Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-12
4 PERFECT STRANGER.
Ragusa Beach is not on the man.

best customers was one Jacknnan, who cheer
fully spent his time and money in Mr.. De-
vines sample room, and shortly got into that
gentlernans books to tho tuno Of $500. Be
ing hard pressed and III need OF further
credit this JaclInan made over rs collateral
fifty acres, more or less, Of Jersey soil CA the
sesshore and never redeemed them. When
Arthur P. Devine made his competency he
cast about as is the wont of rich men, as TO
the best way Of getting rid Of it, and Jack
mans fifty acres offered an eligible oppor-
tunity. He dubbed It Ragusa Beach, sank
$50, 900 IL the ColOnnade hotel and as much
more in laying out lots and booming tho
town. But there they lay-the lots-a1d
there the hotel stood, and that was all
There was the best beach on the Atlantic
coast, prime fishing and boating and I'M
rivaled hotel accommodations; everything
except people. They went to Newport, Long
Branch, Cape May, and, il seemed to the de-
spairing Deyine, every resort except RaGusa
Beach. 1t didn't $50" and nobody knew
why. One man said Devine didn't have the
push, another friend thought that it wanted
a boom, another said: ''On, give it time,
can't you" and there was some talk about
Rome not being built in day Occasionally
there strayei tnitber an idIer or an invalid,
but no one came twice. One and all assured
Mr. Devine that 'Ragusa Beach was destined
to be the leading resort when its advantages
were thoroughly understood" but all that
did not prevent the geptlemanly proprietor
from trembling on the verge Of bankruptcy.
When Mr.. John Andrew Baxter came tc
Ragusa Beach with his wife and only daugh-
Ter, he was actuated by that perversity of in
tellect and purpose which had gained for
him the name Of crank among his social ac
QuaintaGceS In business circles Mr. Baxter
was model Of conservatism and dealt i'll hard
ware When speaking on the subject OF
nails or selling job lot of files he was with
out 4 trace Of ecccnTicity, and always i'm
proved the shining dollar. Out Of doors he
was devoid Of sense and reckless alike of dol
lars and the opinion OF tue world That's
what Mrs Baxter said
''You know, John said she, with pardon
able acerbity, that Winnie is 60 and quite
old enough to be married, and why you
should act 50 strangely about it l don't know
i do hope there is no secret about your re-
luctance to permit Winnie to become ac-
quaiuted with those in her own circle"
For answer M. Baxter would shut his
eyes and purse up his moth in an aggravat-
ing and non-commital way very hard to
bear Even when Mrs. Baxter "a rotund
person of easy ways threw her natural
pIacidity TO the winds and rcsorted TO nag
ging, Mr.. Baxter had not deigned a reason
able explanation OF his conduct. A jury OF
his peers might well have called it madness.
With the brightest OF prospects and 4 well
filed parse 1ir. and Mrs Baxter and Miss
Baxter started out from their city house on
the 1st OF HAY TO visit Saratoga. Now who
goes to Saratoga in May! OF course there
was no one there, and after staying until
some one came, which happened TO DO an
eligible banker, Mr. Baxter bundled his
charges to the Adirondacks. Too early, of
course, but he kept them there until indie
pendence Day, and when he announced that
they would next journey to the sea shore he
but raised hopes TO dash them to the ground
by adding, "Ragusa Beach"
"Nho." cried Airs. Baxter, raising her
plump hands in despair, lever heard Of
Ragusa BeachF
II have, replied Mr. Baxter, closing his
eyes, as he always did when he anticipated
al argument.
Nv here IS it!'
son the coast"
"Of course" said Mrs. Baxter, keeping her
temper admirably; "but, where, johns
Maine or FluridaF'
1.-TWO weeks ago it was in Jersey. 1t is .
quiet place. Il Is also secluded"
80 l had imagined-pray tell me, john,
why is it necessary for US to so to Rags
Beach, or whatever its name ISL
In the FIRST place" said Baxter, az have
the strongest Inclination toivisit that place,
and that ought to satisfy you"
at doesn't at all" retor5ed Mrs Baxter,
inclination TO visit the Branch, and so has
Winnie, and tLaV ought to satisfy you, Sup
pose, John, you go To that secluded spot and
we win JOIN you, say about the middle OF
Septemberl"
But tbs Mr.. Baxter wouldn't listen TO-
lie had 10 second place" to advance, but
he WAS aG&mant, and Mrs. Baxter had to
submit She witnessed, with sullen resigna-
ton, Ter lord and master odd versionl pack
his trunk and purchase tickets Of Transporter
tion, and then, and not till Jhan, did she
make final effort
Il wall not appeal to your feelings US
father, John Baxter, she said, with the dig
nifty OF Z Roman nlatron, flor l fear that
you know not the meaning Of the phrase;
but l viii descend to the vulgar level of
your business intellect Vinnie-I speak
plainly-Viunie is IS
Twenty
John, l inplore you TO be humanl
Eighteen and unmarried. You say We are
not rich-you have repeatedly told me that
L. crisis would bring things to a panic with
YOU
Don't NEEDLE with business terms, DEAR
'N gu shall not divert NC, sir. This being
-, Is II not Your duty Is a mani
Thought You were not going TO appeal 70
my feelings7
-As business nan-your duty to /
think of your daughters futurei Suppose /
she should bo lett alone, who would accept 4
the penniess child Of pauper parentF'
Strong language, Janec' reared Mr.. |
Baxter. who's pauper, I'd like to /
kpQw!n
lie evadeS the issue!" exclaimed the /
dame, with hands anu eyes uplftud. "Oh, /
heavens, that / was ever wedr'
So they went to Ragusa Beach and secured /
q srli,e Of rooms Oh the secoud floor Of the
Coiu.lnadc, and nigh. have had the eptire
floor for ali the gloomy Deviae carol. THAT
makes nine he conhded TO the calm gentle
,,la,a who presided over toe register and the
urnuacis =, AID / expect the seeiy sport in
40. vii skip On Saturday. L taxes thirty
to run tic house.
"Yaas," Tlarnured the calm gentleman.
be,rav1nr his usual lack OF interest n MIN
dane affairs not directly affecting his desk
Fine girl, though"
Il wish there was more of herr returned
Mr. Devine, with grim hunor.
Mrs Baxter regarded her new quarters
with great dissatisfaction. although without
r.a-S Il -, nod