The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-07-15
THE UNKNOWN
MIR. KENT
GEORGE H DORIAN CO.. 1916 copyR1cr.

| ashou tne KING dS IL Dy dllerLnOugh
Because | could conceive of n
one being fool enough to offer m
such a sum for a concession" re
piled the king. 1T would reuuir
more capital or labor than l cal
! produce to make them pay"
| Kent stared speculatively at him
| and took turn through the room.
| I'm not certain that | wouldn'
! be foolish enough to try it, he saiC
thoughtfully. I've been we'll in
formed that they are valuable. Why
not grant me a twenty four year con
cesslon, out of which ! give you ten
per cent of the profit; but with this
clear agreement: that | am to have
fuil power to haudle you and your
Kingdom to make them pay? It's the
only way | can find to save Rhodes
money for him"
The king loled tempted yet eau
tiously considerate; but did not an
swer in haste.
Kent paced the room thoughtfully.
and at last, with kindly air, walked
across and laid his hand on the kings
shoulder
You are not a king to me-" he
said. quietly. "You are just a fine.
brave young fellow, with high ideals.
WHO deserves chance. l hate to
see as decent young chap as you
are fail, irretrievably for the want of
some one to back him, and to show
him the way through We don5't have
kings in my country; but we have the
young fellows. And | have helped a
lot Of them. when about all thew
needed was some one to pat them on
the back and say, It's all right, Boy.
You're not licked yet! Get up and
try again.! And most always, they
take heart and go in and win. Your
duty is to be king! And l now tell
you, go and be one! If youu do az
l say. Provarsk is much ADLER than I |
think he is, if we don't best him.
hand and foot. In any event, he shall |
have struggle that will make him
about the busiest usurper that ever |
tried for throne!"
Theking, trained to repress display
OF emotions since childhood, and |
passed through the course which
makes of princes wooden-faced i'm
ages, forgot all that education as the
American progressed, and became
desperate hurt human be-
ing. craving friendship and support.
His lips twitched and strained under
this unexpected tender of sympathy.
They might have remained unmoved
had he walked upon the scaffoid of
a guillotine, but here was a new en-
otion, that rendered him defence
less. With something akin to boyish
amazement, he stared at the grim,
satirical, strong face above him as
Il to make certain of the character
hat offered open support in return
[or secret domination, and what he
Jaw there gave him confidence. For
\ long time he weighed the situa-
ion with all its alternatives, asking
low and then cautious questions and
'eceiving reassuring answers. At
asst. quite like one taking a final
md desperate chance, he made his
..ssoisiioI. lie stood to his feet, as be-
lifted the gravity OF the situation,
md said. very simply, II accept The
concession is yours. and I put my
'elf completely in your hauds be-
'ause trust you and because have
10 other recourse. Our agreement is
me OF honour. to last until you have
secured your superior's money, or
" your own word release me from
urther obligation"
That is fair; very fair" Kent re-
'iied. with equal gravity. "And you
nay trust me to make my stay as
'rief as possible, because I've no
wish for the job" He paused min.
lite and added with one Of his rare.
laif-humorous smiles. "You see, the
act is, never have run kingdom
before. Once when l was young.
an a sawmill, and after all, running
and sawmills are mot
much different. Both consist in seeing
hat the work is well DONE"
The king extended his hand to
q -. -<r
ne financial ACCT, who took it, and
or an instant held it, and studied
he kings face as if to make last
.ppraisement Of this material with
which he must work.
And take it that the chancell-
,r-"
For more than 20 years, as a boyI
md man." Won Glutz rumbled, Ell
Saive0 the house of His mai
.Sty And hnhirH