The Pothunters

s mood had changed. The sun and the breeze had done their work.

t that bound him to the safe and conventional, and he had set out on his own account to lead the life adventurous, he was conscious of an absurd diffidence. New York looked different to him. It made him feel positi

ming more and more aware, and which bore much too close a resemblance to dismay to be pleasant. The poet's statement that "the man who's square, his chances always are best; no circumstance can shoot a scare into the contents of his vest," is only true within limits. The squarest men, deposited suddenly in New York and faced with the prospect of earning his living there, is likely to quail for

quare the Astor Hotel loomed up on the left. It l

ly deposited in the hotel bank, and he was half-way through a lunch which had caused him already to look on New York not only as the finest city in the w

Returning in time to dress, he dined at the hotel, after which he visited a near-by theater, and completed a pleasant and strenuous day at one

at work ridiculously early, and when John called up the office between eleven and twelve o'clock-nature's breakfast

fortune till he had consulted the expert. What would Rockefeller

d the grea

*

me and, in particular, on the almost criminal imbecility of the umpire, that he was dreamily aware

es wit' you," announce

o card. Busin

e could not think of another person in New York who knew of his presence at the Astor. But

m along,

the tables, followed by a young man of extraordinary gravity of countenance, who w

up to m

said. "Won't you sit do

" said the spect

a cigar and c

k you

silent until the wait

id. "I am Mr. Benjamin Sc

id John.

to miss somethi

d of Mr. Scobe

knowledge,"

touch very much wit

sta

er

ike some pat

rm Your Highness that the Republic has been dissolved, and

dumb amazement. The thought flashed across him that Mr. Cr

mp. He goggled through his spectacles at

Maude? You s

ht enough. We're so

the only sister of

right th

lic-" He paused, as if struck with an idea

e suddenly

right ahead. You'll be the only man I've ever met who h

p's face

ave been kept in ignorance. Your father, Mr.

pped his cigar in a shower of gray ash on to his trousers, and retriev

!" he

p nodded

reached the familiar phrase-"to inform Your Highness that the Republic has b

doubt sei

. One of those India

one, has put y

appeared

ts- This is a copy of the register of the churc

he document. It w

it's true

ur Highness. And I

e is Mervo? I never

cipality in the Medit

our Highness.' It may be fun to you, but it makes me f

felt in

a roll of bills, "entrusted me w

ering doubt which John might have had as to the poss

e for me?

ssed them ac

to say that you are at liberty to draw further against Mr. Scobell's

been recurring like

on. This suddenly

's get one thing clear. Who is this Mr. S

rietor of the C

erous, open-handed fellows. Noth

rested in Your Hig

ls beside his coffee cup,

o-date as regards the internal affairs of this important little kingdom of mine. How would i

history of Mervo and Mervian politics,

r has ever happened to me. A couple of days ago I lost my job, was given ten thousand dollars that I didn't know exi

eedingly anxious tha

day's

? What, t

. You will not be able

seems to be financing this show, perhaps it's up to me to step lively if he wants it. But it's a pity. I was ju

unexpectedly into a slow, wide smile. His eyes b

he mu

ed at him

. "Crump, I belie

responsible position as secretary to a millionai

d burg," he said softly. "I haven't be

the table and seized

ou are a sport. This

this great city, we mu

along. One doesn't bec

ebrating. Are you with

said the envoy

*

men, hatless and a little rumpled, but obviously ch

addressed by the larger of

Ryan," he

patted him o

he said, "Grand Hereditary Be

ohn formally ente