The Washington times., 1919-02-03
CHAPTER Nv.
A Proatable Bit Or Bp.lps.s.


Baron. Plucke had not made his
fortune solely on the Stock Ex-
change-a drst-cIass business man,
no branch. Of speculation was unfa-
miliar to him. and for thirty years
he had been interested in all. the
great enterprises whlen had en-
riched their stockholders.
A bachelor, a muItimillionalre,
able to- indulge, without hesitation,
his most costly fancies, people
wondered why he still devoted him
self to work -
1t was purely from inclination.
Baron Piucke could not be idle.
Every morning he received every
one -:Who. came to his -oHfce. He
listened to them patiently, took
notes and, a few days later, his
secretary wrote his decisions con-
cerning their proposals or their re-
quests, for petitioners, as may be
supposed, were no less numerous
than inventors.
Besides, no man lived more sim
ply5than he.
Though be" owned< gallery OF
Wonderful- pictures, where all the
schools Of painting were repre-
seuted by masterpieces, through
his racing stable was famous
as one OF the most magnifi-
cent in the world, though his
name appeared heading the sub
seriptions Of every club. every art
exhibition. every charitable society
and pleasure. meeting ~of PaFisTon
life, he himself, had no luxury. A
single valet gave all the service he
required and people would have
been astonished II they had enter
ed his home at meal hours TO see
the frugality OF. HIS table, or to
meet him, after leaving his auto-
mobile at the, garage, pursuing his
way, like the most modest citizen
on foot or IN an autohus-
On theavery day OF BIS interview
with Eucien DeIorme, at Madame
AFmelin's family boarding house.
his valet on his return, gave him
the card Of a. visitor who had been
waiting several moments:
COMTE, D,ABAZoLI-VISCoSA -
Ex Embassy -Attaehe
Representing
His Highness' the MahsTajah~oe
Pandhukurfah
T., Rue VeZslay.
The baron knew his caller, haY-
ing met him already several things
in society, where q mutual friend
had introduced them to each other.
He gave orders that he should be
admitted at once.
The visitor was man still young
in appearance, distinguished in
bearing, with pleasant feature,
keen eyes. and a slightly +bEonZed
complexion, being a native OF Sicily,
where his relatives had perished In
the terrible earthquake that de-
stroyed Messiaa.
Baron Plucke shook hands with
him, invited him to a seat. and
courteously asked the reason or
his visit
.'You are not ignorant, sir" re-.
piled the comte, that I am the
Paris representative Of the MahR-
rajah OF Pandhukurrah. It would
be. too long a story, and moreover
useless, to explain why left the
diplomatic career to occupy this
that have succeeded my father,
who himself owed IL to the deep
affection OF the prince, whose lite
he had saved in a tiger hunt Hts
Highness desired to. transfer 20 me
the confidence he reposed in him.
But" he interrupted himself. -this
has nothing to do with the object
Of my visit. and will so to the
points 80"
The Msharaiah Of Pandhukurrah,
OF whom Comte d'AbazoH-ViseoSa
spoke, was-if rumor could be
credited-one or the richest and
most powerful Of the Indian princes.
He owned immense territories. su-
perb palaces. elephants and baya-
deres by thousands, and endless
--. ~,
When he went out on an ele-
phant capariSoned with gold bro
cade embroidered with pearls, It's
tusks adorned with chased rings, q
throng OF horsemen, In brilliant uni
forms, pranced around him on
spirited steeds, bearing as weapons
guns and sabers in
crusted with. precious stones
Nothing could equal his wonder
full entertainments except those de-
scribed in, the Arabian Nights"
and when he. arranged a hunting
party he took with him a regular
army OF elephant drivers, beatsrs,
grass cutters, tent raisers, -palan-
quin bearers. cooks, and servants OF
al. hlnQS.
It would seem, that life so IuxlI-
rious must flow on forever amid the
roses OF the Persian poet; his pride,
unfortunately, planted thorns
among these.
II will be remembered, that. at
the Durbar OF Delhi where. accord
ing to custom, the English king re-
cefved the home OF all the HindOo
one alone among them re-
fused to kneeI and kiss the ground
before the new emperor.
This was the Maharajah OF
Pandhukurrah.
Going forward to the foot OF the
throne, he bowed deferential1y, and
retired IN, the same way, considering
hts lineage too noble for him TO
make hefoze another man those