The Raymer enterprise., 1916-01-20
CHAPTER ~.
The consui's Story.


consul Is to have known the father. OF
at ieast some relation. Of any caller
who comes from his own nation. Con
sui Jethro Thompson of Ohio, cast
away In the melancholy enterprise ol
representing the dignity of this repub
lie In this small and aone-too-well
known principality of Gretzhoifen. was
glad-really glad-to see Miss Kitty
Gray. And he knew-really knew
her father. or had done SO at the time
when he was still living
Its grand little place, isn't it
Gretzhoffen?" said Kitty smiling. ave
read about it-and written about it
before now. But this isn't vacation
really. am ca big assignment. Mr.
Consui. | may want your help-the
only trouble is. don't know what dc
want to dol am after a story, and
don't know where 1t is or what ii Is. ,
The gaunt. kindly old man smiled
at her. We'll. my dear. rest assured
that l will do all | can for you. And
between us, we ought to start some
thing. maybe; II It's stories you're
after, you've come to the place where
they grow, that's sure enough. Why
Miss Kitty. the story of the king ol
Gretzhoffen alone would I'LL book"
What do you know of Gretzhoffen
anyhow" he asked suddenly. "Yor
said you had written about 1t. sup
pose"
Well you see" replied Kitty
when the big news story about the
proposed Gretzhoffen loan its hawk
Ing about the street and its rejection
when that came out ! was put on the
assignment of looking into Gretzhoffer
In general. ] remember that the ole
kings name was Michael, wasn't it,
"The one that died? Yes. Michae
the First. He was good sort. His
death was the unluckiest thing thai
ever happened for this poor little peo
pie. He was good man, King Michael
and strong one and just. So much
cannot be said. am thinking, of thu
new incumbent of the throne, Michae
the Second.
you see, this Michael the Second II
only king In name. when 1t comes tt
facts. He is only little lieutenant
He has been put on the Job by bigger
and stronger man-Count Frederick /.
the real power behind the throne In
Gretzhoffen-a strong and handsome
man-be sure you don't fall in low,
with him. What Count Frederick
pSlns no one knows. Perhaps HI
has his own eye on the throne-wt
can't tell what may happen. say 1
Is tense sort of place. Gretzhoffen
But Gretzhoffen is broke. Michael, tn,
king, is broke. Count Frederick, tn,
Warwick of Gretzhoifen, also is broke
That is why they tried to make a loar
In our own country.
But they didn't seem to have tn,
collateral-no unused revenues moth
ing which had not been used or spen
or wasted.
when Michael the First died, bill
treasury disappeared He was rich
the old king was-rich In the name O
Gretzhoffen. But the crown jewels
the imperial securities, the crowl
treasures of all sorts. the imperia
mintage of every description-the!
dis sfpeared. There was rumor tina
the old king hid his treasures some
where, but that he left some sort of /;
mysterious record by which they nigh
be traced. No one knows Just wha
was left for that record. 1t is known
however, Ur supposed. at least, that 1
was put into the possession Of an oil
servant-one Of the few men the oil
king trustees. But this man fnall,
gave up some part OF what he knew
part of the proof. whatever It was-t,
the new king. when he himself wal
! about to die.
Between them. Count Frederick an,
Michael the Second bankrupted thi
kingdom. or at least Michael did. i