The evening world. Newspaper, May 18, 1914, Page 15

Bitin pS TORI. “= THE STRANGE EXPLOITS OF A NEW YORKER WHO FOUND HIMSELF RULER OF AN ISLAND PRINGPALITY = THE PRINCE AND BETTY = i ttapte tet tern te tem Wid [Xz By P. G. Wodehouse pooced — Author of “THE INTRUSION OF JiMMY” == (Coppetgit, 1912, by W. T. Watt Co.) EYTY GILVER read this armsing cablegram trom her stepfather: advised bank allow you draw any money you need expenses have booked stateroom Mauretania sailing Wednesday don't fail catch arrive Fishguard Monday train Londom sleep London catch first train Tuesday Dover now mind first train no taking root In London and for Marseilles have engaged sleeping coupe now mind Tuesday night no i the little steamer that plied between quite so impressive a scale as might voyage from New York, in the in- tervals of seasicknoss—for he was @ poor eailor—Mr. Crump had sup- plied him with certain facts about pared him for any shortcomings In Qnd a salute. The band rattled off “I guess better say & few ‘The thing'll be a stand-ot “Crump wil) band oran mp wi} band it to ‘em. Here, “gir? “Lino up and shoot His Highness's said Jobn. 0U probably enjoy this don" md ber marry this prince guy. Yes, ats CHAPTER 1. Mi the national anth “ jarscilies and the island principality anthem once more. r “Now, what?” sald Jobn, turn For once Miss Scobell showed af The Cable From Mervo. save up ite precious freight, was ot oD to ar Wcobel. “Broaktasth’ ete teehee ‘brother's conversation really Interested her. She laid down her you'd . the monarch of words to th Your H "| B seen receipt of = come pons maid witowk moment a tote powerul(Kilgdoms, bet Seka Sapoct it een “eet Highapeey they Paee enn eared a ken, vital importance presence urgently required come where- Bu can't speak the I “Bure, Betty. Why not? ‘oa | Won" take this seat? ever You are cancel engagements urgent necessity hustle have was not disappointed. During the and they can't underatan Paaitee, retty girl. Cheven, 7, The f nnde i Joni oa’ you lucky to get such a wife, for all his darned ancestors away back to the flood.” “But suppose they don't like each other?" : Mervo, one of which was that It8 remarks into ‘em.” Ay evening Dine Paris catch train Ge fate Rine-Aftery tures es Adult population numbered Just under Yea, sin Manne! seve eee of Gegent, ah v c in de tuxe nine-fifteen Tuesday night thirteen thousand, and this had pre- It's all very well for you, Crump,” mind like a chunk’ of wet P easing Can't you understand that the Prince t of thing. I - I haven't felt 4 4 cutting loose around Paris stores you can do all that later on just now demonstration. such = 1 j It is just as much in my employment you want to get here right quick arrive Marseilles Wednesday morning maa matter of fact, Mr. Scobell Urayor’ on Tremont sttoor ehreens a8 the man who acrube ‘the Canine ty ¢ irvo, ail that because if not cable at once and way which part of Journey you acale of the reception, which to his 1),’.,!''%,8° Sood. I don't know what of Meryo will be to Betty. I'd don’t understand now mind speoial points to be remembered firstly come mind amounted Hoally to pomp, | “Teli ‘em you're tickied to death,” HK® to see him kick!” He began to 7a instantly secondly no cutting loose around London Paris storee forty strong, lined advised Mr, Scobel pace the room. “By heck! it's going res see, The Palace G Jomn oraliog tay ae eay. to make this place boom to beat the Mervo was © ittle island princl- you differently trom oC oon at the populape. Thon (ey BAEDOF band. It'll be the biggest kind of ad- \, ie phy wun intly from any other mem- “Gentlemen,” aid~"and more Vertisement. Restoration of Royalty A") Ppality in the Mediterranean. 6 John hada denling that the inf rticularly the sport on my left who ®t Mervo, That'll make them take er~ boat Mervo Wednesday night will meet years previously it had thrown over ita prince as excess baggage, and since you Mervo now do you follow view was being taken ai Dace. He felt confused, “°° Pid @ was exceedingly pleased with the joining the frat. Are you ready? a8 just spoken his piece whose name I can't remember—1 thank you for I'm hiring him to be Prince and his first job an Prince notice by itself, Then, biff! right on top of that, Royal Romance—Prince ‘ede American Girl—Love at First ™ Wj/ Mat been a republic. Then Mr. Ben p,/ don't want you to treat me ait. are a ehene aoe, Ie it ony mnilanoten’i'kee mgue—Stisareenu” Washiett Gist Jamin Scobel had bought In the ‘Mr. Westley dia lent ynsoughout, but three, more e«mo- to know that it Res mad fool like We'll wipe Monte Carlo clean off the f gambling privileges of its casino and saw that ‘he hac taken a eee sone tional, cheered vigorously as a young thirty cents, you may that sate map, "We'll have ‘om lioked to. 8 was seoking to turn the island into {rom its pigeonhole, check-book man was seen to step on to the gang- Isfaction, rty 9 8 liberal eati- spitn We-— It's the greatest another Monte Carlo, Realizing the ,,\1 think wo understand each other,” Taycorer ee. Poineats a While “Hie Highness te overwhelmed by "et Wace on icubt you are t, ' advertising value of a prince, he had ny dincatley. “There ta no ni ead wa “with @ flerce mus- your loyal welcome. ae q dentally, with another brilliant in- left to me i your own, Poinea yw ‘ad int al anthem. Gen. ineau, lo’ nicely together,” continued John, patiently. “Here, where's a cal spiration, he had now cabled bis mother. By a tairacte ing nie hand, put on @ pair in “If you are chumps enough to turn form?” Pretty stepdaughter. oe a happen to spend it. nes ovr! began to unroll an address ba) of F perv ored ons herd at this —— john caught ' me. eof morn: imply to | Tehe, Prince of Mervo, ignorant of tne ciner coma toe” ep ont igs of wan then geen that the young me you can't bo ene to please. CHAPTER IV. rve, @et afoot a search for the doposed (ana@ defunct) prince's son. Incl- the greatness so soon to be thrust upop him, was strolling thoughtfully along one of the main thoroughfares of that outpost of civilization, Jersey City. He was a big young man, tall and large of limb. His shoulders especially were of the massive type expressly designed by nature for driv- ing wide gaps in the opposing line on the gridiron. He looked like one of Beture’s centre rushes, and had, deed, played in that position for yard during two strenuous seas face wore an expression of in. vincible good humor. He had a wide, tured mouth and a pair of , felt that he men id would be ied and pained if they did not bim. AS Passed along the street he looked a little anxious. Sherlock Holmes—and possibly even Doctor Watson—would have deduced that he Bad something on his conscience. At the entrance to a large office building he Paysed and seemed to hesitate. Thenyas if he had mado up his mind to face an ordeal, he went in and pressed the button of the elevator. ving the elevator at the third floor, he went down tho passago and open a door on which was in- ry the legend, “Westley, Martin A stout youth, walking across the office with his hands full of papers, in astonishment. ‘Hello, John Maude!" he cried. ‘The young man grinned. “Bay, where have you been? The Okt’ man's been as mad as a hornet since he found you had quit without Jeav He was asking for you just ‘ar now.’ “T guess I'm up against it,” admit- ted John, cheerfully. Most of those who came into con- tact with Andrew Westley were of him. Ho’ was than @ lovable man, and too -controlied to be quite human. ‘There was no recoil in him, no reac- tion after anger, here would have tm a hotter-tempered man, Ho Sheught before he acted, but when he Rever yielded a step. in all the years of their con- negtion, had never been able to make anything of him. At first he had been prepared to like him, av he liked ly everybody. But Mr. Westley had discouraged all advances, and as went by his nephew had come look on him as something apart the rest of the world, one of those things which no fellow could lerstand. H Mr. Westley's side there was sméthing to bo said in axtenuation of Mile attitude. John reminded him of father, and he had hated the late ince of Mervo with a cold hatred that had fwr a time beon the ruling Passion of Bis life. He had loved his sister, and her married life had been ume long torture to him, a torture ren- dered keener by the fact that he was powerless to protect either her happi- nehs or her money, ‘Her money was her own, to use as she pleasod, and the use which pleased her most was to give it to her hus- id, who could always find a way Gpending it. As to her happinaas, that was equally out of his control. Ie-was bound up tn her Prince, who, unfortunately, was a bad custodian At last an automobile accident end to His Highness's hectic (and, incidentally, to that of a ae ee the Folies Bergeres), the Princess had returned to her a home, where, @ year later, Gied, leaving him in charge of her it won. . Weatley’s desire from the first i. been to eliminate as far as pos- wi i of at. an and brought him up a ean in total ignorance of hi! '9 identity, During all the years together he had never co's name. He dis- * “You were at the ball game yester- oon pesieinens of the question * uneKpec! led John inte ao) laugh. we yea;” he eald, reco hhimpelt, » “Without leave,” “It didn't seem worth while asking rs joave.” You mean that you relied eo im- ly om our relationship to save { { | to» 7 capable , for any discuss, ood & check for $10,000" 0m Writing you ‘en thousand dollare!” voice, and made o; probe this myatery. Ae a Pears than once at tae thia was a e forbidden “Who was my father?” he sald, Mr. Westle; carersiiy’ y blotted the check “Quite the worst black, had the misfortune to Kove ere plied in an even tone, “Will you kindly give for this? any further delay. Possibly,” Went on, "you may wonder why you have not received this money before, I persuaded your mother to let me use my discretion in choosing the time when it should be handed over to you. I decided to wait until, in my opinion, you had sense enough to use it properly. I do not think that time has arrived, do not think {t will ever arrive. But as we are parting company and shall, I hope, never meet again you had bet. ter have It now.” John signed the receipt in silence. : you,” said Mr. Westley, “Thani “Goodby.” At the door John hesitated. He had looked forward to this moment As one of excitement and adventure, but now that it had come it had left him in anything but mood. He was naturally warm- hearted, and his uncle's cold anger hurt him. It was so different from anything sudden, so essentially not of the moment. He felt instinctively that it had been smoldering for a long time, and realized with a shock that his uncle had not been merely indifferent to him all these years but had actually hated him, It was as if he had caught a glimpse of some- thing ugly. He felt that this was the last ene of some long-drawn-out tragedy. Something made:him turn impul- sively back toward the desk. “Uncle——" he cried, He stopped. The hopelessness of attempting any step toward a bet- ter understanding overwhelmed him. Mr. Westley had begun to write, He must have seen John’s movement, but he continued to write as if he were John turned to the door again, “Goodby,” he sald. Mr. Westley did not look up. CHAPTER 11. Vive le Roi! landed in New York from the ferry his mood had changed, The sun and the breeze had done their work, He looked on life once more with a His first act, on landing, was to Proceed to the office of the News and inquire for Rupert Smith. Smith, however, was not at the office. John took # room at an uptown It was while he as Smoking a cigar after dinner that night, musing on the fortunes of the day's game, and, in particular, on the almost criminal imbecility of the umpire, was being “paged.” A small boy in uniform was meandering through the room, chanting his name, “Gent wants five minutes wit’ you,” announced the boy, intercepted. says.” This disposed of the idea that Rupert Smith had discovered his re- treat. John was puzzled, He could not think of another person in New the hotel. But it was the unknown that he was in search of, and he de- cided to see the mysterious stranger. “Send him along,” he said, The boy disappeared, and presently back among the tablos, followed by @ young man of extraordinary grav- ity of countenance, who was looking about him with an intent gaze through a pair of gold-rimmed spec- alone in the room, 4EN, an hour Iater, John cheerful and optimistic eye. hotel. that he was dreamily aware that he Hasn't got no card. Business, he York who knew of his presence at John observed him threading his way tacles, John got up to meet him. “My name is Maude,” he said. “Won't you sit down? Have you had dinner?" NEXT WEEK’S COMPLETE NOVEL HE EVENING WORLD ==. an uplifted M til the waiter had filled his cup. “My namo is Crump,” he said. “I am Mr. Benjamin Scobell’s private secretary, “Yes?” said John. “Snug job?" The other seemed to miss something in his voice. “You have heard of Mr. Scobell?’ ho asked “Not to my knowledge,” satd John. “Ah! you have lost touco very much with Mervo, of course.” “IT have besn instructe Crump, solemaly, Highness that the Republic has been dissolved and that your subjects of- fer you the throne of your ances- ore John leaned back in his chair and looked at the speaker in dumb amaze- ment. The thought flashed across him that Mr. Crump had been per- fectly correct in saying thet he had hired. His attitude appeared to astound r, Cru He goggied through ais spe les at John, who was re- minded of some rare fish. “You are John Maude? You said you were.” i “I'm John Maude right enough, We're solid on that point.” “And your mother was the only sister of Mr. Andrew Westley?” “You're right there, too.” “Then there is no mistake. I say the Republic’—— He paused, as if struck with an idea. “Don't you know?" he said. ;“Your father"—— John became suddenly interested, “If you've got an; ing to tell me about My father, ‘go right ahead. You'll be the only man I've ever met who has said a word about him, Who the deuce was he, anyway?” Mr. Crump's face cleared. “I understand. I had not expected this, You have been kept in igno- ranee. Your father, Mr. Maude, was the late Prince Charles of Mervo.” It was not easy to astonish John, but this announcement did #0, He dropped his cigar in a shower of gray ash on to his trousers and retrieved it almost mechanically, his wide-open eyes fixed on the other's face, “What he cried, Mr. Crump nodded gravely. “You are Prince John of Mervo, and IL am_here’—he got into his stride as he reached the familiar phrase—"to inform Your Highness that the Republic has been dissolved and that your subjects offer you the throne of your ancestors.” A horrid doubt seized John, “You're stringing me. One of thos Indians at the News, Rupert Smith, or some one, has put you up to this.” ir. Crump appeared wounded. “If Your Highness would glance at these documents—— Tnis is a copy of the register of the church in which your mother and father were mar- ried.” John glanced at the document, It was per@ctly lucid. “Then-then it's true!” he sald, “Perfectly true, Your Highness, And I am here to inform"—— “Hut where the deuce is Mervo? 1 “It is an island principality in the Mediterranean, Your High"— - “For goodness’ sake, old man, don't keep calling me ‘Your Highness.’ It may be fun to you, but it makes me feel a perfect ass. Let me get into the thing gradually." Mr. Crump felt in his pocket. “Mr. Scobell,”" he said, producing a roll of bills,” “intrusted me with money to defray any expenses"—- More than any words this speetacle removed any lingering doubt which John might have had as to the possi- bility of this being some Intricate practical joke, “Ave these for me?" ho sald Mr. Crump passed them across to im. pre are a thousand dollars he said. “I am also instructed ay that you are at liberty to draw further against Mr, Scobell’s account at the Wall street office of the Euro- pean and Asiatic Bank." The name Scobell had ring like a leit-motif in ™ conversation, This suddenly home to John, “Before we go any furthe: een recur- Crump's came he ene, strode. forward and saluted. ali Guards presented arms. The fact struck up the Merv! Mr. Crump. Gen. Poineau rem wed his glasses and gave an im- twirl to his mustache. Mr, who for Lamas the Ried his career was not smoking (thous, as was ‘fterward made manifest, he had the materials o1 his person), bustied to the front. “Where's his nibs, Crump?” he in- quired. we pri away. ine flood of melody. To the band Mr. Crump’s face was strange. They had no reason to suppose that he was not Prince John and they acted accordingly. With a rattle of drums they burst once more into their ie rendering of the na- 1 ‘or Boobell sawed the air with his arms, but was powerless to dam the focttin Highness is shaving, sir!” @rous, Opeh-handed fellows. Nothing of the tightwad about him.” “He is deeply Interested in Your High—in your return.” ohn laid the roll of billa beside his coffee cup and relighted his cigar. “That's mighty good of him,” he said. “Tt strikes me, old man, that I am not absolutely up to date as re- gards the internal affaira of this im- Portant little kingdom of mine. How would it be if you were to put me next to one or two facts? Start at the beginning and go right on.” When Mr. Crump had finished a condensed history of Mervo and Mer- vian politics John smoked in atlence for some minutes, “Life, Crump,” he said at last, “ls certainly speeding up as far as I am concerned. Up till now nothing in particular has ever happended to me. A couple of days ago I lost my job, was given ten thousand dollars that I didn't know existed, and now you tell me I'm a@ prince, Well, weil! These are stirring times. When de we atart for the old homestead?” Mr. Scobell was exceedingly anx- fous that we should return by Sat- urday’s boat.” “Saturday? What, to-morrow?” Mp Sao jt te too soon. You will not be able to settle your affairs.” “I gueas I can settle my affairs all right. I've only got to pack a grip and tip the bell hops. And as Bcobell seems to be financing this perhaps it’s up to me to atep lively if he wants it. But it’s a pity. T was jet beginning to like this lace, There ja generally something joing along the White Way after twilight, Crump.” Mr. Crump seemed completely to have forgotten his responsible poal- tion as secretary to a millionaire and special messenger to a prince, He irked, “T'd bave liked a day or two in the old burg,” he said softly, John reached across the table and selzed the secretary's hand. “Crump,” he said, “you are a sport. This is no time for delay. If we are to liven up thig great city we must get busy right away. Grab your hat and come along. One doesn't become prince every day. The occasion wants celebrating. Are you with me, Crump, old scout?” “Sure thing,” gaid the envoy ec- statically. At 8 o'clock on the following morn- Ing two young men, hatless and a lit~ tle rumpled, but obviously cheerful, entered the hotel, demanding break- fant. A bellboy who met them was ad- dressed by the larger of the two and asked his nam “Desmond Ryan,” he replied. The young man patted him on his shoulder, ‘I appoint you, Desmond Ryan," he said, “Grand Hereditary Bell Hop to the Court of Mervo.” Thus did Prince Junn formally enter into his kingdom, CHAPTER Ill. Mr. Scobell Has an Idea, WING to collaboration be- tween Fate and Mr. Sco- bell, John's state entry into Mervo was an Inter- esting blend between a Pageant and a vaudeville sketch, The pageant {fea jvas Mr. Scobell’s. Fate supplied the vaudeville, The reception at the quay, when bawled Mr. oo a “shaving!” bo Crump, on the quay we his hands, if ir. I told him he ought to son ists but His Highness said a tramp comedian.” By thie time Gen, Poineau had ex- plained matters to the band and they checked the national anthem abrupt- ly in the middie of a bar, with the exception of the cornet player, who continued gallantly by himeelf till a feeling of loneliness brought the truth home to him. An awkward stage wait followed, which Iasted un- til John was seen crossing the dec! when there were Bere one me, oe Gen, Poineau, resuming i nez, esueet out the address of wel- come again. At this point Mr, Scobell made his presence felt. = “Cad to meet you, prince,” he d, coming forward. ‘‘Scobell’s my Shake hands with Gen. Poin- . T guess be show John cheerfully. Mr. Scobell eyed him doubtfully. His Highness did not appear to him to be treating the inaugural cere- mony with that reserved dignity which we like to see in princes on these occasto! Mr. Scobell was a business man. He wanted his mon- ey's worth. His idea of a Prince of Mervo. was something statu- esquely aloof, something—he could not express exactly—on the lines of the illustrations in the Zenda stories in the magazines—about ef high and shintly enificent, some- thing that would give the place a tone. That was what he had had in his mind when he sent for John, He did not want a cheerful young man in a soft hat and a flannel eult who looked as If at any moment he might burst Into a college yoll, General Poineau, meanwhile, had embarked on the so Sf acca John regarded him thoughtfully. “T can see,” he said to Mr. Scobell, ‘that the gentleman ts making @ good speech, but wi is he saying? That is what gets past me.” “Ho is welcoming Your Highness,” said Mr, Crump, the linguist, “in the name of the people of Mervo.” “Who, I notice, have had the bully good sense to stay in bed. I guess they knew that the Boy Orator would do all that was necessary, He hasn't sald anything about a bite of break- fast, has he? Has his address hap- pened to work around to the sub- ject of shredded wheat and shirred eggs yet? That's the part that's go- ing to make a hit with m “There'll be breakfast at my villa, Highness,” said Mr. Scobell automobile is waiting along eneral reached his perora- tion, worked his way through it, and finished with a military clash of heels Are You Going Away for the Summer? When you fo out of town for the summer you may find it is difficult and costly to provide yourself with the right sort of reading matter, Why send to the city for novels at $1.25 or $1.50 each or buy them at a fancy price in some country store? You can supply yourself with the best, most delightful summer reading for six cents a week. By subscribing to The Evening World for the summer months you will secure a complete novel each week. Not some old book a he wasn't going to land looking like He thanks you me translated Mr. Crump, tact- fully. “I feel that we shall get along we hea bit it se High ir. Crump: “ ness hopes and believes that he will always con. t eoaged to command the affection of "John paused. “That's the lot.” he said. “The flow of inapira- Uon has ceased. The magic fire has fr to ‘em, Crump. ‘or me, breakfast.” During the earty portion of the ride Mr, Soobell was silent and thoughtful, John's apeech had im- pressed him neither as oratory nor ag an index to his frame of mind. He had not Interrupted him, because bod etd that none of those present could wi ty eaid, and that Mr. Crump was to be relied on as an editor. But he had Not enjoyed it. He did not take the. thing that eluded him was People of Mervo seriously himself, but in the Prince such an attitude ‘truck becom as unl ing. Then he cheered up. John had given evidence of & certain amount of what he would have called “get-up" in him. Yor the purposes for which he needed 1 @ tendency to make light of things was not amiss, wes essen- Baty as a performing prinee that he had engaged John. He wanted Rim to do unusual things, which would make people talk—aeroplaning was one that oocourred to him. . @ prince who took a serious is position would try to pie'a minds and start re- generally be a nuisance. John could, at any rate, be relied Upon not to do that. His face cleared, Bg a (sa cigar, ggg he aid, co! ly, inserting fingers in his vest- ef ”" said His Highness affably. Broaktast » Mr. Boobell the Tremaine of hls between his Upe and turned to “Eh, “I want bell, “to help where you come in.” “Sure,” said John, ty ruling and all that,” con- tinued Mr. Scobell, “there isn't any to do. The place runs itself. Some guy gave it a shove a thousand years ago, and it's been rolling along ever since. What I want you to do ts the picturesque stunts, Get a yacht and catch rare fishes. Whoop it up. En- guys when they come & court—see mean?—same as over in a. Go around in aeroplanos and that atyle of thi Don't worry about money. be all right. You draw your steady hundred thousand @ year and & good chunk besides, when we begin to get a move on, so the dough propo- sition doesn't need to scare you any,’ “Do, by Georg said John. “It seems to me that I've fallen 1: e pretty soft thing here. There'll be a joker in the deck somewhere, I gueas, There always is in these good things, But I don't see It yet. You can count me in all right.” “Good boy,” said Mr, Bcobell, “And now you'll be wanting to get to the palace, I'll have them bring the automobile round.” ‘The council of state broke up, Having seen John off in the car the financier proceeded to hia sister's sitting room, Miss Marion Scobell had breakfasted apart that morning, by request, her brother giving her to understand that matters of state, un- sulted to the ear of @ third party, must be discussed at the meal, She “he's Scobell, ves, dear “And just the sort T want, Saw the idea of the thing right away, and is ready to go the limit. No ‘noa- #ense about him.” “Is he nice looking, Bennie? “Su All these Mervo princes have been good-lookers, | hear, and this one must be ar the top of the Ust, You'll lke him, Marion, All the girls will be crazy about him in a week.” ins Scobell turned a page, s he married?” or brother started “Married? I never thought of that But no, | guers he's not. He'd have mentioned it He's not the sort to hush up a thing like that. '— Ho stopped short. His green eyes med excitedly he erted, “Marton! hs nm. Cie This thing ts going OF NOBODY’ Y THOMAS ENRIGHT S ISLAND T and neat, #0 typi Bennie,” said Mise Scobell, her voice became dreamy “t's not very romantic.” “Oh, shucks!" said the sohemer tm- Young Adam Cupid. IN @ red eandstone rock at the edge of the water, where the island curved sharply out into the sea, Prince John ef Mervo sat and brooded on first causes. For nearly an hour and a half he had been engaged in an eara- em attempt te trace to ite source the acute fit of depression which had come—apparently from nowhere—te polson his existence that morning. incident of his Yection of shadow Es done enjoy as it pooh. 4 nsumed with an oo! Testiessness, tion. and Fate, that king of gol had cheated bim he could he knew, with a certaint argument, that there hi rl i epee e Laetil Bly i i 3 3 3 & 4 5 it ‘The id not account for bis What had unsettled unexpected meet! last night at the He had been aitti table. He mevement ef standing beside bim, “Would un, and then It bad all in Some chord in had begun to throb, had awakened from turned to consciousness stunned, There was something sight of her, standing there ly American, eort of goddess of America, in beat and stir of the Casino, struck him like a blow, How long was it since he had seen her last? Not more than a couple of years. It asemed centuries. It all came back to him. Tt was during his last winter at Harvard that they had met. A college friend of hers had been the sister of a college friend of his, They had met sveral times, but he could not recollect having taken any particular notice of her then, beyond recognizing that she wan certainly pretty. The world had been full of pretty American girls then. But now—— He looked at her. And, as he looked, he heard America calling to him. ‘Mervo, by the appeal of its novelty, had caused him to forget. Rut now, quite suddenly, he knew that he was homesick—and {t aston- ished him, the readiness with which he had permitted Mr, Crump to lead him away Into bondage. It seemed Incredible that he had not foreseen what must happen Love comes to some gently, tm- perceptibly, creeping in an the tide, through unsuspected creeks and in- lets, creeps on a sleeping man, until he wakes to find himself surrounded. Rut to others it comes as a wave, breaking on them, beating them down, whirling them away. Tt was so with John. In that tne j i stant when thoir eyes met the mir- Tt seemed acle must have happened to him, as he ree: that he had loved her had time to frame his fi azed him that he en bind to the fe at he loved her, was so obviously the only trl f world "Youny stammered under his shining. "L remember you very well, Mr. Maude," she said with a smile, thought I knew your shoulders be- fore you turned round, What are you de here?" ember me,” he She was flushing a little , but her eyes were Play di a “Thank you, yes," said the spec- gald, “let's get one thing clear, Who | Country dealer has not been able to sell, bt the finest up-to-date fiction | to tn ine bineost evar. gotta now ” Hp" checks were flushed, apd. her +4'No, I meant”-— tacled young man, is this Mr, Scobell? How does he get | by the foremost living authors, {dea It just came to ma Your say- ‘There waa a hush, The croupter boyish Mgure quivered. Her chi “Well, we need not try and discover u'll have clear and coftes, mixed up in this?" Bear this in mind, not only for yourself but for any of your friends Ing that put It into my head, Do you had set the ball rolling. A wirened ways determined, became @ silent may have meant. What then ‘He is the proprietor of the Casino di ; know what I'm going t [mm Ile man and two Indies of deter- laration of Independence, Baim, 3o"you put rd for special = "Thank you, yei { at Mervo.” who expect to spend the summer in the country. going to cable over to Netty to coma mined aspect wero looking up diss "1 won't." she sald. @enstderation? Why should I treat} The young man rempined silent un- “He seems to be one of those gen- right along here, and I'm going to approvingly. John realized that he (To Be Continued.) oha. a + ae oly “No, thank you. I'm pot é only just stopped to logk on. ene is in one o' and I i i 5 E ee aa gg Ee FE iE g 3 i Aj FS 4 Hi 55 ik 525i FY i z ? i Fi oB F i re if fr i i ! i 5 r i ‘es ) i 1 iit BeeF H t if f i point that there's @ you've heard prince tend of a e. here ins republic now?” ‘Well, that’ . “Do you mean- she hesitated, “Yes, I do,” sald Mr. Scobell. There was a touch of doggedness in his vol He was not going to si any nonsense, by Heck, but there was BY no doubt that Betty's wide-open eyes J were not very easy to meet. He went on rapidly, “Cut out any fool notions about romane Miss Scobell, who was knitting @ sock, checked her needles for a moment in order to sigh. Her brother eyed her morosely, then resumed his remarks. “This is a matter of state, That's tt. You gotta cut out fool notions and act good of state, You gotta look at ‘It in the proper spirit. Great honog— see what I mean? Princess aad that. Chance of a Iifettne—ym you gotta look at it that way.” “Do you mean that you want. me to marry this Prince?” she seid. “That's right.” “1 won't oo anything of the sort” “Pshaw! Don't be foolish, Yom © e tired. ye shone mutinonsty. Her ‘The Book on the Stands Will Cost You 61.28 —S=== You Get It for 4 » Ait} *-