Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-03-12
CHAPTER ].
THE BARGAIN.

Tn his handsome chambers in the Al
banv. Jacob Beresford sat alore.
It was noon cn-a bright day in June,
and the sun shining in upon the various
objects in the room. made It evident that
+be owner denied himself no luxury in
4bis town abode Of his; whilst the inlaid,
bertv-upaolstered furniture, the val
,able bric-a- brac the old pictures, and
the urofusion OF rare Powers all testified
10 an amount of taste that would not
have ehamed the most fastidious of con
uoisseurs A telephone and electrophone
apnaratus stood on'a small table on one
side of him; on the other was an Indian
stool which held a spirit-stand. some
glasses, and two or three half bottles of
champagne, one of which had just been
opened.
He was a man of about 40, with small
brown eyes, dark hair tinged with gray.
and & carroty moustache which hid a
large and ugly mouth His hands We're
white but freckled his rails pointed and
noIshed. and he wore an Immediately
cut gray morning suit and patent boots
in general his appearance proclaimed
him AT once dandy, and thorough
'''Inan about town"
.cotntenanee wore a worried look. and lie
frowned constantly as he leaned over a
document which was spread out on a
reading stand in front OF him. The tech
nicahties of the paper We're known to
him by heart. yet he studied them now
as though he had never set eyes on them
before.
Presently he leaned back in his chair
with quick, impatient movement.
Curse the tl1ing!" he said aloud, 81
can't turn it round anyhow, There's no
getting away from it. If only these law
yers did not know everything, it would
be easy enough, but as it is
The voice OF his servant stopped him.
mir. Jonas JeIlifer. sir"
Jacob Beresford rose languidly as his
visitor entered.
You're punctual," he observed, in a
drawing tone, painfully so, might
add"
Jonas Jellifer smiled amiabIy.
Zone of my strong points, Mr.. Beres-
ford" he said; "punctuaity is the soul
of business"
Beresford cmled his lips as he offered
The money lender chair, and silently
wondered whether he would have been
quite so prompt if he had known his hill
was not going to be met that day
Have a drink" he asked him.
II never refuse a good thing" answered
the jew, looking at the sparkling wine
though it's bit early, isn't ii ~
Il may as well tell YOU at once, said
Beresford, as he handed him q glass,
that | can't pay up, I've asked yeu
here this morning TO tell you l must
have another month at least"
Mr. Jellifer's smile remained unalteged;
it was, in fact, fixture. Under the most
unpleasant conditions, that smile did
valuable service. He slipped lis wine
than Int a cigarette, and said he was NOT
surprised
"0f course, there will be no difficulty
about the extra month";" inquired Beres-
ford.
I'm afraid we can't manage that ue-
Piled the other, pleasantly. You see.
Mr.. Beresford, the truth IS, I'm a bit
pressed myself-one or two disappoirt-
ments this last week. and SO on No, ON
the whole, l fear we must settle today
Impossible! 1t can't be done
It's pity" said Jellifer, in an exag
gerated tone of regret. Il did moi want
to foreclose, but, of course, if I'm forced
into it.
Look here" interrupted Beresford-
pose am going to let Fieidholme go.
can pay you in few weeks. Make Your
ewn terms-it doesn't matter TO me"
The money lender shook his head.
You owe me 100000, Mr.. Beresfori,
'we,li let it remain at that. | daresay
tledholme will fetch the amount ali
right"
You are resolved thenf"
Absolutely. am deeply sorrv--"
Keep your COMPOUNDED sorrow 10
yourself, said Beresford fiereclv at
doesn't help, 1 cahsasswe you!"
Mr.. Jellifer lapsed into silence. and
went on ccntentedly smoking and drink
ing. whilst bis client mentally turned
over the position of affairs But there
was a good deal To; tarn over and it was
difficult TO know where TO commence. la
short Jacob Beresford bad run himself
INTO hole
Seventeen years ago, Henry Beresford
laad died, leaving his brother Jacob sole
guardian of his only child. Jacob had
taunched into great magnificence imme-
dlately he had taken control of his niece
and wards affairs. Unlike his brother
nc bad not married, and equally unlike
ann, he had devoted himself to life OF
gambling and speculation. Very soon
-Ni"sNs nc 4ist4 lNSab tt Ra5L sum, ana
got deeper and deeper into debt. until
row lat last. the climax had come
Fur his niece he secretly cherished
nIiter and uRendiAg aversion, though he
had done his best to hide the fact for
oovsotis reasons; and it had, from the
hrst. ibeen his one aim in life to keep her
from getting married. or, at least, until
ne had met man with whom he could
make satisfactory terms for his own par
tlcuiar Denefit. To this end, he mad kept
the girl a prison er at Fieldholme. under
the care of a well-priTDed eoverDess, and
she had sewer been allowed TO leave that
part OF tSse country where she lad been
born
No maa, save himself. the doctor, the
rural postnAn. and the servants at
Fieldholme, bad yet spoken TO Iris Beres-
ford
The step Mr. Jellifer contemplated tax
ing meant absolute ruin It would bring