Omaha daily bee., 1914-03-08
THE NATIONAL SUNDAY MAGAZINE

King smoked in silence for many seconds There
was pucker Of annoyance on his wife's fair brow
she stared rehectiyely through the window at the
distant lights of Bitherwood, far up the mountain
side.
"sounds ominous to me-" said King dryly ais
Bobby for sale7"
The Count favored him with look of horror.
"My dear Mr. Kingp Then as comprehension came,
he smiled. 81 see. No. he isn't for sale. He is
Prince, not pawn. Mr. Bthers may be willing
to buy but -" he proudly shook his head
"He feeling you out, however," said King,
ruminating "Planting the Seed TO speak"
"There is a that she is to marry Count
Lannet," said his wife. "A horrid creature. There
was talk in the newspapers last winter of Italian
duke. Poor girl From what hear of her. she is
rather a good sort, sensible and more genuinely
American in her tastes than might be expected after
her bringing-up. And she is pretty"
"How about this young Scovile, RainieT
"He's nice boy, but he'll get her. She
is marked up too high for him. He doesn't possess
much as the title to an acre of land"
Extraordinary, the way you Americans go after
our titles" said the Count good-naturedly.
mo more extraordinary than the way you Euro
peans go after money" was her retort
81 don't know which is the cheaper, titles
money in these days." said King. 81 understand
get most acceptable duke for three or four
millions, nice marquis or count for half as much,
and Sir tick" He eyed the Count speculatively.
"Of course prince of the royal blood comes pretty
high"
"Pretty high" said the Count grimly. He seemed
10 be turning something over in his mind. "Your
amazing Mr.. Blithers further confded to me that
he might be willing to take care of the Russian obi
cation for us if no one else turns up in time AS
matter of fact, without waiting for my reply he
said that he would have his lawyers look into the
matter of security at once. j somewhat dazed
but think he said il would be trouble at all for
him to provide the money himself, and he would be
glad to accommodate us if we had other plan in
mind. Amazing, amazingp
"Of course, you told him 1t was not to be con-
sdered," said King sharply.
"I endeavored to do so, but | fear he did not
grasp what was saying. Moreover, tried to tell
him that il was a matter | not at liberty to
discuss. He didn't hear that either"
"He is not in the habit Of hearing any one but
himself, fear" said King.
81 am afraid poor Robin is in jeopardy said his
wife, ruefuly. "The Bogeman is after him"
"Does the ineomprehensible creature imagine"
began the Count loudly and then found it necessary
to pull his collar away from his throat if to
himself from immediate strangulation.
"Mr Bthers is not blessed with an imagination,
Count" said She "He doesn't imagine anything"
"If he should presume to insult our Prince by
-" grated the old soldier, very red in the face and
erect - "if he should presume to --" words failed
him and an instant later he was laughing, but some
what uncertainty with his amused host and hostess
sI: r. BLITHERS reached home in
. ! ! ! !. : !:
NT KI high spirits. His wife was asleep,
kkA MI but he awoke her without any cere-
~ Ava mony
81 say Lou, wake up. Got some
EH news for you. Wen have prince
ELEt4e!I!tsI in the family before you can say
ID. E...1Ml.u Jack Robinson"
A%rH&AY She sat up in bed, blinking with
Ekz1sNk4& dismay. "In heavens name, Will,
Oe&M2 what have you been doingf What
hare you been -"