Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-31
CHAPTER III.

struggles for Natures crude wealth.
TO the neighborhood of the most re-
spectacle Old Lady of Threadneedle
street, yet under her beneficent shadow
there are equally fierce strivings for
financial prestige and power.
In a richly and newly furnished suite
or offices in Mincing Lane there sat
one morning a man whose word and
power in the city" Upon the outer
door was emblazoned in severely plain
script the name "Rossiter Kane"
His outer Office was besieged, even
as early as ten o'clock, by a motley
crowd-stock-broker promoters, solid
men, with here and there a titled name.
spectators, clerks, and messengers.
The air teemed with suppressed excite
ment, and rumors of vast deals, enter
prises of monetary pith and moment
new from lips to eager ears. The
weekly press printed the widest gossip
concerning the man, and even in the
West End clubs one caught his name
tossed and banded about from group
to group.
Most astonishing personality" said
the veteran stakeholder, Marmaduke
Ashby, to some of his cronies. How
much is he worth? Ask me some
thing easy, dear boy; know he cleared
a hundred thousand in Tires alone
Everything he touches turns out we'll
Kane's lead is good enough for mel"
who is he, and where did he come
from?" querried another, not so well
informed.
hnf
answer, but know he came here di-
rect from South Africa He must have
been in the diamond fields, for he
marketed some of the finest uncut
stones ever seen in Europe"
Eyes. and that makes me think Of
another funny thing" broke in young
Lord Appleby; che doesn't seem to
know any of the African gang. Wonder
II he was ever an I. d. B. ?" these cabal-
istic letters standing for 'illicit dia-
moDd buyer"
Rot" rejoined Ashby. "He doesn't
belong to the Barney Barnato crowd,
that's all. Everything he does is well
done, and there's none OF their heath
enish display and barbaric push about
Kane. He's a gentleman at heart.
VIII atever his origin, or 1 miss my
guess. Why, he goes everywhere, and
you'll find his name on the subscrip-
ton list Of every hospital and charity
in London"
'I'd like to know how he does it."
sighed young Appleby, who took an
occasional flyer in stocks.
why don't you ask him?" said one
of the group jokingly.
81 did," was the naive reply. Says
he, I've starved, I've tramped, I've
almost begged, but things came my
way at last!'"
Sort of Orphic revelation, that"
laughed Renniss. do you suppose it
can be true?'
Shouldn't wonder a bit; I'll wager
n hat that those cool eyes and that
smooth face have looked on some rare
doings."
When Kane threw open his Park
Lane mansion all the world and his
wife flocked thither, no less to be seen
than to see the enigma of a man who
had literally captured the realms of
fashion and finance single-handed.
AS he stood to receive his guests,
with polished ease, as though to the
manner born, one saw a man five feet
ten inches in height, of rather spare
yet hardy frame, delicately chiselled
features Clearly shaver as an abbe's,
with hair closely cropped, slightly
tinged with gray at the temples, and a
pair of blue eyes that had curious
trick OF dilating and contracting, OF
darkening and tightening, according to
the mood that possessed their owner.
In age he might be anywhere from So
TO SO.
On being presented to his host old
General Scarlet remarked
They tell me you have been quite q
traveller, Mr.. Kane?"
Il have seen quite a little of the
world" was the smiling reply, "but
very few know the ups and downs that
have fallen to my lot. was born In
America. but my father I never saw
20 remember him. l was a waif, an
outcast OF the Sierra camps, adopted by
an old miner VINO had nothing to give
me but his name and surname"
But Tor the interruption occasioned
by the arrival of more guests Kane
might have added that he had been a
verltable ll-trades-teamster
mail carrier, prospector, miner and
gambler in that free-for-all country
known as the West" Drifting around
the world to South Africa, he success
sively clerked in an up-country store,
dealt faro and played the piano in
dance-houses in Kimberley and johann
nesburg, where he had also picked I'D
some knowledge of the diamond
country.
How had he come by his wealth In
olamonds?" Found them, like many
another man, of course. Success had
come to him very SUDDENLY strike"
ne called tt-and then changed the sub
5ect.
Men sought his society for the mar
ket tips" he could give; women liked
him for the air Of quiet power which
pervaded every word and action.
Said one titled dame to some init
mates over their afternoon tea.