The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-11
CHAPTER II.


fairs were under the control
Of an able ministry. headed by the
venerable Count Halfont. The Duke
Of Perse. for years a resident of st. Pc
tersburg and 4 financier of high stand
Ing, had returned to Edelweiss soon
after the distressing death of the late
Princess Yetive and her American hus-
hand. and to him was intcusted 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 a new
100000 gavvo issue Of bonds for con-
structiOn and equipment purposes
Agents Of the government We're ready
to depart for London and Paris to take
% the matter with the great banking |
houses. St Petersburg and Berlin were
not To be given the opportunity to COB
bile W 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
10 the late princess.
Tullis was n 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 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 promise
made to Grcnfall Lorry when the lat
ter lay dying in a little inn near Brus-
sells.
They had been lifelong friends Tu-
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 !oath
to call on him for advice and seldom
disposed to disregard it. An outsider,
he never offered suggestion or plan
unasked. To this single qualification
he owed much of the popularity and
N w hn hnl
classes and the masses. Socially he
was 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
nlarity and influence of John Tullls
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 OIL
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 Ou1
one instance in which the plan or the
treasurer was overridden. He resent
cd the plain though delicate influence
OF the former Wall street man. Iulil
mad made it plain to the ministry tina
Graustark could not afford to place 1t
self in debt to the Russians. into who's
hands sooner or later the destinles
the railroad might be expected to raj
The wise men Of Graustark saw Ill
point without force Of argument an
voted down in the parliament tn
dukes proposition to place the loan
st. Petersburg and Berlin. For TIN
particular act of trespass upon I'll
dukes official preserves be won III
hatred Of the worthy treasurer ana NJ
no inconsiderable following among Gu
deputies
But John Tuliis was not in Edc
weiss for the purpose of meddhi'
with state affairs. He was there D
cause he elected 10 stand mentor
the son OF his lifelong friend, eve
though that son was prince OF Il
blood and controlled by the VIII
three regents chosen by his own su
Jects.
TO say that the tiny prince low
his big. broad shouldered, rudy chee
ed. adoring mentor would be puttil
it too gently; he idolized him. Tui
was father, mother and big Dro'n