The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-03-02
CHAPTER ~.
The Consul,a Story.


The business of any true American
consul is to have known the father, or
at least some relation, of any caller
who comes from his own nation. Con.
sui Jethro Thompson of Ohio, cast
away in the. melancholy enterprise of
representing the dignity of this repub-
lie in this small and none-too-well-
known principal lityo5t Gretzhoffen,w was
glad d@rgalfy glaf-to see Miss Kitty
Gray. And he knew-reaIly knew
her father, or had. done so at the time
when he was still living. ::
"Its a grand little place, isn't it
Gretzhoffen?" said Kitty smiling. t.I've
read about it-and written about it
before now. But this isn't a-vacation,
really. l am on big assignment, Mr..
Consul. l may want your help-the
only trouble is, don't know what do
want to do am after a story, and 1
don't know where it is or what it isl"
The gaunt, kindly old man smiled
at her. well, my dear, rest assured
that will do all I can for you. And,
between US, we ought to start some
thing, maybe; if it's stories you're
after, you've come to the place where
they grow, that's sure enough. Why,
Miss Kitty, the story Of the king of
Gretzhoffen alone would fill book"
"What do you know of Gretzhoffen,
anyhow" he asked suddenly. 'You
said you had written about it. I sup
pose"
|. well, you see," replied Kitty,
/ when the big news story about the
proposed Gretzhoffen loan-its hawk
ing about the street and it's rejection
when that came out l was put on the
assignment of looking into GretZhoffen
in general. I remember that the old
kings name was Michael, wasn't it?"
sThe one that died? Yes, Michael
the First. He was a good sort. His
death was the unluckiest thing that
ever happened for this poor little peo-
pie. He was a good man. King Michael,
and strong one and just. So much
cannot be said, 1 am thinking, of the
new incumbent of the throne, Michael
the Second
"You see, this Michael the Second is
only king in name, when it comes to
facts. He is only a little lieutenant.
He has been put on the job by bigger
| and stronger man-Count Frederick is
the real power behind the throne in
Gretzhoffen-a strong and handsome
| man-be sure you don't fall in love
| with him. What Count Frederick
plans no one knows. Perhaps he
has his own eye on the throne-we
can't tell what may happen. I say it
| is tense sort of place, Gretzhoffen.
But Gretzhoffen is broke. Michael, the
| king, is broke. Count Frederick, the
That is why they tried to make loan
in our own country.
| but they didn't seem to have the
collateral-no unused revenues-noth-
ing which had not been used or spent
or wasted.
when Michael the First died, his
| treasury disappeared. He was rich,
| the old king waS-rich in the name of
Gretzhoffen. But the crown jewels,
the imperial securities, the crown
treasures of all sorts, the imperial
mintage of every description-they
disappeared. There was rumor that
the old king hid his treasures some.
where, but that he left some sort of a
mysterious record by which they might
be traced. No one knows just what
was left for that record. 1t IS known
however, or supposed, at least, that it
was put into the possession of an old
servant-one of the few men the old
king trusted. But this man finally
gave up some part of what he knew
part Of the proof, whatever it was-to
the new king, when he himself was
about to die.
Between them, Count Frederick and
Michael the Second bankrupted this
kingdom, or at least Michael did. II