Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-09-30

interests, and as good and kindly fell
low as | could wish to meet. Presently
he said: Il suppose you're looking for
berthe
Il have one already"
a good one?"
"Ten thousand a year." | replied,
lightly.
"Phew! Ten thou You're joking,
Hugo"
"Not much" pulled the Enquirer
from my pocket, and showed George the
"ad.'' Il applied for that said, land
got it,"
Poindexter halted, an amazed look in
his hazel eyes. Then he whis,led and
laughed.
''Where's the joke?" demanded.
Not on YOU" he replied. but on US.
The fact is that 'ad' has been running
for six months, and during that time
hundreds have presented themselves a
the bank. in vain. Now you, an etfete
Philadelphian, carry Off the prize. Why,
men got tired of applying. Old Gerard
Just looked at 'em and gave 'em the
bounce. But, Hugo, what does the old
duck want you to do?'
"That, George, is a secret"
"Oh! | beg pardon"
Not necessary. The secret is a Sc
cret to me-"
ut is? You don't mean to say you've
accepted the job blindly?"
/ detected a note of anxiety in his
voice which puzzled me. George, of
course. knew the financier; and upon
that knowledge ! decided to draw lib
orally.
ut was there to take or leave, George.
What sort of man is Gerard? Tell me
about him"
Hes a holy terror, Hugo. And an
other thing, if he pays you ten thousand
collars a year. ha viii expect 10 get
value received. You can gamble on
roinuexter tiseu -D..v- v-r,.1.....z~,-----s--..
voice and / encouraged him to talk. 1t
appeared that Mark Gerard was a most
singular person. He had accumu-
lated a large fortune by sucking-I
quote Poindexter-other mems brains;
and this vampire-like quality endeareh
him to few. He was generous as ca
liph If he liked man; but he had no
friends. He was secretive in his busl-
ness methods and sensual in his pleas
ures. Certain stories. George added. in
a whisper, were ahoat in clubland:
stories that limited at double life -
Hyde and Jekyll existence. Gerard had
been known to disappear for months at
time leaving no ciew TO his where
abouts. Such persons, riding to
George. should be handled with tongs.
The nature of these communications
was not reassurlng; but had no wish
to cancel my dinner engagement. On
the contrary, | cursed the hggard
hours which yawned between appre-
hension and comprehension.
81 wonder" said George, as we part
ed. "if that old fox chose you because
you're a stranger" This hypothesis |
had overlooked.
Upon the morrow ! duly presented
myself at the Gerard mansion. / pos
sessed suit of dress-clo;hes. in which
| arrayed myself with lively satisfac-
ton | hadn't tied a white cravat for
over year, and my hand had lost
something of its cunning; but ] felt
at home in my sabIes and-I Will not
say "A gentleman, for every son OF the
! Golden West is a gentleman, but-a
gentilhomme.
NV patron greeted me with Il keen
glance. He wore, what he had worn
the day before. plain business suit;
and he received me in the library.
"Cocktail?" he asked, abruptly.
| bowed; and the butler brought the
drinks.
ITO your very good health" said
Gerard, with his queer stare.
AT your service, sir"
'I hope So" he replied, with an odd
chuckle. you've n fine appetite, eh J.?
That's right. And I'm going TO give
, you n dinner worthy of it. Yes, yes;
| dinner fit for a prince"
I He led the way TO his dining room
and we sat down tete-a-tete. Mr..
Gerard piled me with questions, and his
servants with meat and drink.
Know many people on this coast?"
he asked, as he gulped down his soup,
| a wonderful PURGE of chicken, with as
| paragus points In IT.
Not soul. except George Poindex-
ter"
"Ahem!" He frowned. The less
YOU see of him the better. | presume
he was at Yale with you. Just so. a
fool Leave fools alone. I'm afraid Of
fools Knaves | can handle"
He gobbled up his fish, and he tried n
new tack.
you aint engaged to be marred?'
| he blurted out. NO? Glad TO hear
IT, And you said you were AN orphan
| eh?"
81 don't think SO; but l am an or
phan."
| Good! | mean"-he blinkcd and
! erinned at his slip mean, my boy,
| that for the game ahead it's better for
| you to be-er-frec.
you spoke yesterday of slavery"
"Ha, ha! so | did, so did. Well, well,
we're all slaves, aiE't we? I'm slave
to my millions; you ought to be a slave
to your appetite and-er-the eXi-
| gencies OF youth. You were brought
up in luxury? Your father was rich
man?"
Yes"
'I know all about tho. How does
this Chateau Yqu,. "Hit your palate?'
lr~-E.r d. t... 5c uE.cd ately.
..y fathers cr,'.r. . q, .IaGcl 1u'a were
.a-.us. iut ac 3 : Ls,.f. ov red such
wine us this, and / said So lie seemed