The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-02-03
BEYOND DISPUTE.
How Medway Settled the Claims
of His Creditors.

OF his Creditors.
"'The game is about finished" he said
to himself as he walked towards the
park. well, | have played it pretty
evenly in most countries" He looked
up and a woman looked after him; she
remembered his face all that day, and
h. enew that she would. though he had
never seen her before or wanted to see
her again.
Nothing definite was known about
NcGway. Where he had come from or
WATCHER he had ii relation in the world
no one cared. He appeared to he we'll
OH, and he was said to own u vast prop
erty out in Australia, where his father
had been governor or something; that
wa enough. He was tall. good look
ing man of about four-and- thirty, dark
md silent, with slow leisurely man
neI that was magnetic. There was a
tonch of the uncanny about him now
and Then; he appeared to have no sense
OF morality; but at the same time he
had an air OF distinguished simplicity
that convinced most people of his ex-
trelne truthfulness and honesty Phys
zeal fear was unknown to him. His
clothes were always well cut, he
smoked the very best cigars, and there
WAS generally flower in his button
hole. Women loved him in no time,
not wisely and occasionally too well.
But they never blamed him; he al
ways seemed SO sorry for them, and
called himself rutfian, and promised
all manner of thir IS, and when moth
ing came of his promises he had a way
OF saying: My dear, l couldn't help
it in u tone of such tender misery
that it finished them entirely Then
they went away and silently broke
their hearts or drowned themselves, or
TOOK an overdose of choral, did any
thing rather than worry him; and he
went on to the next woman and made
love with a chastened air that had an
immense success. And he was 50 grave
aaa silent, and alway said such kind
things OF everybody that they never
guessed he looked upon the world as a
lace made for his especial comfort,
lhd the people in it as puppets with
wires stuck through them, which he
pulled to amuse himself. He took il
quite as matter of course that trades
men should give him credit. If they
asked for u settlement he said he
wouldn't forget them when his remit
tances came from Australia, and he
was always SO calm and assured, and
immediately gave orders which in
reased the account so largely that
ii was impossible not to trust him. He
lived IN Westbourne Terrace, d locality
well suited to a man who was well-otf,
but only with colonial money He said
: this to two or three of his creditors; it
rcussured them immensely
still, things We're becoming little
complicated
My dear Mrs. Berwick he said to
the lady who kindly looked after his
household affairs-a widow, of course
Ehould bother you. When have time
to look into their claims I'll send them
about their business
II was the same thing with the serv-
ants. He expected everything done
fnultlessly and with extreme punctual'
ity. He ruled them completely with
his slow smile and pleasant voice, Sc
that they would not have dared to dis
obey him by hairs breadth; but moi
one of them had been paid for months
They We're glad of it. They felt theil
money was in excellent keeping; some
day, when he remembered it, he would
pay them all, and the tradespeople
too, probably, double as much as he
owed them. They had the greatest
contempt for the duns, and did not fai
TO show it.
He walked slowly along Westbourn,
Terrace towards the park. YES" Ii,
said, "the game is nearly played out
Which way it ends depends upon Vie
toria and this afternoon If she care
the debts will be a mere trifle to hel
and her half million, and wen have
time together fit to make the arch
angels come tumbling through til,
skies with envy" He stopped before ;
big house near Connaught square. Th,
servants--they appeared to hang abou
in groups evidently knew him: thu
hall was lavishly furnished with pic
lures and palms and elaborate carvings
"'Your colonial always does things b,
Wholesale he thought; there is moth
ing of the retail dealer about him.
expect that accounts for my difficultie
at the present time: ought to hav
piled thugs up great deal higher"
tall, middle-aged woman received hin
In the drawing-room. She Was dresse'
in black, her face was worm her smil
bright and unexpected.
'sVictoria Is not in, Mr.. Medway.
She spoke with an American accent
That is unfortunate" he said, afte
q moment; "but it would have beel
worse II ! had not seen YOU
''You always manage To say mic
things"
"YoM have way Of making me fee
then,r he said, with an air OF conyie
ton, ''and am sorry have only fes
minutes TO stay"
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