The evening world., 1915-01-29
N. CHAPTER XII.
= Mr.. Blifhevs Arripes +.

WvR. WILLIAM w. BLITHERs
Hx arrived In Edelweiss. tho
h2y capital OF Graustark. on tho
same day that the Prince
returned from his tour of
ne world.
=, Going back a day or two, It be-
comes necessary to report that while
In Vienna the perverse Bedelia played
sshabby trick on the infatuated Rob-
IN. She stole away from the Bristol In
tho middle Of the night and was half
way to the Graustark frontier before
no was aware Of her flight. She left .
note for him the contents OF which
suniced to ease his mind In the pres
esce Of what otherwise might have
been looked upon a. q calamity.
seIt must not be supposed for an In
slant that the City Of Edeiwelss ana
the court OF Graustark was unim-
pressed by the swift approach aud
abrupt arrival Of Mr.. Blithers. His
coming had been heralded for days
in advance. Tho city was rudely OK.
Who had announced his determination
TO manage The public and privats af-
fairs OF the principality was coming
70 town. He was coming In state.
there could be no doubt about that.
More than that, he was coming to
peopitiate the people whether they
chose to be notified or not.
When the special train pulled into
the station Mr.. Blhhers turned to his
wife and said: .
..-r""cheer, up. Lou. This isn't .
funeral" ..t,..
But there is quite a mob ont
there" she said, peering through the
car window. How can we be sure
that they are fricndly?"
Don't you worry" said Mr.. Biith-
ers confidently. "They are not likely
- ynfow rocks at tho goose that lays
The golden egg" .s. ...t.. -
/. The crowd was big. immobile. surly.
1t iihed the sidewalks in the vicinity
o. tho station and stared with Gu
sri6hs,. half closed eyes at the portly
capitalist and his party. which, by the
why. was rendered somewhat impos-
ing In size by augmentation In the
shape Of lawyers from Paris and Lon
don. clerks and stenographers from
the Paris office. and four plain clothes
men who. wero to see to 1t that Midas
wasn't blown to smithereens by en-
-yiaas anarchists; to say nothing Of a
1aays maid. a valet, q private secre-
tRry and u doctor. (Mr. Blithers al
ways went prepared for the worst.)
He was somewhat amazed and dis
gruntfed by the absence OF silk hat
ambassadors from the castle with
words Of welcome for him on his ar
,riyak There was q plentiful supply
Of policemen. but no Cabinet Minis
fSsi He was on the point Of censur-
mr. his secretary for not making 1t
Clear to the Government that he was
due to. arrive at such and such all
hour and minute, when n. dappcr
,yuung man ia uniform-he couldn't
'tcal whether he was a patrolman OF
Eeaptalh--came up and saluted.
am William w. Biitners." said
~ sharply.
'ss'i am an officiai guide and inter-
I1ster. sir.'' announced the young man
6davely. May have the honor
's Mot nscessary--not necessary al
exploded Mr.. Bllthers. Il can
Est about without a guide"
7aYod win require an interpreter
'oTf.. began the other. only to be
wated aside.
.Any. one desiring to speak to me
viii have 70 do 1t In English. said
MI Blithers, and marched out TO the
carriages.
4e was In some doubt at first. Dut
asShis carriage passed swiftly between
ths staring ranks on the sidewalks he
hran 10 don his hat and bow to the
.ririit and the left. His smiles were
rcturned by the multitude. and so his
progress was more or less or tri'
vmph after all. ,
! Al the RegengetE he found addi-
ional cause for Irritation. The lords
and mobiles who should have met him
At the railway station were as con.
splc uously absent In the rotunda oi
the hotel. No one was there to re-
oeIve him except the ingratiatnG
manager Of the establishment, who
hoped that he had had a pleasant triI
and who assured him that IL wouio
not be more than a couple OF hours
before his rooms would be vacated py
fhe people who now had them bu,
were going away as soon as the pro-
session had passed.
s'aGet 'em out at once" stormed Mr.
I3lIthers. "Dc you think ] want to
hang around this Internal lobby un-
"Pardon me-" said the manager
blandiy. "but your rooms will not bs
ready for you before or o'clock
They are occupied. We can put sou
temporarily In rooms at the rear Il
y0uf lady desires to rest ana refresf
ksroeif after the journey"
ssrWel. III bet began MIR. Blith'
nru, purple in the face, and ther
leaned suddenly against the counter
iA6Apabie OF finishing the sentence.
ne nsnsgsr rubbed hi. nsnds % e sSs p