The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-11
ROLLPILER'S
WONDERFUL SCHEME.
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE.
Copyright 1908, by William Hamilton Osborne.

/ drum. We sat there for few mo-
ments in silence Then he took his
| hands away.
IN be here at u O'Clock to-mor-
row. sharp" he paused. Il want to
| tell you this" he addei as hc started
| out. This - a great discovery
| There's money in it-IYts Of it for
| you and me. III tell you more to-
morrow.
Then he disappeared.
was busy ali the res; o. The day
/ and never gave the thing another seri-
GUS thought. 1 had been amused and
entertained but when l came to think
it over I concluded that, remarkable
as it had seemed, it was perhaps only
a simple bit of mesmerism. l was
I inclined to think that the fellow had
hypnotized me in order to purloln
something from my person, or my
, desk, or my safe. But on investiga-
ton ! found everything untouched and
intact.
That night at the club l was sitting
ing in a game of cards. Among those at
the table was Judge --. of the Pro-
bate Court, a genial sportive gentle
man of something more than middle
age. He happened to be blessed, as
such men often are. with a shrewish
wife. When he took his seat at our
table some doubt was expressed, In
the Judges presence and for his bene-
fit, as to whether she was aware OF
his present occupation. The Judge
took the banter good naturally enough,
but he said nothing.
My deal" he said simply, with
smile.
The game progressed. Finally it
narrowed down to just two people-the
old judge and myself. The judge was
an Al buffer and l knew it. / stud
led his countenance with elaborate
care, but it was no use.
IF I could only get the old rascal
confused for once" 1 thought to my
self.
And then all of a sudden / recalled
the fact. or the possibility, that L was
a living storage battery charged with
what? | didn't know. But l thought
ia try it on, at any rate. The judges
hand-the one that held the cards
rested upon the table Mine rested
also on the table He was looking at
his cards. Finally ne looked up with
an air of expectation. He had been
waiting for me.
We'll" he said. or rather started to
say, for the words froze upon his
tongue.
"My-my-my dear" he said at last,
in a weak voice, a very monument of
apology and humiliation. "my-dear,
this is->this is no place for you"
The others looked on in amazement,
scared to death. They thought the
judges mind had given way.
/ rose from the table.
Then the judge stared and stared
and stared at me. He couldn't under
stand it.
Bless me-" he said, taking off his
spectacles and wiping them clean.
Bless me, 1 thought"
But he didn't say what For at that
moment he glanced round at the
crowd. They were gazing open mouth
ed. He didn't understand it any bet
ter than they did. but he wasn't the
! man to show it.
He glanced again at his cards and
recovered his omposure-almost. But
not entirely. For, as he looked l saw
in his face just what l had been
watching for.
l tapped the table with chip.
Il call you" l said.
Thirty seconds later / was raking in
the pile. 1t was a good nights work
Next day the man turned up, as he
had said he would. 1 told him about
my experience of the previous night
He was, of course delighted; more So
l thought, because ne had convinced
me than at the success of his scheme.
de had taken that for granted.
| took out a large roll of bills and
divided them in two. 1t was the
money that l had won from the Judge
on the night before.
Your half" | remarked, holding one
portion out to him.
He stretched forth his hand with
| eagerness, then slowly withdrew it and
shook his head Finally he stretched
il out again.
On take it after ALL" he said,
glancing down at his shabby wearing
| apparel. Il don't want to, but 1
must-I need the money"
lie spent some time secreting the
| bills about his person. / watched him
closely while he did it. Suddenly it
occurred to me that 1 had seen him
and had known him somewhere, but |
! couldn't place the man. 1t puzzled
| me.
Now" he said, as he finished. He
| got up and locked the door. Now" he
! repeated, as he drew his chair up close
! to mine, whats gone before was SIM
! ply entertaining. But now it has a
! greater, a wider significance than that
! We" he touched me on the arm. 1--WE
must make IA business of it--you
/ and |. Our fortune" he glanced once
| more down at his shabby clothes, "oul
| fortune lies before u.s.
And" he continued earnestly
! there's more than that. This is q
/ business enterprise, it is true, but its
/ more than mere business enterprise
It's a matter of national. of interna.
tional, Impotence. BY God" he ex.
claimed, with sudden energy 1--WE car
! sit with the crowned heads of Europe
and know their secrets and their plans
you and l. We can know all things
all purposes. all policies in advance
And the time will surely come wher
you and 1 can rule the whole world"
He broke off with laugh.
Tn going into the future a bit toe
| strong" he said. I'VE can do JUS
what 1 claim but Wen begin with the
little things first. Wen make some
money, a few millions or so, first, anC
then later We'll branch out"
He said it as though it were entirely
a matter of course. | sprang forward
| eagerly and caught him by the hand
Tell me about it," exclaimed.
The next day I stood in the office OF
the greatest operator on the street.
can l see Mr.. -?" / inquired OF
the clerk outside as l placed my hanC
upon his desk. The clerk looked VI
at me doubtfully at first Then hi:
countenance cleared.
"Oh, Mr.. Steeler," he exclaimed
why, yes, of course. He'll be glad t
see you. He just mailed you a letter
Walk right in"
My name is not Steeler. That is the
name of another Wall street operator
1 knew Steeler by sight. He does not
resemble me.