Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER II.
A Meetlno of the Cabinet.


Graustark was in most prosperous
condition. It's affairs were under the
control Of an able ministry, headed by
the venerable Count Halfont. The
Duke Of Perse. for years resident Of
st. Petersburg and f1nancier Of hign
standing, had returned to Edelweiss
soon after the distressing death Of the
late Princess Yetive and her American
husband, and to him was intrusted the
treasury portfolio.
The financing of the great RAILROAD
project by which Edelweiss was to be
connected with the Siberian line in the
north fell to his lot at time when no
one else could have saved the little
government from heavy losses or even
bankruptcy.
The opening of this narrative finds
the ministry preparing to float new
100000 gavvo issue Of bonds for con-
struction and equipment purposes.
Agents of the government were ready
to depart for London and Paris to take
up the matter with the great banking
houses. St Petersburg and Berlin were
not to be given the opportunity to COB
BILE up these extremely fine securities.
This seemingly extraordinary exclu-
sion Of Russian and German bidders
was the result Of vigorous objections
raised by an utter outsider, the Ameri-
can, John Tullis, long time friend and
companion Of Grenfall Lorry, consort
to the late princess.
Tullis was a strange man in many
particulars. He was under forty years
of age, but even at that rather imma-
ture time Of life he had come to be
recognized as a shrewd, successful
financial power in his home city, New
York. At the very zenith Of his pow
er he suddenly and with quixotic dis
regard for consequences gave up his
own business and came to Graustark
for residence, following a promise
made to Grenfall Lorry when the lat
ter lay dying in a little inn near Brus-
sells.
They had been lifelong friends. Tul-
lis jestingly called himself the little
princes "morganatic godfather" For
two years he had been a constant resi-
dent Of Graustark.
His wide awake, resourceful brain,
attuned by nature to the difficulties Of
administration, lent itself capably to
the solving Of many knotty financial
puzzles; the ministry was never loath
to call on him for advice and seldom
disposed to disregard It, An outsider,
he never offered a suggestion or plan
unasked. To this single qualification
ne owed much of the popularity and
esteem in which he was held by the
classes and the masses. Sosially, he
was a great favorite. He enjoyed the
freedom of the most exclusive homes
in Edelweiss.
There was but one man connected
with the government to whom the pop
ularity and influence of John Tullis
proved distasteful. That man was the
Duke Of Perse. On more than one
occasion the cabinet had chosen to be
guided by the sagacity of John Tullis
in preference to following the lines
laid down by the astute minister OF
finance. The decision to offer the new
bond issue in London and Paris was
due to the earnest, forceful argument
Of John Tullis-outside the cabinet
chamber, to be sure. This was but
one instance in which tine plan Of the
treasurer was overridden. He resent
ed the plain though delicate influence
of the former Wall street man. Tullis
had made it plain to the ministry that
Graustark could not afford to place it
hands sooner or later the destinies OF
the railroad might be expected to fall.
The wise men of Graustark saw his
point without force Of argument and
voted down in the parliament the
dukes proposition to place the loan in
st. Petersburg and Berlin. For this
particular act Of trespass upon the
dukes official preserves he won the
hatred of the worthy treasurer and his
no inconsiderable following among the
deputies.
But John Tullis was not In Edel-
weiss for the purpose Of meddling
with state affairs. He was there be-
cause he elected to stand mentor to
the son of his lifelong friend, even
though that son was a prince Of the
blood and controlled by tine will OF
three regents chosen by his own sub
jects.
To say that the tiny prince loved
his big, broad shouldered, ruddy cheek
ed, adoring mentor would be putting
it too gently; he idolized him. Tullis
was father mother and big brother
to the little fellow in knickers.
One woman in Graustark was the
source Of never ending and constantly
increasing interest to this stalwart
companion to the prince. That woman