The Glasgow courier., 1916-07-21

0OouS. oeSeI SOUS ludI Will luIuh
and act. Weed out the thin blood
and give the crown of Grasstick
something that is thick and red. 1t |
will be the making Of your
Il suppose you are advising me to
marry an American woman, Mr.. Blith-
ers." said Robin dryly.
Mr.. Blithers directed a calculating
squint into the treetops. Il am simply
looking ahead for my own protection,
prince" said he.
You may rest assured, Mr.. Blithers,
that l shall marry to please myself
and no one else." said Robin, regard
ing him with coldness thatfor an in.
stant affected the millionaire uncom.
fortably.
Well" said Mr.. Blithers after mo-
ment of hard thinking. lit may inter
love-"
ut does interest me-" said Robin.
Il am glad that you did"
Il was comparatively poor man
when l married. The girl l married
was we'll OF in her own right. She
had brains as we'll. We worked to-
gether to lay the foundation for a.
well. for the fortune we now possess.
fortune, may add, that is to 60. every
dollar of it. to my daughter. 1t repre-
sents nearly $500.O00,000. The great.
est king in the world today is poor in
comparison to that vast estate. My
daughter will one day be the richest
woman in the world"
why are you taking the pains to en-
tighten me as to your daughters fu-
ture. Mr.. Blithers?"
Because l regard you as sensible
young man, prince"
Thank you. And suppose you re-
gard your daughter as a sensible young
woman?"
Certainly" exploded Mr.. Blithers.
well, it seems to me she will be
capable of taking care of her fortune
great deal more successfully than you
imagine, Mr.. Blithers. She will doubt
less marry an excellent chap who has
the capacity to increase her fortune
rather than to let it stand at figure
that some day may be surpassed by
| &.
There was fine irony in the princes
tone, but no trace of offensiveness.
Nevertheless Mr.. Blithers turned a
shade more purple than before and not
from the violence of exercise. He was
having some difficulty in controlling
his temper. What manner of fool was
this fellow who could sneer at $780,
| Ia To nh hoo o1>
something that rose to his lips and
very politely remarked:
II am sure you will like her, prince.
If do say it myself. she is as hand
some as they grow"
$50 l have been told"
"You will see her tonight
"Really. Mr.. Blithers. l cannot
"Tll fix it with Mrs. King. Don't
you worry
May l be pardoned for observing
that Mrs. King, greatly as love her.
is not invested with the power to
govern my actions?" said Robin
haughtily.
"And may l - pardeaed for sug-
gesting that it is your duty to your
people to completely understand this
loasf Of mine before you sSgree to ac-
cept it," said Mr.. Blithers. COM
pressing his lips.
"Forgive me, Mr.. Blithers. but it
is not altogether improbable that
Graustark may secure the money
elsewhere"
ut is not only improbable. but inn
possible" said Mr.. Blithers fatty.
"Impossible?"
"Absolutely." said the millionaire.
SO significantly that Robin would
have been a dolt not to grasp the sit
uation. Nothing could have been
clearer than the fact that Mr.. Blith-
ers believed it to be in his power to
block any effort Graustark might
make in other directions to secure the
much needed money.
"Will you come to the point, Mr..
Blithers?" said the young prince
stopping abruptly in the middle of
the road and facing his companion.
"What are you trying to get at?"
Mr.. Blithers was not long in get
ting to the point. In the first place.
he was hot and tired. and his shoes
were hurting; in the second place. he
felt that he knew precisely how to
handle these money seeking scions of
nobility. He planted himself square
ly in front of the prince and jammed
his hands deep into his coat pockets.
"The day my daughter is married to