The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-04-06

The grand duke, Who had played DO
ker in~America and fan-tan In China
and roulette in Monte Carlo. and all
the other games throughout the world.
smiled with his impressive big eyes.
n put his hand up under his beard.
The matter then seems to resolve
itself into a question of price" he
commented.
No; protection" responded Allison.
IF | were buying these railroads out,
right, ! should expect my property in.
terests to be guarded. even il had to
appeal to international equity; but ]
am not"
No" admitted The grand duke.
They cannot be purchased"
The proposition resolves itself then
into a matter of virtual commercial
seizure" Allison pointed out.
The grand duke, still with his hand
in his beard. chuckled, as he regarded
Allison amusedly.
Il shah not mind if you call 1t pt'
racy." he observed. I'VE. in Russia,
hiNot NOilCSl Oul icNChuto 81 We >oh'
and we are as frank as Americans
about it. Returning to your matter OF
protection. | shall admit that the
only agreement upon which we can
secure what you want, would not hold
in international equity; and. in onse'
quence. the only protection can give
you is my personal word that you will
not be molested in anything which you
wish to do, providing it is pleasant to
myself and those | represent"
Then yell make it an annual pay
ment," decided Allison. putting away
some figures he had prepared. We'll
make It a sliding scale, increasing
each year with the earnings"
The grand duke considered that
proposition gravely. and offered an
amendment.
After the first year" he said. I'VE
shall begin with a large bonus. how
ever"
Allison again put out of his mind
certain figures he had prepared to sug'
gest. Apparently the grand duke need
ed a large supply of immediate cash,
and the annual payments thereafter
would need to be decreased accord.
ingly. with still another percentage de-
Quoted for profit on the dukes neces
sites.
Let us first discuss the bonus" pro-
posed Allison. and quite amicably they
went into the arrangement. whereby
Ivan Strolesky flched the only valu-
able railroad lines in his country from
the control of its present graft-ridden
possessors, and handed it over to the
International Transportation company.
by the way" said Allison. How
Don can We obtain possession"
Ivan Strolesky put his hand In his
beard again. and reflected.
There is only one man who stands
in the way" he calculated. He will
be removed Immediately upon my re-
turn"
There was something so ~uncanny
about this that even the practical
Allison was shocked for an instant,
and then he laughed.
we nave Sun ihuCu W ltdTu from
your country" he courteously con
fessed.
When Ivan Strolesky had gone, ALI
son went to his globe and drew a
bright red line across the land of the
frozen seas.
There came a famous diplomat. a
heavy blond man with a red face
and big spectacles and a high. wide,
round forehead.
Il do not know what you want
said the visitor. regarding Allison with
a stolid stare. Il have come to see."
Il merely wish to chat international
politics." returned Allison. There is
an old-time feud between you and your
neighbors to the west"
THAT is history" replied the visitor
noncommittally. 1--WE are now at
peace"
Never peace" denied Allison.
There will never be friendship be-
tween phlegmatism and mercurialism.
You might rest for centuries with your
neighbors 20 the west, but rest Is not
peace"
Excuse me, but what do you mean?'
and the visitor stared stolidly.
"In your affairs of mutual relation
ship with the fand to the west. there
are not less than a dozen causes Upon
which war could be started without
difficulty" went on Allison. in fact.
you require perpetual diplomacy to
prevent war with that country"
The visitor locked his thick fingers
quietly together and kept on stolidly
staring.
"You are about to have a war;" ALL
son advised him.
mo, 1t Is not true" and the visitor
went so far, in his emphasis. as to un-
lock his fingers and rest n hand on
| the back OF the other.
81 think I am a very fair prophet"
| said Allison easily. II have made
money by my prophecy. have more
money at my command at the present
| time than any man in the world. than
any government: wealth beyond han.
ding in mere currency. 1t a only be
conveyed By means Of checks. Let me