Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-14

about the country you are trying to
annex to the Blithers estate" she said
sarcastically. II can assist you to
soma extent II you will be good enough
to listen. In the first place. the royal
castle at Edelweiss is one Of the most
substantial In the world. It has not
been allowed to fall into decay. In
fact, it is inhabited from top to bottom
by members of the royal household
and the court. AS for the furnishings,
l can assure you that the entire Blith-
ers fortune could not replace them II
they were to be destroyed by fire or
pillage. They are priceless, and they
are unique. have read that the hang
ings In the bedchamber Of the late
Princess Yetive are the most wonder
full in the whole world. The throne
chair in the great audience chamber Is
Of solid gold and weighs nearly 5000
pounds. It is studded with diamonds,
rubies, emeralds"-
"Great Scott, Lou, where did you
learn all this" he gasped, his eyes
bulging.
-"and many other precious stones.
There is one huge carpet in the royal
drawing room that the czar Of Russia
Is said to have offered 100000 for
and the offer was scorned. The park
surrounding the castle is said to be
beautiful beyond the power Of descrip-
tion. The
II asked you where you got all this
information. Can't you answer me?"
II obtained all this and great deal
more from LADY who spent a year or
two inside the castle walls. / refer to
Mrs. Truxton King, who might have
told you as much If you had possessed
the intelligence to inquire"
Gee whiz" exclaimed Mr.. Blithers,
going back to his buoyant boyhood
days for an adequate expression.
What a wonder you are, Lou! Say,
but won't 1t make wonderful home
for you and me to spend a peaceful
old age in when we get ready to lay
aside the
He stopped short, for she had arisen
and was standing over him with a
quivering forednger leveled at his
nose.
"You may walk in where angels
fear to tread. but you will walk
alone, Will Blithers. I shall not be
with you, and you may as well un-
derstand 1t now. I've told you hum
dred times that money isn't every
thing, and it is as cheap as dirt when
you put 1t alongside Of tradition.
honor, pride and loyalty. Those
Graustarkians would take you by the
nape Of the neck and march you out
Of their castle so quick that your
head would swim. You may be able
to buy their prince for Maudie to e1-
hibit around the country, but you
can't buy the intelligence Of the peo-
pie. The people Of Graustark must
have an opportunity to see and be-
come acquainted with Maud before
the marriage is definitely arranged.
will not have my daughter cast into
q den Of lions, Will-for that Is what
1t may amount to. The people will
adore her, they will welcome her
with open arms If they are given the
chance. But they will have none OF
her II she is forced upon them In the
way you propose"
T'll-rll think 1t over" said Mr..
Blithers, "but there's nothing on
earth that can alter my determine
ton to make Maud the Princess OF
Groostork. That's settled"
"Graustark, WILL"
"Well, whatever 1t is," said he. and
departed.
He thought hard until half-past /,
and then went to the wireless of1ce,
where he wrote out message IN
cipher and directed the operator to
waste no time in relaying 1t to his
Offices in Paris. It would be the height
of folly to offer Scoville money. and
It would be even worse to inspire the
temporary imprisonment Of the youth.
But there was q splendid alterna-
tive. He could manage to have his
own daughter acknowledgements In
cluded-and held for ransom!
The more he thought Of 1t the bet
ter It seemed to him. and 30 he sent q
cipher message that was destined to
throw his Paris managers into q state
Of agitation that cannot possibly be
measured by words. In brief. he in
structed them to engage few peace
able, Trustworthy and positively re-
spectacle gentlemen-he was particu-
larly exacting on the score OF gentil-
ity-with orders to abduct the young
lady and hold her in restraint until
he arrived and arranged for her lib
GRAFTON. They were to do the deed
without making any fuss about 1t,
but at the same time they were to do
1t effectually.
He had the foresight to suggest that
| the Job should be undertaken by the
very detective agency he had employ
ed to shadow young Scoville and also
to keep an eye on Maud.
Late that evening he had reply
from his Paris managers. They in
ouired II he was responsible for the
message they had received. It was Q
ticklish Job, and they wanted to be
sure the message was genuine. he
wired back that he was the sender
and to go ahead. The next morning
they notified him that his instruc-
tions would be carried out as expedi-
tiously as possible.
About II o'clock the next day an
incomprehensibly long message be-
gan to rattle out Of the air. He con-
tanned himself in patience. for the
| matter of half an hour or 30 longer,
and then, as the clatter continued
without cessation. he got up and
made his way to the door OF the op-
orators office.
"What is It.? The history Of Eng
land?" he demanded sarcastically.
~Message for you. Mr.. Blithers. Iti
long one, and had hard time
picking 1t up"
There were four sheets Of writing
at some outlandish price per word. but
what cared he? His eyes almost start
| ed from his head as he took In the
name at the bottom Of the message
It was MAUD"
He took the precaution to read It be
| fore handing 1t over to his wife, te