The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-01-07

The grad duka wA0 hKd giayea ~
her I'm America and stantAn Ia chin1i
and rculests In Monta CaFtas AMI Eall
TIA ether games shFpsgh0st - vuraa.
smiled With his impressive ~ ere
and put his hand uD ander hss hsaEd.
-TAe matter then seems " fae0iss
itself hate d GusstioH II pxiesss III
commentsd-
-No: prosectian.- responded Ailhpa.
III I wsle buying thssa railroads. ost-
right. ! should expect my prcperty -
tsrests 70 be guarded. svsn u hAt 20
appeal to international eqAty; ouf
an nUt.-
No" admitted the grand dakA
"Thsy cannot be purchased
The proposition resolves itsalf thefl
into q matter Of virtual commercial
seixure.- Allison pointed out --
The grand duke. eth with bic hand
In his beard, chnekled. a. he regarded
Allison amasedly.
I AhRll not mind II you call u pi'
racy." no observed. We. In Russia
must collect our revenues a. we eAn.
and We are Az frank AZ Americans
about IT. Returning to youv matter o.
protection, shall admit that the
only agreement upon which we con
secure what you want, would NOT hoia
In international equity; and, In conss
quence, the only protection can give
you Is my personal word that You VIII
not be molested In anything which yca
wish to do. providing 1t 10 pleasant TO
myself and those represent"
Then we'll make II an annual par
meat" decided Allison. putting away
some figures he had prepared. Wen
make It q sliding scale, increasing
each year with the earnings"
Tho grand duke considered that
proposition gravely, and offered an
amendment
After the trst year." he said We
shall begin with q large bonus, how
ever"
Allison again put out or bis sntnd
certain figures he had prepared to sug-
gest Apparently the grand duke need
ed large supply OF immediate cash.
and the annual payments thereafter
would need to be decreased accord
ingly. with still another percentage do
Quoted for profit on the dukes ncces-
sites,
Let us first discuss the bonus" pro
posed Allison. and quito amicably they
went into the arrangement. whereby
Ivan strolesky flched the only vaiu-
able railroad lines In his country from
the control OF its present graft-ridden
possessors, and handed II over 10 the
International Transportation company.
by the way" said Allison. How
soon can we obtain possessionY"
Ivan Strolesky put his hand In his
beard again. and reflected.
There liz only one man who standa
In the way" he calculated. HE will
be removed Immediately upon my 70
turn"
There was something 30 uncanny
about this .tat even the practical
Allison was shocked for an instant.
and then he laughed.
I'VE have still much to learn from
your country" he courteously con
fessed
When Ivan Strolesky had gone. ALI.
son went TO his globe and drew q
bright red line across the land OF tho
frozen seas.
There came famous diplomat, a
heavy blond man with q red face
and big spectacles and . high. wide.
round forehead.
Il do not know what you want"
said the visitor. regarding Allison with
s,olid stare. Il have come to sec"
Il merely wish 10 chat international
politics" returned Allison. There Is
an oldtime feud between you and your
neighbors 10 the west"
THAT Is history" replied the visitor
noncommittally. We are now at
peace"
Never peace" denied Allison,
There VIII never be friendship be
tween phlegmaiism and mercurialism.
You might rest for centuries with your
neighb0rs 10 the west, but rest is not
peace
Excuse me, but what do you meanT'
and the visitor stared stolidly.
In your affairs OF mutual relation
ship with the land TO the west. there
are not less than dozen causes upon
which war could be started without
difllculty.' went on Allison. In fact.
you require perpetual diplomacy TO
prevent war with that country"
The visitor locked his thick fingers
quietly together and kept on stolldly
staring.
You are about to have a war;" Ali.
son advised him.
NO. II is not true" and the visitor
went so far. in his emphasis. as TO un-
lock his fingers and rest one hand on
the back OF the other.
y think | am a very fair prophet"
said Allison easily. 4 have made
money by my prophecy. have more