Evening star., 1900-11-17

an opium-doped tiger or two, some short
skirted bareback riders, and brass band
of malignant power, financial success is
assured. Blu IAngdons company were ter
ribiy dfth-class minstrel artists, and he
lacked even the brass band Debts ac-
cumu!ated, and men with money to loan
were all in the rice business and would not
listen to his fairy ta.es of the big houses he
would be to pay to in Calcutta.
Then the manager disappeared, leaving
the customary disconso.ate lot of solicit
creditors. With barbaric avaricious
less one of these traced LangGon TO Cal
Cutta, had him arrested and brought back
TO RangOOn- It wasn't clever. it was even
more than silly. after events proved.
Freed from the iucumbrance of the dozen
musical wrecks Langdon had been carry
Ing as a star combination, he remained
broker. His rise was phenomenal. He
was as charmingly debonnair in his manner
as a we..-bred goat. The English host OF
Fvershcds hotel let loose the secret of
LangdDn's success when he described him
to
f was gentleman. my word A regu-
lar tof- Is clothes flied 'alf the room.
/ never eered IN say nothink as wasn't
perlite to nobody, an always argufied ev-
erythink wi champagne. If there was heny
dispute hover Il deal or anythink, ed say:
Ave a bottle wi me Then ed ave is
own way My word, e were a corkerr'
Now mine host Evershed was an observ-
ant Philosopher, for these were the lines
Langdon played the people of Rangoon on,
wheeled flash dog cart-red spokes and yell
low gear and a lacquer polished black body
down from Dack & Co. of Calcutta. That
it wasn't paid for did not detract from its
swagger rush, beautiful gray Pegu
pony swirled il up the Ladies' Mile of Hal
pin road. Nor did the pony travel one whit
slower because his purchase money had not
been made over yet.
That his company had swamped him
financially was not laid up against Sidney,
for he explained that the few thousands he
had lost were mere bagatelle-it had only
been a form of amusement with him. and
he had written to his rich father in Amer
lea for a substantial remittance to open up
big commercial house in Rangoon for he
liked the place.
Soon nobody was greater than Mr.. Lang
don His apartments We're Sumptuous his
wardrobe elaborately awful, and his en-
ergy In "'aving a bottle with any good
chap interchangeable. But solitary grandeur
palled upon HIM he was good looking. and
from among the many maidens who sighed
for association with the dashing broker he
selected one whose father was of unGoubted
financial stability. In gifts Langdon was
generous to a tau.t-the chief fault lay in
the fact that the gifts We're not paid for
An exquisite diamond ring and very mag
nlhcent piano were among the trifieS he
bestowed upon his fancee- OF course, the
legitimate brokerage business In the seed
time of its being could not stand all this for
any length of Time and little clouds COM
menced TO hover on SIdney's horizon.
Creditors are Ike long horned steers on
western cattle run; when one begins to get
nervous the whole bunch scents the dam
ger, and in the end they stampede. Sid
ney saw 1t coming, and he commenced to
lay up cash against rainy day. HIS
method was Ingenious. for he was accus-
toned 10 fitting. The dog cart that was
not paid for. Langdon sold for cash at a
moderate price. on condition that he should
be allowed 10 use II for week until the
new one ordered from Calcutta arrived. In
two days he sold II to another man; also
the pony. The piano, for which the so.e
exchange had been promissory note, he
also sold, having first borrowed a tidy sum
on 1t from an obligug money lender. He
explained to the lady that the diamond
ring was not at all up to her ciass-not in
accordance with the wealth of his affection
she must have better one. Once more in
his possession it was speedily converted
Into cash: and the fair maid and the rapa-
cious Delhi jewel merchant who had sold
1t in the first place, never again saw it's
merry CLINT. Thus his affairs were tidied
up. Other matters experienced the same
obliQue commercial ramifcation. His stand
ing as a rich broker. engaged to a wealthy
mans daughter. gave Langdon a goodly
he could quite get away u nervous indl-
vidual suddenly pounced down upon him
with bailif and emergency summons
for debt of 1000 rupees.
The bailif interviewed Sidney at the
hotel The officer was polite: deuced sorry.
1t was all a mistake. no doubt; but would
Langdon mind going with him and putting
ii straight. Now Sidney had intended TAX
ing his departure that very night-it was
q most unlucky interruption. bC. his actor
training came back to him. and he smiled
with gracious forgiveness upon the bailiH
The claim for money was either a mistake
or the malicious dodge OF one OF his broker