Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1916 — THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK

By GEORGE BARR M’CUTCHEON

Author of “Graustark,** “Beverly of Graustark,” Etc. Copyright, 1914, by Dodd, Mead and Company

SYNOPSIS Mr. Blithers, multimillionaire,- discusee* with his wife the possibilities of marrying 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 holda A Mr. Scoville 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. Mr. Blithers discusses the Russian loan and gently hints at $20,000,000 his daughter will get when she marries the right man.

Barniers suddenly refuse to handle tne loan. Count Quinnox and King arrange a meeting Blithers. King suspects him of blocking the deal. The prince as Mr. Schmidt sails on the Jupiter. Blithers buys $1),000,000 of GrauBtark bonds. A young lady disputes Robin's right to a table and deck chair.

He learns she is Miss Guile of NeW York, and her aged companion Mrs. Gaston. He soon becomes better acquainted With Miss Guile. Her given name is Bedelia, she tells him. She tells Mrs. Gaston that she suspects he is the Prince of Graustark. Mrs. Gaston changes her manner toward him. Hobbs discovers Miss Guile’s baggage is marked with a B. In Paris she is met by a young man. Blithers promises to consider the loan. ! His wife prepares a ball for the Prince and Maud, who suddenly balks at the as- ' fair and doesn’t attend.

CHAPTER X. A Prince’s Heart at Stake. THE prince sat down, pulled the rug up to his chin and stared out at the great, heaving billows. Suddenly remembering another injury, he felt once more of the back of his head. “By jove!" he exclaimed. “There is a lump there.” <} l can’t hear you,” she said, allowing the magazine to drop into her lap, but keeping her place carefully marked with one of her fingers. “I can hear you perfectly,” he said. “It’s the way the wind blows,” she explained. “Easily remedied,” said he. “I’ll move into Mrs. Gaston’s chair if you think it will help any.” ‘ “Do! ” she said promptly. “You will not disturb me in the leas|—unless you talk.” She resumed her reading, half a page above the finger tip. He moved over and arranged himself comfortably, snugly in Mrs. Gaston’s chair. Their elbows almost met. He was prepared to be very patient. For a long time she continued to read, her warm, rosy cheek half averted, her eyes applied to their task with irritating constancy. He did not despair. Some wise person once had told him that it was only necessary 'to give a woman sufficient time and she would be the one to despair. A few passengers possessed of proud sea legs staggered past the snug couple on their ridiculous rounds of the ship. If they thought of Miss Guile and R. Schmidt at all it was with the scorn that is usually devoted to youth at its very best. There could be no /doubt in the passing mind that these 'two were sweethearts who managed Lto thrive on the smallest of comforts. At last his patience was rewarded.

She Towered The magazine and stilled a yawn—but not a real one. “Have you read it?” she inquired composedly. » "A part of it,” he said. “Over your shoulder." “Is that considered polite in Vienna?” “If you only knew what a bump I’ve got on the back of my head you wouldn’t be so ungracious,” he said. “I couldn’t possibly know, could I?” He leaned forward and indicated the spot on the back of his head, first removing his cap. She laughed nervously, and then gently rubbed her fingers over the thick hair. “There is a dreadful lump!” she exclaimed. “Oh, how sorry I am. Do—do you feel faiQj or —or —I mean, is it very painful?” “Not now,” he replied, replacing his cap and favoring her with his most engaging smile. She smiled in response, betraying not the slightest sign of embarrassment. “Am I to regard you as a hero?” “If you will be so kind, please." She laughed outright at this. “I think I rather like you. Mr. Schmidt,” she said, with unexpected candor. “Oh. I fancy I’m not at all bad,” said he, after a momentary stare of astonishment. “I am especially good in rough weather,” he went on, trying to forget that he was a prince of the royal blood, a rather difficult matter when one stops to consider he was not in the habit of hearing people say that they rather liked him. “Do your friends come from Vienna?” she inquired abruptly. “Yes,” he said, and then saved his face as usual by adding under his. breath, .“but they don’t live there." It was not in him to lie outright; hence the handy way of appeasing his conscience.

“They are very interesting looking men, especially the younger. I can not remember when I have seen a more attractive man.” “He is a splendid chap,” exclaimed Robin, with genuine enthusiasm. “I am very fond of Dank.” She was silent for a moment. Something had failed, and she was rather glad of it. “Do you like New York?” she asked. “Immensely. I met a great many delightful people there, Miss Guile. You say you do not know the Blithers' family? Mr. Blithers is a rare’old bird.” “Isn’t there som.e talk of his daughter being engaged to the Prince of Graustark?” He felt that his ears were red. “The newspapers hinted at something of the sort, I believe.” He was suddenly possessed by the curious notion that he was being “pumped” by his fair

companion. Indeed, a certain insistent note had crept into her voice, and ner eyes were searenmg his with an intentness that had not appeared in them until now. “Have you seem him?” ’ “The prince?” “Yes. What is he like?” “I’ve seen pictures of him,” he equivocated. “Rather nice looking, 1 should say.” “Of course he is like all foreign noblemen and will leap at the Blithers millions if he gets the chance. I sometimes feel sorry for the poor wretches.” There was more scorn than pity in the way she said it, however, and her velvety eyes were suddenly hard and uncompromising. He longed to defend himself, in the third person, but could not do so for very strong and obvious reasons. He allowed himself the privilege, however, of declaring that foreign noblemen are not always as black as they are painted. And then, for a very excellent reason, he contrived to change the subject- by asking where she was going on the continent.

“I may go to Vienna,” she said, with a smile that served to puzzle rather than to delight him. He was more than ever convinced that she was playing with him. “But pray do not look so gloomy, Mr. Schmidt, I shall not make any demands upon your time while I am there. You may”— “I am quite sure of that,” he interrupted, with his ready smile. “You see, I am a person of no consequence In Vienna, while you— Ah, well, as an American girl you will be hobnob-

bing with the nobility while the humble Schmidt sits afar off and marvels at the kindness of a fate that befell him in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, and yet curses the fate that makes him unworthy of the slightest notice from the aforesaid American girl. For, I daresay, Miss Guile, you, like all American girls, are ready to leap at titles.” “That really isn’t fair, Mr. Schmidt,” she protested, flushing. “Why should you and I quarrel over a condition that cannot apply to either of us? You are not a nobleman, and I am not a title seeking American girl. So, why all this beautiful irony?" “It only remains for me to humbly beg your pardon and to add that if you come to Vienna my every waking hour shall be devoted to the pleasure of’—

“I am sorry I mentioned it, Mr, Schmidt,” she interrupted coldly. “You may rest easy, for I shall not keep you awake for a single hour. Besides, I may not go to Vienna at all.” “I am sure you would like Vienna,” he said, somewhat Chilled by her manner. ,

“I have been there with my parents, but it was a long time ago. 1 once saw the emperor, and often have I seen the wonderful Prince Lichtenstein.” • ...

“Have you traveled extensively in Europe?”

She was , smiling once more. “I don’t know what you would consider extensively,” she said. “I was educated in Paris, I have spent innumerable winters in Rome and quite as many summers in Scotland, England, Switzerland, Germ”— “I know who you are!” he cried out enthusiastically. To his amazement a startled expression leaped into her eyes. “You are traveling under an assumed name.” She remained perfectly still, watching him with an anxious smile on her lips. ‘‘You are no other than Miss Baedeker, the well known authoress.” It seemed to him that she breathed deeply. “In that case my pseudonym should be Guide, not Guile,” she cried merrily. The dimples played in her cheeks, and her eyes were dancing. “B. stands for Baedeker, I’m sure. Baedeker Guide. If the B. isn’t for Baedeker, what is it for?” “Are you asking what the B really stands for, Mr. Schmidt?” “In a roundabout way, Miss Guile,” he admitted.

“My name is Bedella,” she said, with absolute sincerity. “Me mlther is Irish, d’ye see?” “By jove, it’s worth a lot of trouble to get you to smile like that,” he cried admiringly. “It is the first really honest smile, you’ve displayed. If

you Knew how it improves you you’d be doing it all of the time.” At this juncture the miserable Hobbs hove into sight, not figuratively, but literally. He came surging across the deck in a mad dash from one haven to another, or, more accurately, from post to post. "I beg your pardon, sir,” he gasped, finally steadying himself on wide spread legs. “There is a wireless for Mr. Totten, sir, but when I took it to Tm he said to fetch it to you, being unable to hold up 'is head.” Robin read it through, and at the end whistled softly. “Take it to Mr. Totten. Hobbs, and see if it will not serve to make him hold up his head a little.” “Very good, sir. I hope it will. Wouldn’t it be wise for me to hannounce who it is from, sir, to sort of prepare him for”— “lie knows who it is from, Hobbs, so you needn’t worry. It is from horn ', if it will interest you, Hobbs.” “Thank you, sir; it does interest me. _I thought it might be from Mt. Blithers.”

Robin’s scowl sent him scuttling away a great d<*al more rigidly than when he came. “Idiot!” muttered the young man, still scowling. There was silence between the two for a few secopds. Then' she spoke disinterestedly: “Is it from the Mr. Blithers who has the millions and the daughter who wants to marry a prince?” “Merely a business transaction, Miss Guile,” he said absently. He Was thinking of Romano’s message. “So it would appear.” “I beg pardon? 1 was—er—thinking”— “It was of no consequence, Mr. Schmidt,” she said airily. He pipked up the thread once more. “As a matter of fact, I’ve heard it said that Miss Blithers refused to marry the prince.” “Is it possible?” with fine irony. “Is lie such a dreadful person as all that?” “I’m sure I don’t know,” murmured Robin uncomfortably. “lie may be no more dreadful than she.” “Well, I hope she doesn’t marry him,” said Miss Guile.

; “Bo do I,” said R. Schmidt, and’ their eyes met. After a moment she looked away, her first surrender to the mysterious something that lay deep in his. Suddenly, and without reason, she appeared to be bored. As a matter of fact, she hid an hieipisnt yawn behind her small gloved hand. “I think I shall go to my room. Will you kindly unwrap me, Mr. Schmidt?” He promptly obeyed, and then assisted her to her feet, steadying her against the roll of the vessel. “I shall pray for continuous rough weather,” he announced, with as gallant a bow as could be made under the circumstances. “Thank you,” she said, and he was pleased to take it that she was not thanking him for a physical service. A few minutes later he was in his own room, and she was in hers, and

the promenade deck was as barren as the desert of Sahara. He found Count Quinnox stretched out upon his bed, attended not only by Hobbs, but also the reanimated Dank. The crumpled message lay on the floor. “I’m glad you waited awhile,” said the young lieutenant, getting up from the trunk on which he had been sitting. “If you had come any sooner you would have heard words fit only for a soldier to hear. It really was quite appalling.” “He’s better now,” said Hobbs, more respectfully than was his wont. It was evident that he had sustained quite a shock. “Well, what do you think of it?” demanded the prince, pointing to the message. “Of all the confounded impudence”— begad the count healthily, and then uttered a mighty groan of impotence. It was clear that he could not do justice to the occasion. Robin picked up the Marconigram and calmly smoothed out the crinkles. Then he read it aloud, very slowly and with extreme disgust in his fine young face. It, was a lengthy

communication from Baron Romano, the prime minister In Edelweiss: Preliminary agreement signed before hearing Blithers had bought London. Paris; Berlin. He cables his immediate visit to G. Object now appears clear. All newspapers in Europe print dispatches from America that marriage is practically arranged between R. and M. interviews with Blithers corroborate reported engagement. Europe is amused. Editorials sarcastic. Prices of our securities advance two points on confirmation pt report. We are bewildered. Also vague rumor they have eloped, but denied by B. Dawsbergen silent. What does it all mean? Wire truth to me. People are uneasy. Gourou will meet you in Paris. In the adjoining suit Miss Guile was shaking Mrs. Gaston out of a long courted and much needed sleep. The poor lady sat up and blinked feebly at the excited, starry eyed girl. “Wake up!” cried Bedolla impatiently. “What do you think? I have a perfectly wonderful suspicion-per-fectly wonderful.” “How can -you be so unfeeling?” moaned the limp lady. “This R. Schmidt is Prince Robin of Graustark! ” cried the girl excitedly. “I am sure of |t—just as sure as can be.” Mrs. Gaston’s eyes were popping, not with amazement, but. alarm. “Do lie down, chihi,” she whimpered. “Marie! The sleeping powders at once! Do” “Oh, I’m not mad.” cried the girl. “Now listen to me. and I’ll tell you why I believe yes, actually believe him to be the” “Marie’do'yoTi hear me'”' Miss Guile shook her vigorously. “Wakeup! 11 isn’t a nightmare. Now listen!” (To be continued.)

"I shall pray for continuous rough weather.”