Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1916 — THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK

BjrJvj::, . GEORGE BARR M’CUTCHEON Author ot “Graustark,” “Beverly of Graustark," Etc.

SYNOPSIS Mr. Blithers, multimillionaire, discusses with his wife the possibilities of muTflns eff his daughter, Maud Applegate, to the Prince of Graustark, who Is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Truxton King In America In anticipation of getting some one to take up the loan Russia holds. A Mr. Scovllle Is attentive to Maud. Prince Robin Is accompanied by Count Quinnox, minister of war; Lieutenant Dank and Hobbs, the valet. The prince had balked at a matrimonial alliance with the Princess of Dawsbergen, both of them wishing to choose for themselvea Mr. Blithers visits the Kings uninvited. CHAPTER 111. Protecting t,he Blood. THE game was promptly inters ! rupted. It would not be far wrong to say that Mrs. King’s pretty mouth was open not entirely as an aid to breathing. She couldn’t believe her eyes as she slowly abandoned her court and came for- j ward to meet their advancing visitor. “Take my racket, dear,” she said to one of the Feltons. It happened to be Fannie, and the poor child almost fainted with joy. The prince remained in the far court. Idly twirling his racket. “Afternoon, King,” said Mr. Cithers, doffing his panama—to fan a heated brow. “Been watching the game from the road for a spell. Out for a stroll. Couldn't resist running in for a minute. You play a beautiful game, Mrs. King. How do you do? hot work, though, isn’t it?” He was shaking hands with King and smiling genially upon the trim, panting figure of the prince's adversary. “Good afternoon, Mr. Blithers,” said King, still staring. “You—you know my wife?” Mr. Blithers ignored what might have been regarded as an introduction and blandly announced that tennis wasn't a game Tor Tat people, patting his somewhat aggressive extension in mock dolefplness as he spoke. “You should see my daughter’s play,” he went on. ‘‘Got a medal at Lakewood last spring. I’ll fix up a match soon, Mrs. King, between you and Maud. Ought to be worth going miles to see, eb, King?” “Oh, I am afraid, Mr. Blithers, that I am not in your daughter’s class,” said Loraine King, much too Innocently. “We’ve got a pretty fair tennis court up at Blitherwood,” said Mr. Blithers calmly. “I have a professional instructor up every week to play with Maud. She can trim most of the amateurs, so” — “I beg your pardon, Mr. Blithers,” mumbled King. “Permit me to introduce Count Quinnox and Lieutenant Dank.” Both foreigners had arisen and were standing very erect and soldierly a few yards away. “You know ..Jjjiiss Felton, of course.” “Delighted to meet you. count,” said Mr Blithers, advancing with outstretched hand. lie shook the hand of the lieutenant with a shade less energy. He affected a most degage manner. squinting carelessly at the prince “That young chap plays a nice game. Who is he?” The two Graustarkiaus stiffened perceptibly and waited for King to make the revelation to his visitor. “That’s Prince Robin of”— he began, but Mr. Blithers cut him short with a genial wave of the hand. “Of course,” he exclaimed, as if annoyed by his own stupidity. “I did hear that you were entertaining a prince. Slipped my mind, however. Well, « T ell. we’re coming up in the world, eh. having a real nabob among us.” “Won’t you sit down, Mr. Blithers?” said Mrs. King. “Or would you prefer a more comfortable chair on the porch? We”“No, thanks, I’ll stay here if you don’t mind.” said he hastily and dragged up the camp chair that Lieutenant Dank had been occupying. % “Fetch another chair, Lucas,” said King to the servant “And another gl&ss of lemonade for Miss Felton.” “Felton?” queried Mr. Blithers, sitting down very carefully on the rather fragile chair and hitching up his white flannel trousers at the knees to reveal a pair of purple socks, somewhat elementary in tone. “We know your daughter, Mr. Blithers,” said little Miss Nellie eagerly. “I was just trying to remember”— “We live across the road—over there In the little \yhitq house with the Ivy"— “—where I’d heard the name,” proceeded Mr. Blithers, still looking at the prince. “By Jove, I should think ifay daughter and the prince would make a rattling good match. I mean,” he added, with a boisterous laugh, “a good match at tennis. We’ll have to get ’em together some day, eh, up at Blitherwood. How long is the prince to be with you, Mrs. King?”

"It’s rather uncertain, Mr. Blithers," said she and no more. Mr. Blithers fanned himself in patience for a moment or two. Then he looked at his watch. “Getting along toward dinner time up our way,” he ventured. Everybody seemed rather intent on the game, which was extremely one sided. “Good work!” shouted King as Fannie Felton managed to return an easy service. Lieutenant Dank applauded viggroosly. “Splendid!” he cried out. “Capitally placed!” “They speak remarkably good English, don’t they?” said Mr. Blithers in an audible aside to Mrs. King. She smiled. “Officers in the Graustark army are required to speak English, French and German, Mr. Blithers." “It’s a good idea,” said he. ‘‘Maud speaks French and Italian like a native. She was educated in Paris and Rome, you know. Fact is, she’s lived abroad a great deal.” “Is she at home now, Mr. Blithers?” “Depends on what you’d call home, Mrs. King. We’ve got so many I don’t know just which is the real one. If you mean Blitherwood, yes, she’s there. Course there’s our town house in Madison avenue, the place at Newport, one at Nice and one at Pasadena, Cal., you know, and a little shack in London. By the way, my wife says you live quite near our place in New York.” “We live in Madison avenue, but it’s a rather long street, Mr. Blithers. Just where is your house?” she inquired rather spitefully. He looked astonished. “You surely must know where the Blithers house is at”— “Game!" shrieked Fannie Felton, tossing her racket in the air, a victor. “They're through.” said Mr. Blithers

iii a tone o? relic?. He shifted Isis legs and put his hands on his knees, suggesting a readiness to arise on an instant’s notice. “Shall we try another set?” called out the prince. “Make it doubles,” put in I ieutenant Dank, and turned to Nellie. “Shall we take them on?” And doubles it was, much to the disgust of Mr. Blithers, ne sat through the nine games, manifesting an interest he was far from feeling. To his utter amazement at the conclusion of the game the four players made a dash for the house without even so much as a glance in his direction. It was the prince who shouted something that sounded like “now for a shower!” as he raced up the terrace, followed by the other participants. ilr. Blithers said something violent under his breath, but resolutely re tained his seat. It was King who glanced shyly at his watch this time and subsequently shot a questioning look at his wife. She was frowning in considerable perplexity and biting her firm, red lips. Count Quinnox coolly arose and excused himself with the remark that he was off to dress for dinner. lie also looked at his watch, which certainly was an act that one would hardly have expected of a diplomat. - “Veil, well,” said Mr. Blithers profoundly. Then he looked at his own watch—and settled back in his chair, a somewhat dogged compression about bis jaws. He was not the man to be thwarted. “You certainly have a cozy lit tie place here. King,” he remarked after a moment or two. , “Wo like it,” said King, twiddling his fingers behind his back. “Humble, but homelike.” “Mrs. Blithers has been planning to come over for some time, Mrs. King. I told her she oughtn’t to put it off—be neighborly, don’t you know. That’s me. I’m for being neighborly with my neighbors. But women, they—well, you know bow it is, Mrs. King. Always something turning up to keep ’em from doing the things they want to do most. And Mrs. Blithers has so many sociable obli — I beg pardon?” “I was just wondering If you would stay and have dinner with us, Mr. Blithers,” said she, utterly helpless. She couldn’t look her husband in the eye—and it was quite fortunate that she was unable to do so, for It would have resulted in a laughing duet that could never have been explained.

“Why,” said Mr. Blithers, arising and looking at his watch again, “bless my soul, it is past dinner time, isn’t it? I had no idea it was so late. ’Pon my soul, it’s good of you, Mrs. King! You see, we have dinner at 7 up at Blitherwood, and—l declare, it’s half past now! I don’t see where the time has gone. Thanks! I will stay if you really mean to be kind to a poor old beggar. Don’t do anything extra on my account, though—just your regular dinner, you know. No frills, if you please.” He looked himself over in some uncertainty “Will this rag of mine do?" “Pray do not think 1 of it!” she cried. “The men change, of course, after they’ve been playing tenuis, but we—we —well, you see, you haven't been playing.” she concluded quite breathlessly. At that instant the sprightly Feltons dashed pellmell down the steps and across the lawn homeward, shrieking something unintelligible to Mrs. King as they passed. “They are dears,” said Mrs. King. “The —er—prince attracted by either one of ’em?” he queried. “He barely knows them,'Air. Blithers.” “I see. Shouldn't think they’d appeal to him. Rather light, I should say—l mean up here,” and he tapped his forehead so that she wouldn't think that he referred to pounds and ounces. “I don’t believe Maud knows 'em, as the little one said. Maud is rather”— “It Is possible they have mistaken some one else for your daughter," said she very gently. “Impossible!” said be, with force. “They are coming back here for dinner,” she said, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I shall put you between them, Mr. Blithers. You will find that they are very bright, attractive girls.” “We’ll see,” said he succinctly. King caught them up at the top of the steps. He seemed to be slightly out of breath. “Make yourself at home, Mr. Blithers. I must get into something besides these duds I’m wearing,” he said. “Would you like to—er—wash up while we’re”— “No, thanks,” interposed Mr. Blithers. “I’m as clean as a whistle. Don’t mind me, please. Run along and dress, both of you. I’ll sit out here and—-count the minutes,” the last with a very elaborate bow to Mrs. King. “Dinner's at half past 8,” said she and disappeared. Mr. Blithers recalled his last glance at his watch and calculated that he would have at least fifty minutes to count, provided dinner was served promptly on the dot. So he settled himself in the big porch chair and scowled inore deeply than before. Later on he met the prince. Very warmly he shook the tall young man’s hand—he even gave it a prophetic second squeeze—and said: “I am happy to welcome you to the Catskills, prince.” “Thank you,” said Prince Robin. “A most extraordinary person,” said Count Quinnox to King after Mr. Blithers had taken his departure, r close upon the heels of the Feltons, who were being escorted home by the prince and Dank. The venerable Graustarkian’s heroic face was a study. He had just concluded a confidential hour in a remote corner of the library with the millionaire while the younger people were engaged in a noisy though temperate encounter with the roulette wheel at the opposite end of the room. “I’ve never met any one like him, Mr. King.” He mopped his brow and still looked a trifle dazed. King laughed. “There isn’t any one like him, count He Is the one and only Blithers.” “He is very rich?” “Millions and millions,” said Mrs. King. “Didn’t he tell you how many?” “I am not quite sure. This daughter of his—is she attractive?” . “Rather. Why?’ “He informed me that her dot would be twenty millions if she married the right man. Moreover, she is his only heir. Ton my soul, Mrs. King, he quite took my breath away when he announced that he knew all about our predicament in relation to the Russian loan. It really sounded quite—you might say significant Does—does he imagine that—good heaven, it is almost stupefying!" “Sounds ominous to me,” said King dryly. “Is Bobby for sale?” The count favored him with a look of horror. “My dear Mr. King!” Then as comprehension came, he smiled. “I see. No, he isn’t for sale. He is a prince, not a pawn. Mr. Blithers may be willing to buy, but”— lie proudly shook his bead. “He was feeling you out. however," said King, ruminating. “Planting the seed, so to speak.” The count seemed to be turning something over in his mind “Your amazing Mr. Blithers further confided to me tbatbe might be willing to lake care of the Russian obligation for ua if no one else turns up in time. Aa a matter of fact, without waiting for my reply, he said that he would have his lawyers look into the matter of security at once. Amazing, amazing!" “Of course you told him it was not to be considered," said King sharply. “I endeavored to do so. but I fear be did not grasp what I was saying. Moreover, I tried to tell him that it was a matter 1 was not at liberty to discuss. He didn’t bear that, either.” “He is not in the habit of hearing any one but himself, I fear.” said King. “I am afraid poor Robin Is in Jeopardy,” said his wife ruefully. “The ■bogy man Is after him.” (To be continued.)

“How Long is the prince to be with you, Mrs. King?"