New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-17

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WINS impossible to blame him openly. Although
IL was known that he lost heavily he was still
wealthy man: so that many, when they saw his
pae face and downcast expression wondered My
he was taking his loss much to heart Ihcy
were ignorant that il was not the loss OF his money
only that he was grievng for, but that ne had lose
his faith in man. and almost his faith In woman
More than month passed by, when, ono evening
nj a public dinner he met member Of the Athen-
ian Legation, whom he had numbered among MS
friends many years before WINE
talking to this gentleman, Mr.. Brooke
abruptly said, after a brief reverie
Have You ever heard Of any one in Greece
called the Duke of Macedon?'
know him WELL" was the reply. mean
by reputation continued the speaker, as cam
not boast of n personal acquaintance
a should like to know something about him.
The information | possess regarding him IS
limited but weighty. lie is believe, the great
est swindlcr in Europe. lie is thoroughly unscru-
pulous and possesses great abilities. lie IS no
common rascal who for the sake of few hun.
dreds or even thousands, does something thai
brings him into the hands of justice. lie is only
attracted by stakes Of the greatest magnitude ana
he seems to he able to secure his plumber without
falling into the clutches Of the law. 1t is sngu.
lar fact that his victims invariably retlcent
regarding their losses and. far from seeking 10
punish their dcfrauder, they generally do their ut
most TO conceal their injuries. lie must possess
a large amount of capital and he is thus able 10
conduct many operations which would be alto
cether beyond the scope of any ordinary advel-
turer. A short time ago he was concerned III rails
ing loan for European state. ana IN MS cOn'
duct Of this affair he committed large defacations.
But, in order TO innct the punishment which he
had merited his cxtradition would have been nec-
cssary. and ere that could have been secured -ati-
cal secrets connected with the loan must have
been divulgcd, which might have involved tho
country lie had robbed IN war. So he was permit
ted 10 go unscathcd. With such resources both
Of mind and money, he seems to he able to set law
and justice at defiance II must surely be n SWIM
dlcr's browning triumph when his victims are eager
to conceal their wrongs! But how do You come to
l. rNn1 81, n,,1rn
Il wished to know" stammered Mr.. Brooke.
whether the title was genuine one"
| think not. His family I believe is an an
cicnt one hut even he imagine, would have some
difficulty in proving his claim to dukedom. ]
may add that his youth and middle age shroud-
ed i'll obscurity; how and where he passed them is
n mystery. and shall not repeat to you certain
rumors for which, after all there may be no
foundation By the way heard that he was seen
in London recently" The speaker paused for
short time while he seemed to deliberate and then
he exclaimed, rs if an idea had suddenly occurred
to him: | wonder if he could have been con
nccted with that gigantic fraud the Phrvgian gold
mines! The manner in which the confidence of in
vestOrs both in London and Paris was won is as
marvellous it is obscure. / have heard that
the perpetrators of that swindle must have cleared
little short of half million. Both the magnitude
of the operation and the skill with which it must
have been conducted seemed to me to prove the
completely Of the Duke. Are you not able to throw
any light upon the aifair?'
=" cannot"
The Duke has wonderfully lovely daughter,
10 whose destinations. believe, he owes much OF
his success. But the opinions of those who have
met her are divided regarding the nature Of the
part she plays; some assert that she is ignorant
of her fathers true character and unwittlngly
lends her aid to further his projects
She is innocent!' exclaimed Mr.. Brooke in n
fcrvent voice. The diplomat slowly elevated his
eyebrows looking at him kcenly the while. " /
shall bid you good evening" he said. and as he
walked away he continued. speaking to himself:
Brooke knows more of the Duke OF MacedOn than
/ do"
Not long after this one of his oldest friends Mr..
Warren, q director Of the Bank of England, and
his fathers executor. met him in the city. Adj
dressing Mr. Brooke in paternal manner the old
fellow said: What's this hear about your los
ing thirty thousand pounds in bogus gold mincp
! would never have believed it of you, Robert:
and don't think your father would have believed
it. But | have known very good men ere now,
who leading n lonely bachelor life like you, when
on the verge of middle age. begin TO get a little
cranky and likely not TO gin to drop their
money. Take my advice. my boy, and ere you
20 further wrong get a wife; she will help to keep
you straight
Whether Mr.. Brooke alarmed by Mr.. War
rcnS experience is uncertain, but he certainly acted
on the evidence given. and only three months later
his forthcoming marriage waS announced In his
choice of a wife Mr.. Brooke seemed this time to
have avoided all that was Greek; because, although
the features of the Hon Cccille Barba2on, who
were of the Roman type.-Gentleman's Magazine.