The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-08-08
Mystery Of the
Bayou Woods
BY WALKER KENNEDY.
Copyright, 1908, by A. N. kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER nj.


italist by the name of FredericB
Merivale. just why it did SO, perhaps.
Nlus would have been puzzled to eN.
plain if an explanation had been
asked; for nobody seemed to know
the object of his visit or in what way
all this Winning and dining could assist
the prospects of the city. But Nilus
was naturally -hospitable and when
Mr.. Mervale's presence was made
known it was surmiscd in Il general
way that he was seeking an outlet
for eastern capital. Perhaps he might
be induced to take up an important
railroad project that had been aban
doned for lack of funds. and which
would open up a splendid new terri
tory to the trade of NiluS. Or perhaps
he was looking for place to estab-
lish manufactures of some kind. and
Nilus had Il wcll-defined idea that
without manufactures she could
never hope to be a great city. But
whatever Mr.. Merivale's projects were
he kept them largely to himself.
Some of the wealthy cotton men may
have been in his confidence: the assid-
uity of their attentions to him ia
vored this idea: but nothing definite
got into the papers except the fact
that Mr.. Merivalc had been enter
tanned by the clubs and banqueted
by some of the business men.
Merivale was the sensation of the
day, and the appetizing odor of mys-
terry that chung about him added to
:.,l> I, s,,:4
cited
Yet there was absolutely nothing
interesting in the mans personality
except the fact that he permitted no
one TO understand him. That which
is unintel!igible seldom fails to awak-
en- an interest. and it was so with
Frederick Merivale. In appearance
he was Anything but remarkable He
was cold and dull-lool<ing, with q
flushed face. and sparse hair on the
top of his head. His yellowish brown
beard was parted with great pre-
cision. His manners were nice but
not affabe. He seldom laughed, and
when he did the intention was not
mirthful.
People knew that this man had
made Il great deal of money, but they
could not guess how. His manner
gave no indication whatever of his
methods. and there was no way to
determine the process of his thoughts
from his conversation. which was dry
as parchment. Merivale had very lit
tie to say, and what he did say was
not worth remembering either for it's
brilliancy, its depth or its perspicuity.
But whatever may have been his de-
1iciencics in the conversational line
there could be no doubt that he was
gourmet of marked ability, and
that he gave his tailor carte blanche
Every detail of his toilet was care
fully considered. and he would have
been pronounced a well-drcssed man
in the most fashionable city OF
Chrstendon,.
Nilns knew there was something
in Meriyalc. even though she could
not define it. because he had been
known TO suueez" Wall street pretty
hard several times tn his own profit
and glory: and it is hardly n"cessary
cess, but does not disclose his secret.
possesses a charm for tn" curious
that no merely fortunate man could
have.
Naturally. Irving Warde. rs wide
awake newspaper man. was Interested
in finding ont the object of Meri,nIe's
visit. and soon after his arrival Sc
cured an Introduction. AS Il member
of some OF the leasing clubs of the
city. he coniriNrh To see Il great drn!
of Mcriyaic, and though he made
several adr"it attempts 10 learn from
him he business which brought him
to the city. he found himself batlled
at every point by that apparently
dense and mnsuspertny person. Then
he turned his attention To the rich
cotton men who were most Frequently
in Mcrivalc'S society. but they wcr,
evidently as much in the dark Il!
Irving. although thuy assumed an all
OF mystery and pretended to be in tn,
secret. Irving was not deceived b.,
the show of mystery. however, ant
he dropped his Investigations in Thu
line.
upon whom Merivale called frequent
1y, and this was Col. James Franklin
AS has already been intimated in thi
story, Col. Franklin was n man VIII
dabbled in great many enterprises
but he had considerable reputation a
chancery lawyer. He was a ma
whom it was worth while to consul
about real estate investments, ques
tons involving titles and intricate is
sues connected with the settlement Q
estates and the rights of ownership
Frequent consultations with Frankli
could only be explained on the groun
that business of considerable import
ance was contemplated, business n
quiring the services of an astute Law
yer. Warde knew that it would h
useless to try to elicit any inform;
ton from Franklin, but llillsma
might be induced to become garru
Gus and tell what he knew. III
colonel's clerk was person to kee
his ears open, and who had an inord
nate fondness for gossip. Dissipate
and INSCRIPTIONS, he had certai
natural cunning which had develope
in him the peculiar mania Of collec
ing all the discreditable things
could find against those with who
he was acquainted or likely to con
in contact. If he could secure tt
evidence of anything crooked in Il
life of an apparently respectable ma