The Arvada enterprise., 1916-02-24
The grand duke, who had played DO

ker In America and fan-tan in China
and roulette in Monte Carlo. and all
the other games throughout the world.
smiled with his impressive big eyes.
and put his hand up under his beard.
THE matter then seems to resolve
itself into a question Of price," he
commented.
"No; protection" responded Allison
III were buying these railroads out
right, should expect my property in.
terests to be guarded. even II had to
appeal to international equity; but
am not"
No" admitted the grand duke.
! They cannot be purchased
The proposition resolves itself then
into a matter OF virtual commercial
seizure" Allison pointed out
The grand duke. still with his hand
in his beard. chuckled. as he regarded
Allison amusedly.
81 shall not mind II you call it D!
racy," he observed. I'VE. in Russia.
must collect our revenues as we can.
and We are as frank as Americans
about it. Returning to your matter OF
protection. shall admit that the
only agreement upon which we can
secure what you want, would not hold
in International equity; and, in conse.
quence, the only protection | can give
you is my personal word that you will
not be molested in anything which you
wish to do. providing it is pleasant to
myself and those represent"
| Then Wen make it an annual pay.
ment," decided Allison, putting away
some figures he had prepared. We'll
make 1t sliding scale. increasing
each year with the earnings"
| The grand duke considered that
| proposition Gravely. and offered an
amendment
After the first year" he said. I'VE
shall begin with a large bonus, how
ever"
| Allison again put out OF his mind
certain figures he had prepared to sug.
| gest. Apparently the grand duke need.
ed a large supply of immediate cash,
and the annual payments thereafter
would need to be decreased accord
ingly. with still another percentage de-
| Quoted for profit on the dukes neces-
sites
Let US first discuss the bonus" pro.
! posed Allison. and quite amicably they
went into the arrangement, whereby
Ivan Strolesky ilched the only valu.
able railroad lines in his country from
the control of its present graft-ridden
| possessors. and handed it over to the
International Transportation company.
BY the way" said Allison. How
soon can we obtain possession"
Ivan Strolesky put his hand in his
beard again. and reelected.
There is only one man who stands
in the way" he calculated He will
be removed Immediately upon my re-
turn"
There was something so uncanny
about this that even the practical
| Allison was shocked for an instant,
and then he laughed.
We 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 a
| bright red line across the land OF tho
| frozen seas.
There came famous diplomat, a
| heavy blond man with red face
! and big spectacles and a high, wide.
round forehead.
81 do not know what you want"
said the visitor. regarding Allison with
"A stolid stare. Il have come to see"
Il merely wish to chat international
politics" returned Allison. There is
an old-time feud between you and your
ncighbors to the west"
THAT is history" replied the visitor
| peace"
Never peace" dcnied Allison.
There will never be friendship be-
tween phlegmatism and mercuriaIism.
You might rest for centuries with your
neighhOrs to the west. but rest is not
peace"
Excuse me. but what do you mean?"
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
difficulty" 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 stolidly
staring
You are about TO have a war" All.
! son advised him.
No. 1t Is not true" and the visitor
went so far. in his emphasis. AS to un.
lock his fingers and rest one hand on
! tho back OF the other.
u think am n very fair prophet"
said Allison easily. Il have made
mono, by my prophecy. / have more
money at my command at the present
| time than any man IN the world than
any government. wealth beyond han.
ding IN mere currency II can only be
/ conveyed by means Of checks. Let me
/ show how easy II is TO write them"
/ aud. drawing "A blank book to him he
/ wrote check, and signed his name.
a. 4,