The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-02-18
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{ King
Copyright. 1909. by George
Barr McCutcheon
Copyright. 1909, by Dodd.
Mead N Company
CHAPTER It'll.


Of Perse, for years resident Of ID. Pc
tprsburg and 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 intrusted the
treasury portfolio.
The financing of the great railroad
project by which Edelweiss was to be
connected with the Siberian line i'm the
north fell to lis lot at time when no
one else could have saved the little
government from heavy losses OF even
bankruptcy.
The opening OF this narrative finds
the ministry preparing to float new
100000 gavvo issue Of bonds for con-
Ttruction and equipment purposes
Agents of the government were ready
to depart for London and Paris to take
I'D 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 q strange man i'm many
particulars. He was under forty years
of age, but even Mt that rather imma-
ture time of life he had come to be
recognized as q shrewd, successful
financial power in his home city, New
York. st the very zenith of his pow
or 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 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 q suggestion or plan
unasked To this single qualification
he owed much of the popularity and
esteem in which he was held by the
classes and the masses. Socially he
49,
freedom Of the most exclusive homes
in Elelweiss.
TGere was but one man connected
with the government to whom the pop
ularity and influence of John Tullis
proved Gistasteful. 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 dow 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 i'm which the plan of the
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
self in debt to the Russians, into whose
hands sooner or later the destinies Of
the railroad might be expected to fall.
The wise men of GrauStark saw his
nT
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 i'm Edel-
weiss for the purpose of meddlinS
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 q prince OF the
blood and controlled by the will Of
three regents chosen by his own sub
jects.
10 say that the tiny prince loved
MS BIZ. broad shouldered, rudy cheek
Cd, adoring mentor would be putting
IL too gently: he idolized him. Tullis
was father mother and biz brother
70 the little fellow in Knockers.
One woman In Graustark was the
source Of never ending and constantly
increasing interest to this stalwart
companion to the prince. That woman
was, alas, the wife OF another man!
Moreover, she was the daughter of
the Duke OF Perse.
me young and witty Countess or
MarlanX came often to Edelweiss. she
was q favorite ut the castle, notwith-
standing the unhealthy record OF her
ancient and discredited husband. the
iron Count. Tullis had not seen the
count, but he had heard such tales Or
hlm that he could not but pity this
glorious young creature who called
MIN husband.
At present We are permitted to at
tehd meeting of the cabinet, which
sits occasionally fri solemn collective
Less just off the throne room within
the tapestried walls CT "a dark little
antechamber known To the outside
world I'll The room OF wrangles.r
Ihe question under discussion relates
to the loan of 100000 gavvos, before
mentioned. At The head of the long