The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-21
TUBES FINANCIAL WATERLOO.


and dressed like i taflor's model Among
the vealy OF his own sex he was the
glass OF fashion and the mold Of form;
among women ne ranked as grand mar
shall on dress parade. lie was neces-
sity at smart sOireeS, for he led the ger
man with q 1.-THE grace and aplorrio i'm
possible To those VINO are not built and
trained for that high achievement. He
had front that had borne him out OF
many a hole He had no profession but
style and just enough brains 10 dodge
creditors indefinitely and get his ac-
counts mixed with everybody who had
financial dealings with him.
But after nearly six years, during which
/ his debts grew in inverse ratio TO his
business reputation. he woke up one
morning with dim but insistent reaii-
cation that he was nearing the end OF his
rope. In a mad effort TO induce the pay
ment of his rent Tubb's landlord had shut
uf the steam and the hot water His
/ last valet was lettering n the street,
I lowering AT Tubbs window. lie exam
med his mail-aH bills: not single pink
note nor a polite invitation. So he laved
his handsome face with cold water and
perfume and began 10 think as vigorously
as a rabbit that has heard the dog.
After breakfast he picked up his paper.
lighted q cibarette and reclined- His eye
fastened on a brief dispatch from Al
bany, which read:
Clifford y Rogers. the millionaire lum-
Der manufacturer. formerly OF Michigan,
died here tonight. -" He leaves an
enormous fortune and his young wife
charming no children.
She is devoted to philanthropy
TUbb dropped the paper, grabbed it
again. reached for a scissors Clipped the
Albany dispatch and with unaccustomed
fervor and vulgarity murmured:
Me TO Albany. Me for the widow
In half an hour. faultlessIy dressed.
tered into an Office in the Gasconade
building upon the door of which was the
legend:
HUFF & PEAK, Bankers
Mr.. Peak was glad TO see Mr.. Tubb,
but became bit ferrety when the latter
unfolded his business. He urged his plan
to marry the Albany widow and his need
of financial help for the campaign; claim
ed old acquaintance with the Rogers fam
lily and, with conscious plsuSibility, pre-
olcted that he could win and marry the
prize probably within six months, GER
tainly within year"
How much viii you need?' said HUFF,
ewiddling his pencil.
L should think three thousand would
see me through" yawned j. Llewellyn
Tubb. with assuring sang froid.
But the banker was finicky. He
would have to look up the Iady's com
mercial rating, estimated wealth, actual
existence. he would let Mr.. Huff know;
the sum was large. no collateral. etc. but
he would give his answer, say in a fort
night
Meanwhile Tubb actually got busy He
wrote many letters to Albany, sent for
its newspapers and was pretty we'll post
ed about Mrs. Rogers when HUFF sum-
moned him TO hear the answer. 1t was
not unfayorable. Tubb feisned enuui
while the money lender read off the list
of the widows big estate, but every word
was trumpet note of triumph fore
stalled. Huff estimated the estate at
something like $50. coo after the incum-
brances had been allowed, mostly stocks,
bonds and real estate.
Wen take a chance on this scheme.
Mr.. Tubb.' said the ShyloclS, but, as it 3
an unusual risk, you'n have TO expect to
pay a rather considerable interest. If
you pay in six months three thousand
will cost you five hundred dollars; say.
at the rate of thirty-three and third
per cent a year; but mind" the broker
was insisting now, mind you. If you fail
to pay it all in six months you must re-
new the loan with note signed by your
wife and yourself JOINTLY. If you do
that We'll be glad to renew indefinitely
This proposition ruffled the calm nerve
Of Tubb, and he made a feeble show of
indignation, but Huff admitted airily that
for his part he would be just as well sat
islied If the deal was not made; it was
most unusual. very hazardous at best
and quite out of our line.
But he concluded, I've gone so far
as to get the cash ready. the note is
filed out and If you want to do business
NOW, all right. IT not" and he picked up
.he slip Of paper which Tubb could turn
into $1,000 SO readily and made a motion
as TO tear it, ii not, I'll just tear this
uD and
Tubb reached for a pen, tapped it softly
against his left glove and-signed. AZ
ter listening wcaTily to a lot of instruc-
tions about advising the office from
week to week" and excuse us if We
take the liberty of prying a little into
your love-makinC. Tubb walked out with
six fifty-doliar bills nesting against his
mauve waistcoat. IN ten days he check
ed three trunks for Albany and disap-
peared from his haunts like an Grant
cavalier. Four months later Huff got a
telegram. Enlargement made. Wedding
private All lovely bat Clara" It was
signed "Tubh, hut Il was quite unnec-
essary, for the banker had made a few
secret trips TO Albany and having seen
Clara doubted not that his client would
win.
1t lacked but day of the six months
when ]. Lewellyn Tubb and bride arrived
It tho Hotel Detrop. honeynooners en-
tour. with enough baggage to equip a
comic opera troup. The belIboys allow
ed that Mrs. J. Llewellyn was "a sight g"
but her husband showered money around
until there was quite a furry in the
hotel. and HUFF. Banker Huff, who how
cred in the corridors like coyote wait
ing for night sneered at the extreva-
gance or the client whom he logged. He
cornered Tubb in a lark hallway. told
him that the note would be due in
twenty-four hours and asked whether the
Tubbs wanted TO pay up or renew.
III renew, of course. said Tubb
haughtily, our financial affairs are not
yet arranged. III sign another no
Yes, and remember she must sign
too Huf was excited Don't forget
THAT Your wife must get on your pa
per this time. Il amt worth a d."
"All right. al right; good-day. I'm
very busy today and Tub5 STROBE ma
1estically away.
At 10 O'Clock the next morning HUI
sent up his card 10 the Tuhb suite T.
Lewellyn summoned him. ard in a trice
the banker was bowling before Clara
Tubb was just rising from the little secre-
taire with the new note in his hand
Hun bowed again and grinned, scanning
the renewal. II was Yet wet as 70 the
signature, but Tgbb reached for q blot
ter.
4 had one or our own blanks made
cut said HUFF. taking out his pocket
book.
-Oh. I was afraid Won wouldn't. Mr.
Huff. said the client. taking the Old note
when the banker hSd written paid
across IT. Il Was afraid you'd deiay Us
n S..
He tore The old note Up. and bowed the
Shvlock toward the door. HUFF folded ID