Argosy, Vol. 85, No. 3 — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

428 in so many words, ‘Are you married?’ and although I’ve written him the circum- stances just as'I’ve told them to you, I can’t get away from the fact. I can’t get away from it, and neither can he. They’re bound to expel me; they can’t even give me the opportunity to resign. The only drop of satisfaction I can get now is, that the bunch of flim-flammers will get left at the same time. I am telegraphing the old man to call off the deal he made with them.” He tried to speak nonchalantly, but in spite of himself his voice choked, and he turned quickly away to hide the quivering of his lips. | Darwin, who had been listening almost in stupefaction, suddenly straightened up. ‘Hold on there!” he cried, eagerly stretching out his hand. ‘‘ Maybe there’s a way out of the muddle after all. I’ve got an idea. No; listen to me,” as Kerr gave an impatient hunch to his shoulders. “This is something that looks as if it might work. ‘Now tell me first,” he went on, ‘“ did you take a slant at that notice on the bul- letin board this afternoon?”’ ‘You mean the one about calling off all the classwork for to-morrow on ac- count of distinguished visitors? Prince Chu Yang of China and party coming up to give us the once-over? Is that the one you mean?” “That’s the baby,” Darwin nodded. “ Prince Chu Yang of China. I had in mind when I told you I was done with this infernal area-tramping. If we can only dope out the proper formation with him, Kerr, all our troubles would be over — that is, mine would for- certain, and I am almost sure yours would, too.” “They would, eh?” Kerr exhibited scant enthusiasm. ‘‘ Well, maybe so; but you’ve got to show me. All I ever knew to come from visitors of that sort was about a dozen extra drills. Look how they trotted us around the parade ground for that greasy Central American presi- dent last month, and when the Duke D’Orville was here—”’ He’s what. THE ARGOSY. “I’m not talking about any rat-trap presidents, or four-flushing’ dukes or counts,” interrupted Monk. ‘“ What you have to have for this play of mine is genu- ine royal blood, a prince or a king. When one of that sort puts up a request to the supe, no matter what it is, he’s got to grant it—as a compliment to the nation the guy represents; don’t you understand? At any rate, that’s what was pulled off when Prince Louis of Battenberg was here about ten or twelve years ago. The gang got next to him somehow, and Louis, be- ing a good scout in his way, up and asks that all punishments be remitted.” ‘““ And the supe stood for it?” “Without a whimper. ' He had to, don’t you see, or maybe provoke what they call an international incident. Or, at least, that’s the way Joe Phelps put it to me, and he got the story from his cousin, who was here at the time.” Mosely began to show a more lively in- terest. ‘“‘ And now you’ve got it in your head to tear off the same stunt, eh?” ‘Sure; provided, of course, thdt this Prince Chew-of-tobacco, or whatever he calls himself, is really royalty. Nothing short of actual, blown-in-the-bottle royal blood will serve, you hive me; and I’ve been bothered more or less to know whether a Chink would turn the trick. ‘Prince’ sounds all right, of course, but you can’t always tell about these ring- tailed titles. In Russia, as I understand it, prince doesn’t mean much more than justice of the peace.” “Oh, I guess that part of it is all right.” Kerr thoughtfully wrinkled” his nose. ‘“‘China is a republic now, I believe, or was up to day before yesterday; but there was some sort of an arrangement made, I remember, for the members of the royal family to keep their rank, and this guy must be one of them. ‘H. R. H. Prince Chu Yang of China,’ is the way they’ve got him billed on the bulletin board. Come to think of it, too,’’ he ex- claimed, “I heard Cap. Blendon tell Sleeper that he was a cousin to the late Emperor of China. ‘ comicloool C©