicate with the French
foreign office.
"The American consul desires an immediate audience with the premier, if
possible," was the message that the former's secretary telephoned to the
foreign office.
This request being granted, Consul Hamlin entered his carriage and was
driven to the foreign office, where an audience with the premier was
accorded him at once. This meeting, though cordial, was extremely
formal.
"Your excellency," began the consul, "two of my countrymen are, I am
informed, held by the police department, charged with having held up and
robbed two women last evening. Has the matter been brought to your
attention, may I ask?"
"It has not."
"Then I will give you such information as I possess in regard to the
matter," said Mr. Hamlin.
The consul stated his case, adding that if the men under arrest were the
men he believed them to be, a very serious mistake had been made.
The premier promptly put himself in communication with the Ministry of
Justice, and the latter in turn with the Prefect of Police. All the
facts in the possession of the police on this particular case were
returned through the same channel.
"I have the honor to inform you," said the premier, "that I have ordered
the release of the men Davis and Hickey. They will be turned over to
you, as you request, by the prefect in person."
"I thank you--my profoundest thanks----"
"No; it is for me to offer you an apology," interrupted the premier
quickly. Then, with many expressions of good will on both sides, the
consul took his leave. Half an hour later Mr. Hamlin was received by the
Prefect of Police with great ceremony.
"You are here," began the police official, "in behalf of the two young
men whom we have in our charge----"
"Accused of the attempted robbery of two women last evening. I am,
monsieur."
"And I am most happy to say that later investigations have made it easy
for me to grant your request that they be liberated. I am now well
satisfied that they are not guilty of the attempted robbery."
"Naturally not."
"But of the assault on my officers there can be no doubt. They----"
"That was surely a mistake on their part, Monsieur le Prefect."
"Yes, yes; no doubt----"
"I am too glad to hear you say that, Monsieur le Prefect. These young
men, I am informed by the commanding officer of their ship, are above
reproach. A grave mistake has been made."
The prefect bowed humbly.
"A thousand pardons."
"Will you be good enough to summon the young men here?"
"Certainly."
A few moments later the Battleship Boys were standing in the presence of
Mr. Hamlin and the Prefect of Police.
"Well, lads, your appearance is certainly against you. Indeed, you look
as if you might be all they have accused you of being," exclaimed Mr.
Hamlin with a laugh.
The faces of the Battleship Boys brightened. It was one of their own
countrymen who was speaking.
"What is your name?" he asked, addressing Dan.
"I am Daniel Davis, sir. This is Samuel Hickey. I am a gunner's mate on
board the 'Long Island,' he being a coxswain on the same ship."
Mr. Hamlin nodded affirmatively.
"How did you happen to get into the difficulty?"
Dan related in a straightforward way all that had occurred on the
previous night, not omitting their brief battle with the police, whom he
said they had taken for the robbers attacking them again.
Mr. Hamlin and the prefect listened attentively until the narrative came
to a close.
"The way of the peacemaker is hard indeed," smiled Mr. Hamlin.
"But you see, sir, we were not exactly peacemakers," announced Davis.
"I am forced to agree to that. Monsieur le Prefect, I presume there is
no objection to these young men accompanying me from this place at once,
is there?"
"They may accompany you, certainly. That is in accordance with the
request of the premier."
"I thank you, Monsieur le Prefect. I hold myself wholly responsible for
these young men."
"Monsieurs, a thousand pardons," said the prefect, turning to the
Battleship Boys with a profound bow. "You are at liberty to go where and
when you please."
"Come, lads; I take it you have no desire to remain here longer?"
"I should say not," spoke up the red-headed Sam.
Dan saluted the prefect, but Sam hardly more than glared at the police
head as the boys left the office in company with the ambassador.
"Well, lads, what do you propose to do now?" questioned Mr. Hamlin, when
they had reached the street.
"I think we shall finish our sight-seeing, sir," replied Dan.
"Very good, but you need clothes, both of you. Have you a change of
clothing with you?"
"We have only these uniforms, sir."
"Come with me, and I will see that you are fitted out."
"Thank you very much, sir. We have money; but, if you will be good
enough to show us where we can purchase clothes, we shall be under a
further great obligation to you," answered Dan.
Mr. Hamlin accompanied them to a store, where the boys were soon
supplied with shore clothes, hats and all. They presented a far
different appearance now. It was the first time they had worn citizens'
clothes since they had entered the Navy, but they did not enjoy the
change as much as they had expected. They would have preferred to be in
their uniforms.
"Now, my lads, keep out of trouble. I do not believe you need advice
from me. You seem well able to take care of yourselves. Yet, should you
have further difficulty, or if you wish to see me, come or send word to
me at once. Here is my card."
"We thank you very much, sir. Will--will you tell Captain Farnham that
we are all right?"
"Certainly. I shall wire him at once. By the way, where are you boys
living?"
"We have a room at 33 Place de la Concorde, sir. We have not slept
there," added Dan, with slightly heightened color; "but we hope to do so
to-night."
Bidding Mr. Hamlin good-bye, the Battleship Boys started away for their
lodgings. At about that time another gentleman called at the office of
the prefect. The card that he send in read, "Guillermo Martinez,
Ambassador."
He was the Spanish ambassador to France.
Señor Martinez's greeting was most cordial, but the ambassador lost no
time in stating the object of his visit.
"You have two young men here, I believe, Monsieur--young men who are
said to have robbed or attempted to rob two women in the Bois de
Boulogne last evening?"
"Two young men were arrested," he replied.
"They were sailors?"
"I believe they are."
"English sailors?"
"No; American."
"Ah! It is well. I have come here, with the permission of the premier,
to request that those young men be liberated at once."
"I have but now received a message from the Ministry of Justice,
requesting that I receive you. I am honored, señor. May I inquire your
interest in this matter?" questioned the prefect, shrewdly suspecting
the truth.
"Because I have reason to believe that a serious error has been
committed."
"Indeed, señor! On whose part, may I ask?"
"I should say that it was on the part of your department, Monsieur
Prefect--that a great injustice has been done to two very brave young
men, who risked their lives to serve two women in dire distress."
The prefect smiled.
"If these men whom you have in custody are American or English sailors,
I beg that you may quickly convince yourself of their innocence and
liberate them. I ask this in my official capacity."
"The foreign governments appear to be taking a deep interest in the case
of these young men, señor."
"Why say you that, Monsieur le Prefect?"
"Because you are the second official who has been here this morning
demanding that they be set free," answered the police officer,
smilingly. "It is most surprising."
"Indeed."
"They may not be, and probably are not, guilty of the robbery charge,
but at least the men assaulted my officers."
"I am sure that feature of the case could be easily explained."
"You would have difficulty in convincing the officers who were assaulted
of that," laughed the chief.
"Will you release the men?"
"It will give me great pleasure to serve you, señor, in any manner in my
power. Do you know the women who had such a narrow escape last evening,
may I ask, señor?"
"Certainly."
"Would it be proper for me to ask their names!"
"They are my wife and daughter," announced the ambassador. "Both ladies
were positive of the facts as I have stated them----"
"That the men were sailors?"
"Yes. And when they read this morning that two sailors had been
arrested, accused of the attempted robbery, the ladies were greatly
disturbed. They insisted that justice be done, that I spare no efforts
to obtain the release of the brave young sailors."
"Disturb yourself no more, Señor Ambassador."
"You mean?"
"That the men have been discharged. They are free."