El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-23
APTFR III.

REQUIREMENTS OF MR.. SHELF.
Mr.. Theodore Shelf wanted to drag
Cambel off there and then to his own bust
ness room or the first floor to discuss
further this great project which he had in
his head, but Camhel thought fit to re-
main where he was. Mr.. Shelf nodded
significantly toward the newcomers, as
much as to hint that third person with
them would be distinctly an inconvenient
third. Cambel turned to them, in
hand, and proposed game of smoker.
THAT 5 precisely what we came up for,
said Amy Rivers promptly. Hamilton,
get out the balls. Mr.. Cambel, will you
put the billiard balls away, SO that they
don't get mixed?'i
They played and talked merrily. Their
conversation turned on the wretched show
at the recent Academy, which they agreed
was disgrace to civilized country, and
Cambel made himself interesting over thu
art of painting in Paris, mural, facial and
on canvas When he chose, he could be
very interesting, this man London had
nicknamed the great traveller, and he
generally chose not being ill natured.
Mr.. Theodore Shelf left the billiard
room with feeling beneath his waistcoat
much akin to seasickness. First of all
that plain spoken Patrick Cambel had not
overpolitely limited that he was canting
hypocrite and had showed cause for ar
irving at this conclusion. This was true,
but that didn't make II any the more di
gestive. And, secondly, he himself in a
moment of excitement had let drop to this
same pernicious Cambel (who, after ALL
was a comparative strangely proposal to
make the sum of $500, 900 at one coup.
True, he had not mentioned the means
but Cambel had at once concluded it was
to be gained by robbery, and he, Theodore
Shelf, had not denied the impeachment.
his own room, locked the door and forth
fled his nerves with a liberal two fingers
of brandy. Then he munched a coffee
bean in Difference to the blue ribbon on
his coat lapel, replaced the cognac bottle
in the inner drawer of his inner safe and
sat down to think.
If only he had understood Cambel, and,
better still, knew whether he might trust
him, There was fortune to be had. Yes,
a fortune. And it was wanted badly. The
great firm of Marmaduke Rivers & Shelf,
which called itself A gents to the Oceanic
Steam Transport company, but which
really ran the line of steamers which trad
ed under the flag, might work prosperous
to the outer eye and might still rear its
head haughtily among the first shipping
firms of London port. But the man who
Dragged aloud that he owned it all, from
offices to engine oil, knew otherwise. He
had mortgages out in every direction,
mortgages so cunningly hidden that only
he himself vas aware of their vast total.
He knew that the firm was rotten, lock,
stock and barrel. He knew that through
any one of 20 channels breakup might
come any day, and following on the heels
of that, a smash which would be none the
pleasanter because from its size and devas-
tating effects it would live down into his
tory
He, Theodore Shelf, would assuredly
not be in England to face it. Since his
commercial barometer had reached
stormy and still showed signs of steady
descent he had been transmitting carefully
modulated doles to certain South Ameri
can banks and had even gone so far as to
purchase-under nom d'escroc-a pic
turesquely situated hacienda on the upper
waters of the Rio Paraguay.
There in case tho cyclone broke, the ex-
tradition treaties would cease from trou-
bling. and the weary swindler would be
at we'll fed rest
But Mr.. Theodore Shelf had no lust for
this tropical retirement. He liked the
powers of his present pinnacle in the city,
and he loved the halo which he wore
among the improving young men. And,
moreover that howl of execration from
every class of society which would make
up his pecan of defeat was opera which
he very naturally sbrank from sitting
AS he thought of these things he Rugged
closer to him the wire haired fox terrier
which sat upon his lap.
George old FRIEND said Mr.. Shelf,
''ff things do go wrong, L believe you re
the only thing living in England which
won't turn against me
George slid out a red tongue and licked
the angle of Mr.. Shelf's square chin.
Then he retired within himself again and
looked sulky. The door had opened, and
Mrs. Shelf stood on the mat. There was a
profound mutual dislike between George
and Mrs. Theodore Shelf.
You alone, Theodore? thought Mr.
Cambel was here. However, so much the
better. 1 have wanted to speak with you
all the morning. Do turn that nasty dog
away"
George was not evicted Mr.. Shelf in
quired CURLY what his wife was pleased to
want. She seldom invaded this business
room of his, and when she did it was for
a purpose which he was beginning to alb
hor.