The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-22


 I decided that 1I WouId De 1mpossi bIe for them to make the loan under con- s1deration. \> Vastly disturbed, Count Quinnox took the first train to New York, ac- companied by Truxton King, who was confident that outside influences had been brought to bear upon the situa- tion, influences tnim1ca1 to Grau- stark. Both were of the opinion that Russia had something to do with it.
 tFWe may be able to get to the banks through B1ithers,'' said King.
 "How could he possibly be of as- ststance to us?'' the count inquired.
 EtHe happens to be Q director in both concerns, besides being such power in the financial world that his word is almost law when is comes to the big deals.''
 All the way down to the city Count Qu1nnox was thoughtful, even pre- occupied. They were nearing the terminal when he leaned over and, laying his hand on Kings knee, said after a long interval of silence be- tween them:
 tEI suppose >yof know that Grau- stark has not given up hooe that Prince Robin may soon espouse the daughter of our neighbor, Dawsber> gen.
 King gave him a queer look. sEBy love. that's odd! I was thinking of that very thing when you spoke
 '.The union would be of no profit to us in a pecuniary way, my friend," ex- plained the count. "Still it is most de sirable for other reasons. Dawsber- gen is not rich country, nor are it's people progressive. The reigning house, however, is an old one and rich in tra- -ditionS. Money, my dear King, is not everything in this world. There are some things it cannot buy. It is sin gularly ineffective when opposed to an honest sentiment. Even though the young princess were to come to Grau- stark without a farthing she would still be hailed with the widest ac- claim. We are a race of blood wor- shipers, if I may put it in that way She represents a force that has domi- mated our instincts for a great many centuries, and we are bound hand and foot heart and soul, by the so called letters of imperialism. We are fierce men, but we bend the knee and we wear the yoke because the sword of destiny is in the hand that tdr1ves us. To day we are ruled by a prince whose sire was not of the royal blood. Our prince assumes an attitude of inde- pendence that we find difficult to over come. He is prepared to defy an old precedent in support of a new one. In other words, he points out the unnis- takab1y happy union of his own moth CT, the late Princess Yetive, and the American Lorry, and it is something we cannot go behind He declares that his mother set an example that he may. emulate without prejudice to his coun- try if he is allowed a free hand in choosing his mate.
 s'But we people of Graustark cannot look with ,complaisance on the possible result of his search for sharer of the throne. Traditions must be upheld or we die. True, the crown princess of DawSbergen has American blood in her veins, but her sire is prince royal. Her mother, as you know, was an American girl. She who sits oh the throne with Robin must be princess by birth or the grip on the sword of destiny is weakened and the dynasty fa1ters."
 They had not been in New York city an hour before they discovered that William W. BHthers was the man to whom they would have to appeal if they expected to gain a fresh hearing with the banks. The agents were in a dismal state of mind. The deal had been blocked no later than the after noon of the day before and at a time when erything appeared to be going along most swimmingly. Blithers was the man to see. He and he alone could bring pressure to bear on the director ates that might result in a reconsid- eration of the surprising verdict. Some thing had happened during the day to alter the friendly attitude of the banks. They were now politely reluctant, as one of the agents expressed it, which really meant that opposition to the loan had appeared from some unex- pected source as a sort of eleventh hour obstacle. The heads of the two banks had as much as said that nego- tiations were at an end, that was the long and short of it. It really didn't matter what was back of their sudden change of front, the fact still remained that the transaction was as dead as a door naf1'' unless it could be revived by the magnetic touch of a man like B1itherS.
 ssWhat can have happened to cause them to change their minds so abrupt Typ cried the perplexed count. Sure ly our prime minister and the cabinet have left nothing undone to convince them of Graustark's integrity and'-'
 Pardon me. count" interrupted one of the brokers. Shall I try to make an appointment for you with MT. Blith- CTS? I hear he is in town for few days
 Count Quinnox looked to Truxton King for inspiration, and that gentle man favored him with a singularIy dispiriting nod of the head. The old Graustarkian cleared his throat and rather stifdy announced that he would receive Mfr B4ithers if he would call On him at the Ritz that afternoon
 E'WhatY' exclaimed both agents, half