The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-07-29
mo personary, aren't YouV

digent and decrepit chorus girls, dH
you? I put no conditions on wha
you are to do with the money. Ita
for YOU"
Have you ever sold any gree,
oods?" demanded Kent. III not
you've certainly missed your cali
ing"
The baron failed to understand tht
literal translation OF an unknown
swindle; but he surmised that hi
proffer was being ridiculed. AMI
having made his last pitch In Thu
direction. his face hardened and he
displayed the real man he was. re-
sourceful. striving for new hold.
He became quite natural ready to
storm his way through. strike, smash
under foot. and pass on.
You jest" he said. unsrnilingly.
you think you can play me- Good!
If you don't induce Rhodes to adj
vance another 100000 francs, II
promise you this: that he shall never
get a single centime of the money
he has already advanced, and that !
shall also tell him that yoM made m<
take this decision. How does that
strike you, Mr.. Richard Kent?"
He sat back with an air of triumiI,
and waited.
Strike? How does that strike me?
Why, very good. Baron. save for this:
that I took few precautions before
came here In fact, you rather
please me. when recall that you are
somewhat younger than and doubt
less lacking in experience. I think
you might do we'll on Wall street, or
In good stiff game of poker. Ever
play ft7 That's too bad! You're
ignorant of lot that we teach school
boys. over in America. By the wax
have you a telegraph form?"
Puzzled by this swift speech. and
inclined to believe that the difference
in national characteristics accounted
for any balk of agreement. after all.
the baron resumed his air Of suavity,
and threw blank sheet Of paper
across the table which Ivan, as If
schooled to service, laid in front of
hi employer, and handed him q
pencil.
You said" remarked Kent. with
the pencil poised in his fingers and
looking across at tho baron, thai if
didn't get Rhodes to advance you
5.000,0 900 francs more. you would re-
pudiate the loan?"
IT said it,
"You don't dare do It'll"
II don't, Ell? Try me, Mr.. Kent"
There was the utmost assurance in
his words, but his manner belied
them as he watched the American.
who painstakLngly scrawIed a mes
sage on the sheet Of paper. then, al
most carelessly, tossed it along
toward Provarsk. It fell short, and
Ivan. like an automaton, picked 1t
With show Of nothing more than
cursory interest, the baron read it
It was addressed to the foreign min
lister of Austria and said: "Provarsk.
who Ia now dictator Of Marken, ow-
ing to the abdication Of Karl II. re-
pudiAtes Rhodes loan. The action
previously agreed upon between us
is now expected and will be respond
ed to as promised. Immediate results
will be easy of accomplishment"
(Signed)
"Rdchard Kent, agent for John
Rhodes"
The baron read it with an unmoved
face.
"Of course" he said, as placidly as
if discussing the weather. II don't
understand it's meaning"
| luSl . easy W -6Apldlu, u0ClaTSQ
the American, and there was some
thing in his attitude quite like that
of a cat playing with beetle, or a
gentleman holding royal flush
while the others consider. Austria
has borrowed money. quite lot Of
it, and wants more. might add, from
Mr.. Rhodes. Funny condition at
tached to that loan. Baron. Might
interest you to know about 1t. Laugh
able and unusual, in fact!"
He bent forward and smiled sweet
ly at the usurper.
Something like this: that loan
was granted and the second request
considered, with the proviso that If
Marker refused to pay that 5000 900,
Austria was to Immediately take
Marker ana assume the indebted