Evening star., 1925-08-12

Continued from Yesterdays starr
Il will tell you what Lord Yeovil
has DONE" he went on. He has had
the courage of a great man. He has
braved possible opposition-and op-
position to the chairman of the Pact
of Nations can only mean one thing,
where the personal dignity of that
funCtiouary is concerned. He has. I
say, braved opposition and he has
pointed out to all of us the weak link
in the chain of our hope for eternal
peace. I mean the standing out of
YOUR great country. sir" he added.
bowing TO Slattery, the United States
of America. from the Pact of Nations.
Some of us have felt that by her re-
peated refusals she did not deserve
any further invitations. Some OF us
have selfishly felt that we ourselves
are in better position for her being
outside of il. Lord YeoVil swept aside
all these pettinesses. He spoke to us
as only a great man speaks. He saw
the truth and he made US see ii. We
ratified that invitation. | ask you 10
drink the health of Lord Geovil with
me. There is no other statesman liv-
ing today who could have done this
great thing. I am a proud man that
he sits at this table. | only ask you
which has prompted me to make this
public apologize. For. behind my
words, you Will guess the truth-that
was one of those who heSitated.
That is finished. | am a man con-
vinced l do homage to greater
brain. My dear friends-I don't say
ladies and gentlemen-let us drink to
Lord Yeovil."
'Amazing!" Grant murmured, with
genuine admiration in his tone.
Lord Yeovil. whose face was as still
as the face of a craven image, raised
his glass. He took the only means
possible of showing his opinion of his
hosts action. He remained seated.
MY friends" he said. ANY reply
of mine to our hosts kindly words
would give undue significance to his
friendly OutpOuringS and would in
vest a few remarks spoken at a pri-
Nate dinner with a semi-official sig
nificance. l think that what we have
all done together is a great and a
good thing. l should have liked every
representative who was present at
Nice TO have thought the same.
Those three anonymous dissentients
whose votes were recorded against me
still rankle just a little. However, the
thing is accomplished. I thank you,
Mr.. Blum, for your appreciation. and
] thank you more especially still for
the most wonderful entertainment at
which l have ever been privileged to
assist. There is one thing, however,
which at the present moment seems
of more vital Importance to me-and,
I am sure to all of us-than any un-
expected and unofficial discussion of a
political matter. We should all be
made supremely happy if Mile. Le-
brun would sing TO us once more"
There was CLEAN of admiration
for a moment in Blunn's eyes. He
was just the man to appreciate the
aptness which had minimized as far
as possible the Importance of his pro-
nouncement. He dispatched an ennis
sary at once for the famous soprano.
when mademoiselle has sung" he
announced, his majesty has asked
permission to retire to the rooms"
The king smiled.
This is an amazing place, with an
amazing atmosphere" he declared.
Even when one entertains like an
ambassador-as no ambassador of to-
day could-always in the background
there is that little god calling. We
leave our seats at the opera to tempt
chance. We forget sometimes, watch
ing the spinning of that wheel, that
the most beautiful woman of our de-
sire is waiting for US. How is it with
YOU, Mr.. Blum? They tell me that
YOU are one of the richest men in the
world, but I have seen you standing
watching that table as though moth
ing but an earthquake could move you
until the little ball had found its
place"
Il feel it," Blum acknowledged.
II have even gone SO far, follow
ing out the trend OF your thoughts,
as to try to appreciate the
psychological side of it. 1t
isn't always the money that counts.
Your majesty has, if I might be per-
mitted to say so, exaggerated when
he speaks of my wealth, but still it
is not the money at all which one
thinks of. There is a personal sense
of triumph when your number turns
up. You feel that you have backed
yourself against a mighty organiZa-
ton and won. You are supremely in
different to the fact that chance has
aided you You have an absolute con-
viction that it is your own cleverness.
That is the secret of the thrill when
your number turns up and the crou-
piers fill your pockets"
Mile. Lebrun sang, and afterward
there was a little movement of de-
parture.
will you please escort me to the
club?" Gertrude whispered to her
neighbor.
Grant bowed.
with pleasure" he assented
There were other influences at work,
however. Blum turned to her good
humoredly. with the air of one max
ing a pleasing announcement. The
Prince was laughing a little in the
background.
His majesty asks for the pleasure
of conducting you to the rooms, Prin-
cess
IF you will do me that honor" the
king murmured, bowling.
''I shall bring you bad luck" Ger.
trude warned him, her voice trembling
little.
You will give me, even in that
event, what counts. perhaps, for more
very charming company" was the
gallant rejoinder.
CHAPTER XX.
Susan came up TO Grant, smiling,
about half an hour later. She had
left Bobby Lancaster and his sister
seated on a divan.
Aren't you fiattered, Grant?" she
exclaimed You've been labeled dan
gerous. Kings have been summoned
to the help of the terrified husband
Look, they've made the poor woman
sit at a table and play roulette, which
side, her husband behind her chair
and Blum, like a patron saint, hover
ing around"
Grant looked at the little phalanS
and nodded.
We'll" he admitted, I'm half in
clined to believe you're right. 1t does
seem to be a plot. Where's youl
father?"
Gone home" she answered. "He
anprv with Mr. Rlu0n -