The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-23

THE PRINCE OF
.GRAUSTAR K
By George Barr McCutcheOn=
eepxrght by Doda. Mead and =
oopyright, 1914 by Dodd, Mead and Company.


W8S8VSVWSUBUSSV0OVSS
prince at Red Roof later IN the week.
when the situation could be discussed
over dish of tea or cup of lemon
ade. That is precisely the way Mr..
B1ithers put it.
The next afternoon MRS. BIithers> left
cards at Red ROTOR, rather, the foot
man left theRand on the day fol-
lowing the Kings and their guests re-
cefved invitations to ball at Blither-
wood on the ensuing Friday, but four
days off. While Mrs. King and the
two young men were discussing the in
vitation the former was called to the
telephone. Mrs. BIitheFs herself was
speaking.
81 hope you will pardon me for call
ing you up, Mrs King, but-I wanted
to be sure that you /can come on. the
| 18th. We want so much to have the
prince and his friends with US. Mr..
Blfthers has taken a great fancy to
Prince Robin and Count Quinnox, and
he declares the whole affair will be a
hasco if they are not to be here
cit is good Of you to ask US, Mrs.
Blithers. The prince is p1anning to
leave for Washington and fear
ooh, you must prevail upon him to
remain over, my dear Mrs. King. We
| are to have lot of people up from
Newport and Tu1edo-you know the
crowd-it's the real crowd, and I'm
sure he will enjoy meeting them. Mr..
Bhthers has arranged for special
train 10 bring them up-a train de
luxe, you may be sure, both as to
equipment and occupant. Zabos or
| ehestra, too. A notion seized US last
night to give the ball, which accounts
A.cyIsr h
de everything a minutes notice
''Of course. we shall insist on the
prince receiving with us. He is our
piece de resistance. YOU
sPm sure it will be awfuI1y jolly,
Mrs. Blithers. What did you sayT'
II beg pardon?''
"Fm sorry. I was speaking to the
prince. He just called upstairs to me-
What does he say?''
| cit was really nothing. He was
asking about Hobbs
ftHobbs? Tell him, please, that if
he has any friends he would Hike to
have invited we shall be only too
proud to-
/ "oh, thank you, I'll tell him. -
"WeI1, perhaps Maud and I may run
| in and see you for a few minutes to-
morrow or next day, just to talk
things over a 1ittle-what's that,
Maud? Il beg your pardon, Mrs. King.
Ahemi Well, I'll call you up tomor-
| row, if you don't mind being both
cred about a silly old ball. .Goodhy."
| Mrs. King confronted Robin in the
| lower hall a few seconds later and
round1y berated him for shouting up
the steps that Hobbs ought to be in
vfted to the ball. Prince Robin rolled
| on cotfch and roared with delight.
Lieutenant Dank, as became an Of
/ fcer Of the Royal guard, stood at at
tention-in the bow window with his
back to the room. very red about the
ears and rigid to the bursting point.
t1 suppose, however, wen have to
keep on the good side of the Blithers
| syndicate said Robin soberly, after
his nirth had subsidized before her
wrath. "Good Lord, Aunt Lorraine, I
simply cannot Ngo up there and stand
in line like freak in a side show for
all the ladies and girls to cape at.
I'll get sick the day of the party,
that's what I'll do, and you can tell
'em how deso1ated am over my mis-
4 fortune.
"They've got their eyes on you,
Bobby" she said fatty. 'TYou can't
escape SO easily as all that. If you're
Enot very, very careful they'll have
you married to the charming Miss
Maud before you can say Jack Rab-
Bit
f"Think so2 Is she good looking?''
''well. / would consider her to be "
very good looking girl"
tsBIonde ?"
NsMixed. Light brown hair and very
dark eyes and lashes. A little taller
than I, more graceful and a splendid
borsewoman. I've seen her riding"
ssAstride?"
''No. I've seen her in a ball gown
too. Most men think she's stunning .
'sWEu, let's have game of billiards, -
said he, disnissing Maud in a way that
would have caused the proud Mr. Blith-
ers to reel with indignation.
4 A little later on, at the billiard
table, Mrs. King remarked, appopos
7 of nothing and quite out of clear
sky, SO to speak:
ssAnd sne'li do anytEdngsher parents
command her to do; that's the worst
of it. IF they order her to marry a
title she'll do It. THAT'S the way sheRe
been brought up, I'm sfgEsd:''
The next day Count QBzfnnox and
King returned from the CITY coming
up IN q private car with HEr. Bzfthere
himself.
"I'n have Maud drive me over this
afternoon" said Mr.. B1fti1ers as they
parted at the station.
But Maud did not drive kim oEel
Il "a 81 sft< y-v,raxz4 The TaTsaf7kt. faR and