Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-17

say. Well, II I am to lend Groostork
q good many millions Of hard earned
dollars certainly don't relish the
idea that you may take 1t into your
head to upset the whole transaction
merely because you have not had the
matter presented to you by me in
stead Of by your cabinet. competent
ss its members may be. First hand
information on any subject Is my no
ton Of simplicity"
1.-THE integrity Of the cabinet Ia not
to be questioned. Mr.. Blithers. Its
members have never failed Graustark
In any
II beg your pardon. prince" said
Mr.. Blithers firmly, "but I certainly
suspect that they failed her when
they contracted this debt to Russia.
You will forgive me for saying it, but
It was the most asinine bit Of short
sightedness I've ever heard Of. My
office boys could have seen farther
than your honorable ministers. What
you need in Groostock Is little more
good American blood. II you are go
Ing to cope with the world you've got
to tackle the Job with brains and not
with that idiotic thing called faith.
There's no such thing these days as
charity among men. good will and all
that nonsense. Now. you've got q
splendid start in the right direction.
prince. You've got American blood IN
your veins. and that means a good
deal. Take my advice and increase
the proportion. In q couple Of gener-
ations you'll have something to brag
about. Beget sons that will think
and act. Weed out the thin blood
and give the crown Of Grasstick
something that is thick and red. It
will be the making of your
II suppose you are advising me to
marry an American woman, Mr.. Bhth-
ers," said Robin dryly.
Mr.. Blithers directed q calculating
squint into the treetops. II am simply
looking ahead for my own protection,
prince" said he.
you may rest assured. Mr.. Blithers,
that shall marry to please myself
and no one else," said Robin, regard
ing him with a coldness that for an In
slant affected the millionaire uncom-
fortably.
We'll" said Mr.. Blithers after a mo-
ment of hard thinking. ut may inter-
est you to know that married for
love-"
1T does interest me-" said Robin.
II am glad that you did"
II was a comparatively poor man
when married. The girl I married
was well of In her own right. She
had brains as well. We worked to-
gether to lay the foundation for a.
well, for the fortune we now possess, q
fortune, may add. that is to 90. every
dollar Of 1t, to my daughter. 1t repre-
sents nearly $5o0.0oo.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.. Blithersr"
because I regard you as sensible
young man. prince"
"Thank you. And I suppose you re-
gard your daughter as sensible young
woman?"
~Certainly!" exploded Mr.. Blithern
well, It seems to me she VIII be
capable of taking care Of her fortune .
great deal more successfully than you
imagine, Mr.. Blithers. She viii doubt
less marry an excellent chap who has
the capacity to increase her fortune
rather than to let 1t stand at q figure
that some day may be surpassed BY
the possession Of an ambitious king"
There was fine irony In the princes
tone, but no trace Of offensiveness.
Nevertheless Mr.. Blithers turned .
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,.
100000? He managed to choke back
something that rose to his lips and
very politely remarked:
~ am sure you viii like her, prince
Il do say It myself. she is as hand
some a. they grow"
$50 I have been told"
sYou will see her tonight"
sReally. Mr.. Blithers, ] cannot
sT1l Ak It With Mrs. King. Don't
IN xoezy."