The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1916-06-08


very commonplace briar pipe.
The customary he gossip and peren.
NAL snooper who is always making the
voyage no matter what ship one takes
or the direction one goes, nosed out
the purser and discovered that the
young man was R. Schmidt of Vienna,
He was busy thereafter mixing with
the throng, volunteering information
that had not been solicited. but which
appeared to be welcome. Especially
were the young women on board
grateful to the he gossip when he &C
costed them as a perfect stranger to
tell them the name of another and
even more perfect stranger.
81 am sorry we lost those rooms on
the Salammbo," said the younger of
his two companions. 81 had them
positively engaged, money paid down. ="
Some one else came along with
more money, Dank," observed r.
Schmidt. I'VE ought TO be thankful
that we received anything at all. Has
it occurred to you that this boat isn't
crowded."
Not more than half FULL" said the
older man. "All of the others appear
ed to be packed from hold to funnel
This must be an unpopular boat"
81 don't know where we'd be, how
ever, if Mr.. Blithers hadn't thought of
the Jupiter almost at the last minute, -
said R. Schmidt.
mine day boat, though" growled the
old man.
81 don't mind that in the least. She's
steady old tub, and that's some
thing"
Hobbs tells me that it is most ex-
traordinary to find the eastbound
steamers crowded at this season of
the year." said Dank. 'He can't under
stand it at all. The crowds go over in
June and July. and by this time they
should be starting for home. Thought
we'd have no difficulty in getting on
any one of the big boats, but, by jove,
everywhere / went they said they
were full up"
ut was uncommonly decent of Blith-
ers not coming down to see US off,
said the elderly man, who was down
on the passenger list as Totten. q
was apprehensive. pom my soul. He
stuck like a leech up to the last min
ute"
r. Schmidt was rejecting. at struck
me as queer that he had not heard OF
the transfer of our securities in Lon
don"
81 cannot understand Bernstein &
Sons selling out at time when the
price of our bonds is considerably be-
low their actual value" said Totten,
frowning. "A million pounds sterling
is what their holdings really REPRE-
scented, according to the dispatches
they must have sold at a loss of nearly
950,000.
I'VE should have a Marconigram to-
night or tomorrow in regard to the bid
made in Paris for the bonds held by
the French syndicate" said Dank, pull
ing at his short mustache. Mr. Blith-
ers is Investigating"
There is something sinister in all
this" said r. Schmidt. who is buy
ing up all of the outstanding bonds,
and what is behind the movement?
London has sold all that were held
there. and Paris is approached OF the
same day. If Paris and Berlin should
sell, nearly f4,000000 in Graustark
bonds will be in the hands of people
whose identity and motives appear to
be shrouded in the deepest mystery"
And G4,000.000 represents the en-
tire amount of our bonds held by out
side parties said Totten, with sig
nificant shake of his grizzled head
The remainder are in the possession
Of our own Institutions and the people
themselves. We should hear from
Edelweiss. too, in response to my ca
blegram. Perhaps Romano may be
able to throw light on the situation.
confess that ! am troubled"
A steward was politely accosting the
trio.
81 beg pardon, is this Mr.. Totten?"
yes"
Message for you. sir. at the
purser's."
bring it to my stateroom, Totten,"
said r. Schmidt briefly. and the old
man hurried away on the heels of the
messenger.
The two young men sauntered care
lessly in an opposite direction and
soon disappeared from the deck A
few minutes later Totten entered the
luxurious parlor of R. Schmidt and
laid an unopened wireless message on
the table at the young mans elbow.
open il. Totten"
The old man slit the envelope and
glanced at the contents. He nodded
lis head in answer to an unspoken
question.
.'Sold?" asked r. Schmidt.
Paris and Berlin. both of them,
prince. Every bond has been gobbled
up
Does he mention the name of the
buyer"
"Only by the use Of the personal
pronoun. He says: 4 have taken over
the Paris and Berlin holdings. All is
WELL 1t is signed b So! Now We
know"
r. Schmidt INDUCED in a wry little
smile at amounts to nearly $4,000
600, count. That's a great deal OF
money TO spend in the pursuit of an
idle whim."
"Humph," grunted the old count,
and then favored the sunny faced
prince with a singularly sharp glance.
.Of course you understand his gamer"
Perfectly. It's as clear as day. He
intends to be the crown father-in-law.
/ suppose he will expect Graustark to
establish an Order of Royal GRANDPA
Tiers"
eofd the oo,Dt cariOzrcIv