The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-03-09
1aIIliI1Gl
(Continued.)

1T is time you Informed yourself
, about the country you are trying to
annex to the Blithers estate she said
sarcastically. II can assist you to
some extent if 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, 1t is inhabited from top to bottom
by members Of the royal household
ana the court. AS for the furnishings,
can assure you that the entire Blitk-
ers fortune could not replace them if
they were to be destroyed by fire or
piHage. They are priceless, and they
are unique. Ihave 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 insthe great audience chamber is
OF solid gold and weighs nearly 5000
pounds. It is studded with diamonds,
rItbies, emeralds'
@Great Scott. Lou, where did you
learn all this ?" he gasped. his eyes
buIging.
and many other precious stones.
There is one huge carpet in the royal
drawing room that the car of Russia
is said to have offered &100,o0O for
and the offer was scorned. The park
surrounding the castle is said to be
beautiful beyond the power of descrfp-
ton. The
Il asked you where you got all this
information. Can't you answer me ?''
Fl obtained all this and a great deal
more from a 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.. B1fthers,
going back to his buoyant boyhood
days for an adequate expression.
What wonder you are, Lou. Say.
but won't it make wonderful home
for you and me to spend q peaceful
old age in when we get ready to lay
aside fhess-
He stopped short, for she had arisen
and was standing over him with
uuivering forehnger leve1ed at his
nose.
You may walk in where angels
fear to tread, but you will walk
alone, Will Blithers. shall not be
with you. and you may as well I'M
derstand 1t now. I've told you a hun.
dred times that money isn't every
thing, and it is as cheap as dirt when
you put it alongside Of tradition,
"
GraustaTkfans 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 p - re for Maudie to ex-
hibit around lie 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.
viii not have my daughter cast into
q. den of lions, WiIl-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 If she is forced upon them In the
way you propose
AI'1l-I'H think it over" said Mr..
Blithers. sbut there's nothing on
earth that can alter my determine
t1on to make Maud the Princess Of
Grbostork That's settled
stGraustark. Will.
well whatever 1t is. said he, and
departed.
He thought hard until ha1f-past ],
and then went to the wireless Office,
where he wrote. out a message in
cipher and directed the operator to
waste no time in relaying it 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 CT the youth.
But there was splendid alterna-
tive. He could manage to have his
own daughter abducted-chaperon In
cIuded-and held for ransom!
The more he thought of it the bet
<4~. II to h i'm nd efa hc nj a
cipher message that was destined to
throw his Paris managers into 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-
Iarly exacting on the score of gentil-
ity-withs orders to abduet 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 it,
but at the same time they were to do
it effectua1Iy.
He had the foresight to suggest that
the job should be undertaken by the
very detective agency he had employ
ed to shadow young Sco7ille and also
to keep an eye on Maud
Late that evening he had q reply
from his Paris managers. They in
duired If he was responsible for the
message they had received. It was O
tfcklfsh 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 instrue-
lions would be carried cut as expedi-
tiously as possible.
About IL o'clock the next day an
incomprehensibly long message be-
gaE to rattle out of the air. He con-
tanned himself in patience, for the
matter of half an hour or so longer,
and then, as the chatter continued
without cessation, he got up and
rnadfsa his way to the door Of the Oh