The Ordway new era., 1916-03-10

smiled With hts impressive big eyes.
and put his hand up under his beard.
THE matter then seems to resolve
itself into question of price,. nj
commented.
mo: protection" responded Aiiison
IF were buying these railroads ou'
right. should expect my property III
terests to be guarded. even II ! mao 10
appeal to International equity; pu'
am not"
mo" admitted the grand duke.
They cannot be purchased
The proposition resolves itself then
into matter OF virtual commerc'a'
seizure" Allison pointed out.
The grand duke. still with his mana
in his beard. chuckled as he regarded
Allison amusedly.
II shall not mind II you call II p'
racy," he observed. I'VE. In Russia
must collect our revenues as we can
and we are as frank as Americans
about 1t. Returning to your matter OF
protection. | shall admit that the
only agreement upon which we car
secure what you want, would not ho'u
in international equity; and. in cohse
quence. the only protection can give
you is my personal word that you wiz
not be molested In anything which you
wish to do. providing it is pleasant 10
myself and those represent
Then we'll make 1t an annual pay
| ment," decided Allison, putting away
some figures he had prepared wen
make 1t a sliding scale. increasing
each year with the earnings"
The grand duke considered thar
proposition gravely. and offered an
| amendment.
After the first year" he said. "Wc
shall begin with 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
stiles.
Let us first discuss the bonus" pro-
posed Allison. and quite amicably they
| Weul lulO tHc
Ivan Strolesky flched the only valu
able railroad lines In his country from
the control OF its present graft-ridden
possessors, and handed 1t over to the
International Transportation company
by the way" said Allison. "Ho~
soon 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
I'VE have still much to learn from
your country" he courteousIy con
fessed
When Ivan Strolesky had gone. ALL
bright red line across the land OF the
frozen seas.
There came famous diplomat a
heavy blond man with red face
and big spectacles and high. wide.
round forehead.
81 do not know what you want"
said the visitor. regarding Allison with
a stolid stare. 81 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. I'VE 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 to 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 land to the west. there
are not less than 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 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 one hand on
the back OF the other.
Il think l am very fair prophet" !"
said Allison easily. Il have made
money by my prophecy. l have more
| v,Nrou r,v ok fho rr.caas