Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-01-11
DR.. +. VANDELLAR'S DEVICE.
TELL you. Marx. that what you
ask Is IMPOSSIBLE! NV banking

l. account il already overdrawn,
you hold bill of sale over this furni.
ture and my horses and carriages, and I
haven't penny In the whole world but
this handful Of loose sllver-and you
don't want that, I supposeT"
"Well, theventeen-and thixpenth
wouldn't go far to pay of theventeen
hundred pounds. would II? Ask your
theft, Mr.. vandellar." aud Moses Marx
smiled affably, rubbing his fat yellow
hands one over the other rs comforta-
bly, as though he were DR.. Vandellar's
greatest friend, instead of his most i'm.
plncable creditor.
The Doctor frowned inquiringly.
Seventeen hundred pounds?" he
cried, incredulOusly. "What are you
talking about? The bill you discounted
was drawn for fifteen hundred only"
"Yeth, ! know" returned Mr.. Marx,
calmly; but the other two hundreds
extra interest for cashing forgery!"
Forgery" exclaimed DR.. vandellar,
In well.ass,imed indignation and sur.
prise. "That's an ugly word. Mnrxw
and his long. wlry hands twitched ner.
vo,,sly. making Mr.. Marx think how
painful they would prove II dug vim
dictively into his fat throat.
II know it's an ugly word, Doctor;
but It isn't so ugly as the crime itself.
What's the use Of beating about the
bush? ! knew that the names Oh the
back Of your bill were forgeries when
I discounted It,"
"You internal old scoundrel! But
why did you. the shrewdest, most close
psted money lender In London, discount
bill you knew to be fOrgedY'
"l'Or the thimple reason, my friend,
that I knew you'd have to take 1t up
when It fell due"
"Thcn you've made q mistake; can't.
The bills overdue now"
"Oh, another day or two don't mat.
ter to me-" said Marx, airily.
But don't you Sec" explained the
Doctor. impatiently. don't you see that
I'm brOke-smashed altogether?"
1T can't be SO bad as that? No. no.
Now. Vandellar. my boy, you're jogink;
now, amt you?"
mo-" answered vandellnr, grimly.
II never was more serious In my life."
''Then, II that's the case," stormed
Mr.. Marx. his amiability suddenly van.
ishing, ''you'll have to meet this bill to-
morrow or 30 to prlson!'
every WE'LL" said the Doctor, who
grew calm rs his creditor became ex.
cited. III that's your decision, you may
ss we'll send for the police at once"
Now, Mr.. Marx knew that to send
DR.. Vandellar to prison would be to
irretrievably lose his money, which he
did not wish to do; 10 he instantly
Gained down. "Look here, vandellar,"
said he. cant we come to some ar.
rangement? You've got q lot Of paying
patients In the h0use-can't you squeeze
some Of them for q hundred or twOy''
"l've pumped their purses dry, I'm
afraid" returned vandellar. sadly.
''Th0se gold shares you recommended
to me nave swallowed up every penny
lately. 10 be sure. there's old Sir
Michael Trefusis; he's been with me
some years now and I've got consider
able influence over him. He isn't like.
" to last much longer, and no shouldn't
he very fond Of his nephew, II my
words have had any effect. II could
get him to leave me something hand.
some under his will, would you wait
until his deathi"
"Oh. certainly, with pleasure. But I
shall have to see the will, my boy-and
shall want to be sure It amt a for.
gerry. just as o matter Of business. you
known
DR.. vandellar flushed ut the allu.
zion.
II shan't put myself doubly In your
power. Marx" he said. "Will you call
Tomorrow and I will tell you how I
get ON tonight. II possible, I'll get
the matter settled before morning"
TN coil at TO-" agreed Mn Marx,
radiant at the prospect OF recovering
bis money.
"Then, till morning, au revoir," said
Vandellar. showing his visitor from the
room. mo doubt shall be ready for
yOu."
DR.. Ohio Vandellar. fashionable ply.
sician. medical specialist and daring
speculat0r, was In tight fix, but he
meant to get out Of It. There was only
one way-that which he had indicated.
Old, paralytic Sir Michael, at present
under his tender care, must be coerced
into making q will In his favor. That
done. the old soldiers death would be
merely matter OF time-and, perhaps,
opportunity.
Being man of action, the Doctor
rose from his reverie and left his study
with the intention of visiting his
wealthy patient. A. he assembled the
stairs he heard the street door close
with bang. Meeting his housekeeper,
Mrs. Mallinger. on the landing, Van.
dellar asked who had just gone out.
young Mr.. Harold Trefusis, Sir
Mlchael's nephew" the woman replied.
He had a private Interview with his
uncle. sir, aud left the room In an aw
full hurry"
Left the room In hurry! Shut the
door after him with q bang! That
seemed to imply anything but pleas.
ant interview between uncle and
nephew, and Vandellar augured well
for himself under the circumstances.
"Mrs. Mallingcr." he said, CURLY.
"Sir Michael's state Ia precariOus, and
while he IL under my care l will not
have him annoyed. He must not be up
set In this manner. Give orders that
Mr.. Trefusls II not to be admitted In