Show I f- f THE PRINCE 0 OF F GRAUSTARK ARK jJ I II i I By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON II l NEW YORK xoi DODD MEAD AND OO COMPANY 1914 1911 f The last 1851 of tho the special coaches was barely moving on its jug lr way to the tiLe I main line carrying the ta tag end o of tho the revelers when ho set forth in his hs car carI I for a l midday id ny visit to Red Roof hoof Al AI- the lingo hugo camp of Slays Slavs and Ital Ital- i ans was WIS beginning to Jerk up tho the bori bor- bor boor i 1 Crowed rowed rails au and ties tho the work vork trains i rumbling and snorting in the he I above 0 tottering on tho the uncertain roa roadbed bed Ho lIe ave a L few conci concise o an and imperative ori or- or 1 i to obsequious superintendents and andi i who subsequently repeated with even cen greater freedom to the i foreigners and left loft the j l cene b scene of confusion without so much as I ya I a glance lanco behind Wagons carts motor motor- I I trucks and all aU manner of wheeled were wera scuttling about j I Las S he shot down tho long ong winding aye avo- 1 me ue toward the lodge gates ates te but ho paid 1 no 10 10 0 attention to them They Thoy were removing re re- moving loving ovin the tho remnants of a glory ory that nad passed at 5 S io in tho the morning Ho lIe lIeI j iwas as not interested in the well eU plucked I IJ It was a L nu nuisance getting ottin rid ridi i Mi of f it that was is all nIl and ho wanted it to 11 j be completely out of sight when ho he re re- re I od from Red Roof Hoof If a vestige of oft t I. I the ruins rides remained some ono one would f hear ear from him hiral That was understood l lAnd when Maud camo came home on tho the 5 H j he would not find had him asleep not asleep not by a ai i fAnd on shot I way wal to R Red d Roof ho he espied a n alman I man h man l walking briskly along alou tho the road I of him bim To o ho bo DO perfectly at he was waa walking in iu tho the middle of I tho tho road and his back was toward the swift moving mo almost noiseless Packard tr H Blow Blow the tho horn born for tor tho the dam 1 fool saId aid Mr Blithers to tho chauffeur A later tho pedestrian leaped nim nim- aim aim- li lily ly aside and the tho car shot past th the dying dy- dy ing wail of the tho siren dwindling 1 away Ini in i tho whirr of tho the wheels Look where shouted Mr r. r Blithers rom the as if the walker had near to running him down instead of tho the other way ay way around Whoa I StoP er Jacksonl ho he called to the liO Ho had recognized tho pede- pede v. v c The car ear came to a stop wIth grinding r br and at the same time timo tho the pedestrian fr trian halted baIted a a. hundred yards away 5 Back up comman commanded od Mr Blithers ui some baste haste for tho the prince seemed to jibe ibe ib on the point of deserting the hi high high- h. h way ii-way for the tho wood that lined it Morn ng prince he be shouted waving in his hat vigorously Want a lift 1 r K The car shot backward with mth almost the same Mme speed that it had gone one forward forward for for- iward ward and tho the prince exercised pru pru- when he stepped quickly up the bank at the roadside he det de- de t I 5 Were Were you addressing me mo t curtly as a. tho car came to a stop 6 Yes your bi highness Got in Im I'm goth goin oin your way said raid id Mr Blithers 4 tl t I HI mean a moment ago wh when n you von Shouted W Look where you ou are aro goings going aid id Robin nn au nu angry leam in his eye eve Mr Blithers looked positively dum- dum um- um Good heavens no nol he heI I founded j ried I was speaking to 10 tho the cur Jacksons Jackson's back seemed to 1 stiffen a little ittle Ive O told him a a. thousand thou thou- sand nd times to bo be careful about running ELiJ pip 11 on Oil people like liko that Now ow this is the thelast I IJ last time Ill I'll I warn aru you ou Jackson The next time timo you go Understand Just because you yon bapp happen n to be bo driving for forme forI forme I me me e doesn't signify that you can run roD 1 lover over ocr people who who who- J I iii j Its all aU right Mr Blithers inter Robin with hi his fine ami smile 0 No I tl rm done Ill I'll walk if you OU dont don't mind l LOut ut for fr a a. bit of or exercise you know 1 hank you ou just the flame pame same I 4 Where are aro you yoa bound fort asked I fr Blithers I fl I dou dont don't t know I ramble where herc my leads toe tIle q fancy u I t guess S Ill I'll get et out and stroll stroH along th you von God knows I need more exer- exer Jlee than I get et Is s it agreeable He lIe Was on the tho ground by this time With With- iut ut waiting fo for an aD nn answer wor he directed il to ru run rua o on to Red Bed Roof Hoof and for fer him tait itt I shall be charmed said i Robin Kobin a aJ J Jn iz the tail of his bis eye eyo An n Aright or ton mile roUe jaunt will do you a world of good Im I'm sure rore Shall ShaU we explore ex ex- k lore this thi little little road fOld up the mountain and nd then drop down to Bed lied Roof 1 I Mont believe o it can be more mere than five vo i lor Jor six miles I Ila la i Capital pital wid uld Mr r. r Blithers Blithe s with He e happened to know that that t t was Wa a 11 short cut to Red Roof and j ess than a L toils mile as the crow flies True Tuo I herB hera wa was something of gf an in ascent ahead ahead Ih if of them theIn but there ther was also alro a a. corre- corre descent at the other end en Be Be- he be was confident he hp could cowd keep rap p with the lon long legged youngster by bythe I the paradoxical l Prace process of holding I back The prince having suggested U the oute couldn't ver very well be arbitrary n trave in it Mr ih Blithers regarded I I 1 he e suggestion as asan an invitation I A They struck off into tho nar OW wood t nd road roid not precisely side b by side abut somewhat after tho the fashion of a J. J rider and his groom oom or more moro Ii f speaking as a knight and hI his hia vassal asaI Robin started off eo so brickI brick I l that Mr Blithers fell behind a few I aces and had to exert himself conI con con- I to keep from losin losing moro more wound as they took the first stoop steep rise I rhe road was full fuU of ruts and cross eroES ruts I littered with boulders that had am am- lcd down the mountain side ride in 10 the I p moving To save sae his bis life Mr rr I Slithers couldn't tt keep Heap to a straight ht I Bourse ourse He went from rom rut to rut and 1 rr ln rock to rock with the fidelity delity of a af f atom seldom putting hs I yoot ot whore where he lie meant to put it arid and It i never e er by any chance achieving achie a n. steady I J tude Ho He would take OD one Jon long pur pur- f step and then a a. a couple of short I f feelers pro progress very cry much as a aI I I au tramps over a ne newly ly plowed field if At the top of tho rise sise Robin consid consid- t slackened his pace and the hubby en drew aon alongside ilta j out of breath but as cheerful I i t is L' L a i cricket I II Goin Going too fast fut for jou you Mr r. r r rs By Bv the tho way pt prince nce he lie 10 went an n n. n cunnin cunningly Jy f seizing the young youn mans man's tann irm rm an putting a che check k on sm hi his i for the tho time bf beine in at le least t. t 1 I vant tp explain m mv mT t 1 i absence last night nig You Yot must musti i j avo o thought it very strange Natu III any ally it s unavoidable le Tho rhe poor girl i is really 1 quito quite heartbroken I be beg portion pardon lie He stopp stopped stepped J into a rut and came perilously near to going on his lIis noso nose Beastly road Thanks Good thiD thing I 1 took bold of you ou Yes as aI I was waa saying avin it was really a most nato nito thing missed the tho train dont don't von you see Went down for the tho day just day just like a girl irl you you know and and missed the train All Ah Ab I i see co She Sho missed cl it twice Eb Oh Ha 1 ha lIn Vcr Verv good She Sho mi might ht just as well have hao missed it ita a dozen times C ns as once eh oh eh Well Vell V she could have arranged ed for a special to hrin bring her up but she's sho's 8 got ft a confounded confounded con con- founded streak of oi thriftiness in her Couldn't think of spending tho the money money- Silly i idea ea of of of-I I be beg your pardon did didI I hurt burt you 7 Im I'm pretty heavy you know no Ji light ht weight when I come comedown comedown comedown down on ou a n fellows fellow's too like that What say 53 to sitting down on this tins log Jog for a awhile awhile while Give your our foot a chance chanco to rest resta a n bit Deucedly awkward tH of me Ought to look Jook out where Im I'm stopping stepping ch eh It really doesn't matter Mr r. r Cl said enid tobin Robin hastily Well We'll keep ri right ht on if its it's all aU tho the same to you Im I'm duo at homo in in-in in in half an hour Vo 0 lunch very punctually u I 1 was particularly anxious for tor you ou and Maud to meet meat under tinder th the conditions that obtained obtain d last sst nj night went ent on ou Mr Blithers with a n regretful look at thelo the tho lo log they were passing Nothing l could have haye been more ripping more er ripping I UI hear from every ery ono one that your our daughter is most nest attractive said saidi Robin Sorry not to have havo met her Mr Blithers Oh Oh meet her ber all aU you'll right I prince She's Sho's coming omin home today I i I believe Mrs Blithers is expecting tin you to dinner ht She She She- Im Im I'm sure there must bo be somo some mis mis- I take be began an Robin but was Wl cut short I I was on my way t to Red Roof mis-I mis to ask you and Count to give o U this evening in connection with that little lit tle tIe affair we arc arran arranging in It tt is most imperative c that it should be tonight as my attorney is comin coming up for the tho con con- ference I HI fear that Mrs Kin King has planned panned something something- Mr r. r Blithers waved his hi hand hancl depro- depro catin ly I lit am sure euro Mrs Kin King will iU let you off when she knows bow how important tant it is As a matter of fact it has hasto hasto hasto I to be tonight or not at Lt all aU There was a note in his voice that Robin did not like It savored of arro arro- gance ganc eI e. e I I saY daresay C Count can a attend attend at at- t- t tend to all tho the details Mr Blithers I have the tho power of veto of oI course but I Ishall Ishall shall bo be guided by the counsel of m my roy ministers You need have no DO hesitancy in dealing with with with- not tho point prince I am nut ama nuta a a. business man man man-as as perhaps you yon knoT know I I make mako it a point never to deal dal with any one oue except the head bead of a concern if you'll 11 of it YOU you pardon my I way 3 putting It isn't rJ right ht to speak of t as nl asa asa a J. J concern but you'll understand of course Figure of speech 1 I I I can only onty assure you sir that Graustark is in a po position to o indemnify YOU you against any possible chance of loss lose You ou will bo be amply secured I 1 take take- it II that you JOU are not coming to Our ur assistance assist assist- anco ance through any desire desiro to bo be philanthropic philan but as 38 a L business proposition pure puro and simple At l least st st. that is v hn we regard the matter matte r. r Am I not nol right 7 1 Perfectly said Mr Blithers I HI haven't pot rot to throw away aware Still sun I dont don't see that that has bas anything to do with my mp request that you yon be bo pr present pres s. s ent eat at the conference To be perfectly frank with you I 1 dont don't like HIe in in the the- dark You have the power of veto as you ray eay Well eU if I Iam Iam Int am nt to lend end a R many mil miI millions lions of at hard bard earned dollars I certainly dont don't relish tho idea that you may take it into your our head to upset the tho whole holo transaction merely because you von have ha not hul ili thA matter n i to tn you von bv by mo nO instead of by your cabinet competent compo compe tent as as' as its members may maY be First hand information on an any subject is my notion of simplicity Ta be continued tomorrow |