The evening world., 1915-01-29
"1 II "a EsTss'% s;,r's: WI, zaS''' o.

to the big blocks you have acquired
In London. Paris and Berlin"
want to know what bought them
for?" inquired Mr.. Blithers amtably.
I'VE have wondered not Q little ut
your readiness to invest such q for
tune In our securities"
WELL there you have It. Invest
ment. thats all. Your credit is sound
and your resources unQuestioned.
the opportunity to take a few dollars
out OF Wall Street uncertainties and
put 'em into something absolutely
certain. Groo-gras--er - Groostoct X
bonds are pretty safe things to have
lying In n safety vault In these times
Of financial unrest. They create .
pretty solid fortune for my family
that " to say. for my daughter and
her children. A sensible business
man--and 1 cfaim 10 be one--iooks
ahead. my lords. Railroads are all
right as long as you are alive and
can run them yourself. It's after you
are dead that they fail to do what 10
expected of them. New fingers get
into the pie and you can never tell
what they'll pull out In their greedi-
ness. l cannot imagine anything
safer in tho shape Of an investment
than the bonds OF nation that has 4
debt Of less than fifty million dollars.
As n citizen Of a republic whose ma
tional debt is nearly n billion. I con-
fess that can't see how you've man
aged 10 WELL"
We are so inflnitesimal, Mr..
Blithers, that daresay We could be
lost In the smallest OF your States"
said Baron Romano. with n sniie.
''I,hode Island is pretty small" Mr..
Blithers informed him. without u
smile.
1T is most gratifying to Graustark
to know that you value our securi-
ties 30 highly as IA legacy" said
Count Lazzar. suavely. May I ven-
ture the hope, however, that your lie
OF their existence? They expire In O
very few years-a dozen, in fact"
"Oh. l think I can hang on that
long" said Mr.. Blithcrs, n little more
Mt ease. He was saying 10 himself
that these fellows were not so bad.
after all. "Still one never knows.
may be dead In q year. My daughter
but, OF course, you will pardon me
II I don't go into my private affairs.
l fear have already said too much" :"
"On the contrary. sir. We are all
only too willing to be edified. The
workings OF an intelligence such as
yours cannot fail to be OF interest to
VI who are 30 lacking In the power
to cope with great undertakings.
confess to a selfish motive In asking
you about your methods of-er-in-
vestment," said the Minister Of Fin
ance. Mr.. Bllthers failed to see that
he was shrewdly being led up to a
matter that was OF moro Importance
to Graustark just then than anything
along financial lines.
II am only too willing. my lords, to
give you the benefit Of my experience.
Any questions that you may care to
ask. I'll be glad to answer to the best
Of my ability. II is only natural that
] should take great personal In
terest In Graustark from now on ]
want to see the country on the boom.
] want to see II taking advantage OF
all the opportunities that--er-come
Its way. There may be few
pointers that William w. Biithers can
give you In respect TO your railways
apd mines-and your general policy.
perhaps. ! hope You won't hesitate
about asking"
The Prime Minister tapped reflec-
lively upon the table top with his
fingers for o moment or two.
Thank YOU" he said. I'VE are at
this very moment In something OF q
quandary in respect TO the renewal of
a treaty with one Of our neighbors.
For the past twenty years we have
been in alliance with our next door
neigbbors. Axphain on the north and
Dawsbergen on the south and east.
The triple alliance will end this year
unless renewed. Up to the present
our relations have been most amiable.
Axphain stands ready to extend our
mutual protective agreement for
another term Of years. but DAVIS
bergen is iukewarm and inclined Ia
withdraw. When you become better
acquainted with the politics OF our
country you win understand how re-