The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-06
CHAPTER III.
THE KING WHO STOPPED THE
ROADS.

hr. s''ilth was unsteady neither OF speech
nor FOOT. but an expert couhf- have dag
hoSed thitt he had been dining. The ex-
pert, however unless he had acquired
MS expertncss near Malta Nulla factory.
would hardly have guessed that Mr.. Smith
was the better Cor worse) f1 at least
"ait d case OF German champagne, gem
erously laced with Angostura bitters.
lie limped into Carfers bedroom. put
nus lamp down on the table sat on the
chair beside the mosquito bar. and very
carefully eased up the knees .ot his
shrunk pyjamas
say. Mr.. Assistant, wake up
carter woke. and biinkcd at the glare
OF Mr. Smiths eyeglass.
Don't get UP, please. I apologize for
waking you, my dear fellow, but sine.
You turned in. you've been made a pawn
IN the great game of diplomacy. The fato
OF empires trembles on your nod"
Carter reused up onto his elbow. Don't
You think the empires would trembie
no more II we left them over till to-
morrow morning."
1t would be most undiplomatic to leave
them trembling too long. 1 can tell you
have had devilish hard time OF it
putting his Majesty to sleep. He can
carry his liquor like Il man. and he'd
most royal way OF seeing L drank level
with him. But he may wake up any
minute. Put not your trust in tn. sleep
OF kings. Mr.. Carter
All right, sir. I'll make note OF
that I'll brew the gasolene, and when
the King wakes III stand by with soda
water and fusel oil. which I should think
VIII heal the breach between u.s."
Dent you believe Il for one instant
The King of Ohky's a seasoned vessel
with copper tummy. and you could
no more thaw the wickedness out OF
him with sodawater than you could bring
the devil to reformed temperature in
an ice machine. You must recognize. Mr.
Carter that both the King of okky and
the Devil have their little ways, and it's
above your art to change either of them
very much. Question Is. how much al
legiance do YOU think you owe to O'Neill
and Craven?"
This was change Of front with 4
vengeance. But Carter took it cooly
That's an interesting point sir.
hadn't reckoned it up before. But 7
shouldn't Ike to give you an answer
% SO important a question about the firm
III the spur of the moment So by your
cave, III sleep over it, and tell you in
he morning."
Sorry. but can't allow you the time,
md MS YOU don't seem to grasp the fact.
must point out that the fate OF this
actorg of O'Neill and Craven'S at Malta
'u!la depends on the august will OF the
,ing of Okky. His Portliness also threat
ms to stop the roads which feed our
Their factories at Monktown and Smooth
liver though don't think when it comes
, the point he'll do that However, Bur-
oyne and Slade must see to those them-
elves After the way this new *.
'Nell's been treating me on paper, I'm
OF going TO concern myself with the
eneral welfare of all the firms factories
n this coast. But I'm in charge or
[alla Nulla and I'm going to preserve
lie trade here from extinction If it can
; managed"
Carter lifted the mosquito bar and got
It of bed. Tn afraid, sir, must ask
III to come down to my level, and speak
'her more plainly"
Swizzle-Stick Smith sat back resignedlv
his chair. and dropped his eyeglass
the end of its black watercd silk rib
m "Dulce ct decorum est pro factora
ori, though don't suppose it will come
dying if you play your cards right"
!. Smith closed his eyes and evidently