Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-26


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 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 sheer at $780,
| 100000? He managed to choke back
something that rose to his lips and
very politely remarked:
81 am sure you will like her, prince.
If l 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. cannot
"1'll fix it with Mrs. King. Don't
! you worry"
May ! 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 be pardoned for sug-
/ costing that it is your duty to your
people to completely understand this
loan Of mine before you agree to ae-
cept it?" said Mr.. Blithers, COM
pressing his lips.
"Forgive me, Mr.. Blithers. but 1t
is not altogether improbable that
Graustark may secure the money
elsewhere"
at is not only improbable. but i'm
possible" said Mr.. Blithers fatty.
"Impossible?"
absolutely" said the millionaire,
so significantly that Robin would
have been 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 damned
his hands deep into his coat pockets.
1.-THE day my daughter is married to
the man of my choice | will hand
over to that man exactly twenty mil
lion dollars" he said slowly, impress
sively.
eyes; go on
"The sole object have in life is to
see my girl happy and at the same
time at the top of the heap. She is
worthy of any mans love. She is as
good as gold. She
"The point is this. then: You
would like to have me for son-in-
law"
eyes" said Mr.. Blithers.
Robin grinned He was amused in
spite of himself. You take it for
granted that can be bought"
Il have not made any such state
ment."
And how much will you hand over
to the man of her choice when she
marries him." inquired the young
man.
You will be her choice" said the
other without the culver of an eyelash
How can you be sure of that? Has
she no mind of her own"
at isn't incomprehensible that she
should fall in love with you, is II?
ut might be possible. of course. pro
vided she is not already in love with
some one else"
Mr.. Blithers started. Have you
heard any one say that But that's
nonsense. She's not in love with any
one. take 1t from me And Just ,e
show you how fair am to her-and lc
you'll stake my head you fall in
love with each other before you've
been together week"
1T is possible that / could fall In
love with her inside OF week or even
sooner. But | don't intend TO, Mr.
Blithers. any more than she intends to
fall in love with me- You say that
$50 100000 will so to the man she mar
ries il he is your choice Well. don't
give hang. sir. Ii you make ii $50.