Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-24


don't get mixed?"
They played and talked merrily. Theil
conversation turned on tho wretched show
at the recent Academy, which they agreed
was IA disgrace to n civilized country, and
Cambel made himself interesting over tho
art of painting in Paris, mural, facial and
on canvas. When he chose, he could be
very interesting, this man London had
nicknnmed the great traveller, and he
generally chose, not being i'll 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 thi, conclusion. This was true
but that didn't make it any the more d.
gestive And, secondly, he himself in a
moment of excitement had let drop to this
same perniclous Cambel (who, after ALL
was comparative strangely a proposal to
make the sum of 100000 at one coup.
True he had not mentioned the means,
but Cambel had at once concluded it was
to he gained by robbery, and he, Theodore
Shelf, had not denied the impeachment.
Consequently Mr. Shelf went direct to
his own room locked the door and forth
fed his nerves with liberal two fingers
of brandy Then he munched coffee
bean in Difference to the blue ribbon on
his coat lapel, replaced the cognao 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
himl There was a fortune to be had Yes,
fortune. And it was wanted badly. The
great firm of MarmaduBe Rivers a shelf.
which called itself Agents 10 tho Oceanic
Steam Transport company" but which
really ran the line of steamers which trad
ed under the Jag, 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 was 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 a 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 assurcdly
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-unGer a nom d'escroc-a pic
turesquely situated hacienda on the upper
waters of the Rio Paraguay.
There, in case the 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,
that howl of execration from
every class of society which would make
up his pnan Of defeat was an opera which
he very naturally shrank from sitting
through.
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,
III things do go wrong, believe you're
the only thing living in England which
won't turn against mo"
George slid out red tongue and licked
the angle Of Mr. Shelfs square chin.
Then he retired within himself again and
looked sulky. The door had opened, and
Mrs. Shelf stood on tho mat. There was
profound mutual dislike between George
and Mrs. Theodore Shelf.
You alone, Theodore! thought Mr.
Jambel was here. However, SO much the
better / have wanted to speak with you
vi the morning. DO turn that nasty dog
lway.
George was not evicted as Mr. Shelf in
luired curtly what his wife was pleased to
want. She seldom invaded this business
Dom Of his, and when she did it was for
purpose which he was beginning to alb
lur
She came TO the point at once by hand. I
ng him letter which was mostly in cop
er p!.tc, He read it through with brief,
our comment.
H IN! Bank Your private account {
verdrawn. ats the third time this
ear, Laura. warning seems to be no use.
,ou are determined 10 know what ruin
astes like"
With that sill. tale, To begin with, don't P,
elieye it for an instant, and even il it
Tere true Ia rather be ruined than re-
ionch. You and l can afford to be candid !.
etween ourselves, Theodore You know ,
orfectly well that We have gained our po- I
tion in society purely and solely by pur-
base.
ITO my cost do know it. But, having ,
aid your entrance fee at least eight times ,
yer, l think you might be content with :
n ordinary subscription. That ball last
light for instance :
WAS necessary, And / couldn afford
} do the thing otherwise than gorgeous =
:"
"Gorgeously! Doyou think I'm Crusus, {
aura, to pay for gearing one room with T
d roses, and anothe, room with pink and a
lother room with Marshal Niels for fools Il
} fit in during orc short night This Il
orning's paper ia.nrms me that those r
overs came ~ special express from Nice q
Id cost $500" O
And yet you twit me with extrava- Ii
incel All the papers have got in that 6,
iragraph, as l took care they should, and Ii
cry body will read it. Yet the flowers II
lily cost paltry $500, so that in credit l d
n f2O0 to the good because l have clear ST
given the ball of the season. Theodore, N
u are shortsighted. You are fool to t,
ur own profit. BY myself l shall make tc
u baronet this year, and if you had
ly worked in your own interests half as h
I'd as | have done you could have gone tc