The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-08
MILLIONAIRE -MlSER BLYTHE
Captain WISe'S Experience In the CAL
iOrnial'S Office.
ONLY Two CHAIRS FOR ALL HANDS
o,a cicarand that Was Given the Guest -
with Millions the Fast Failing Lover
of Gold Thought Himself Too foor
TO Take Trip for Ills Health

Tho nross dispatch published IN the
napers Yesterday morning as TO inc new
decision in the famous Blythe case by
which Mrs. IIinckley will probably lose
,ho thousands of dollars worth OF prop
ortv which the California courts gave her
some years ago as heiress to the NAM
moth fortune of the western millionaire
recalled 10 the Hon. George d. Wise
,,,ioue experience of his some ten years
aeo when he met the San Francisco mil
uoDalre over whose property there mas
i-'''''''
been such legal scuiile
Everybody knows the story in briel oil
,bis famous suit, how the woman VINO
IS now Mrs. Florence Blythe Hihckley
claimed 10 be the illegitimate child ol oiu
man Rlvthe and the rightful heiress 10
,Is tte, milo of money. The case ran
,brourh the California courts Tor years
and finally was decided in favor OF inc
alleged dauehtcr Half the country was
talking about the big legal scramble tor
fbe money and the newspapers were iull
of il.
pLYTHE'S SECLUDED OFFICE.
rcw pcople. however. felt 50 keen an
interest I'm tire case as did Captain WISE,
II was fully ten years ago when ne was
I'm the California metropolis on VISIT 10
his brother the late r. r. WISE VINO
WAS q uumber Of the San Francisco bar
The two brothers were one DAY walking
down Market street where there were
many fine buildings used as business
houses. Captain Wise remarked on tne
handsome appearance OF the structures
10. F. "a NO
or six stories high and erected after at
tractive architectural designs.
His brother turned i'm al "a narrow door
way and Captain Wise followed him up
two fights Of steps 20 small room
which they entered. 10 was an unpre-
tcntious apartment scarcely IS by 10 feet
and was almost without any comfortable
furniture. A table. n desk two chairs
and a picture constituted the entire equip
NEST Of the Office. as it might have been
called. There was no carpet on the
floor. no window shades. and indeed moth
ing 10 make the place more than cheap
secluded quarter for an ambitious but
penniless literary hack.
THE MISER MILLIONAIRE.
Captain Wise felt a little out Of place.
lie wondered why his brother had con-
| Quoted him 10 that musty, half-neglected
figure that arose from one Of the two
chairs TO greet them. The face was
considerably worn and a palenas and
that dullness of expression and detected
look that results from an over-taxed
brain stamped the features OF the man
now passed beyond middle age. His
| dress was somewhat neglected. his linen
a trihe untdy and his whole personal
| appearance in keeping with the melan-
| chOly aspAt Of the office. lie was more
! over. an ordinary looking man with no
striking characteristics. such "A fellow as
one easily fOrCcts after the usual intro
| ductory greetings.
CAPTAIN Wise was introduced to tho
stranger as Mr. Blythe He had on no
| coat The visitor was offered a chair.
| There being but two I'm the room he at
| first hesitatcd. His brother took a seat.
however, and Mr.. Blythe insisted OH Cap
tain Wise occupying the other which he
did. while the hest sat on the corner of
tine table and folded his hands over his
| knee.
Mr. Blythe then reached for q cigar box
and offered Captain Wise cigar. There
was but one in the box, and the Captains
modesty forced him to decline with thanks
at first until he was Obliged 10 accept the
| invitation pressed upon him.
|
There sat the three men. Captain Wise
| putting his cigar cautiously and feeling
mean because nobody else could join him
| in his smoke. "You are the guest" said
| Mr. Blythe "and you must take this
cigar" And so he could do nothing
more than obey. He did not make any
verbal comments.
All this time Captain Wise was wonder
| ing why his brother carried him I'm TO
see Blythe, and several times he thought
| of how long he would be expected TO stay
there. His brother then made some in
| quries about the Californian's health.
Not at all we'll" replied Mr.. Blythe
'Need some recreation"
"Whv don't YOU take it?" asked Mr.
| Wise, agreeing with Blythe. you GER
| tainly ought to have q rest" Then he
slapped the sick man on the shoulder
famiiarly, and tried TO persuade him 10
drop business cares for n while and take
| q much needed rest. Mr.. Wise was in
timately acquainted with Blythe and was
| his counsel I'm several civil cases.
The Californian looked at his interro-
| gator moment and then replied: I'm
not able"
For a moment there was silence. Pres
| emily Mr. Wise turned to the Captain
and said "What would you think Mr.
| Blythe is worth?'
captain Wise would have said about
| $3.50 had he answered according TO what
he observed. Il don't know I'm sure"
said he.
| well he owns the handsomest block OF
| buildings in San Francisco" came the re-
/ ply. mot 10 speak of a couple Of ocean
| ships plying between here ard China and
an immense lot of property scattered
about. lie can't spend his income if
| he should try and he's making money by
| the thousands every week Isn't that So
| Blthe?" asked Mr.. Wise, and then turn
| ing 10 his brother what do you think OF
| of that2 Not enough money 10 take a
| trip for his health. and here he IS with
| his millions. Did you ever hear the
| Hke?"
Captain Wise replied that IL he had all
| that property he would take trips for
| several years just for the fun Of IL.
and he left the old miser wondering how
| a man who was worth millions could be
so stingy as to stint himself i'm n some
| what dilapidated Office with two chairs
| and table. IL was a mystery 10 the
| Captain. There was a fellow fast an
| preaching his grave, and boarding IN mil
| lions for some one else TO throw awav
| Unmarried, without chick or child. wife
| or family as Mr.. Wise had said old
| Blythe was killing himself toiling awav in
q small close Office trying TO accurnu-
late more gold before bidding good bye to
| this world.
| Captain Wise saw Blythe a short while
! afterwards. His health was fast failing.
| The Captain returned TO Virginia and read
| about the millionaire miser's death.