Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-02-09

to remember him. I was a waif, an
outcast of the Sierra camps, adopted by
an old miner who had nothing to give
me but his name and surname"
But for the interruption occasioned
by the arrival of more guests Kane
might have added that he had been
veritable Jack-Of-all- ll-trades-teamster
mail carrier, prospector, miner and
gambler in that free-for-all country
known az 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 Johan-
nesburg. where he had also picked up
some knowledge Of the diamond
country.
How had he come by his wealth in
diamonds?', Found them, like many
another man. Of course Success had
come to him very suddenly STRIKE"
he called it-and then changed the sub
ject
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:
MY dears, his house Is a marvel of
chaste elegance. and his weekly din
ners are 4 dream! In his waking hours
he is surrounded BY crowds Of clients.
the pace is more than can fathom.
yet he ID always smiling and debonair.
cool and collected, and never at a loss
for timely word or q suitable remark.
De Lacy says he seems equally at home
with dowagers or debutantes. with
dukes or cab-drivers. with money-kings
or crossing
And 1t was true, every word OF 1t.
One episode. widely reported at that
time, throws flood of light upon the
character Of this much-canvassed per-
sonage.
Kane had manipulated a big corner
in "Cochineal Consols," one of the fan
cy stocks of the day, and had the mar
ket at his mercy. Among the Shorts"
was small speculator named Ackerly,
who on more than one occasion had run
foul of Kane and his schemes. When
settling day" came, Ackerly stood to
be ruined if Kane chose to force mat
ters 1t so happened that his daugh-
ter, Rose Ackerly, who had been stu
dying music, was to make her pro-
fessional debut the same night at
Queens Hall.
Upon the eventful morning that
would seal her fathers fate she drove
up to Kanes Office and besought an
interview with the great man. Her
eyes suffused with tears. and her voice
trembling with emotion, she begged
the financier's indulgence for her
father. .-
Women should not meddle with
such matters" was Kans's curt and
stern comment. Then
Does your father know Of this
|, visit!'
''No, oh. no. sir" was the tremulous
but evidently truthful reply.
"You must understand, I am sure,
Miss Ackerly. that it is merely the
fortune Of war, and ordinary usage In
the city is no respecter Of persons"
, said Kane quietly, and then with a
sudden change of manner and a genial
smile he went on: But such sweet
suppNcant must not go unrewarded.
You may leave 1t to me-your father
shall not suffer-"
He stopped her thanks with a wave
Of the hand. and then inquired:
"And how Is your recital coming
along! Can I be Of any assistance
there?'
IT you only would" the girl began.
timidly. ''One needs 50 much tnfiu-
ence in London, you know"
'Say NO MORE" said Kane, quickly.
II see how It -; you shall have q good
house."
Hardly was she gone. a new light
shining in her pretty eyes. than Kane
dispatched a messenger for so guineas'
worth Of seats, and put his secretary
at work addressing notes to the more
influential Of his friends, begging their
acceptance Of the tickets enclosed, and
bespeaking their attendance at the
musicale. Az consequence, Rose
Aekerly's fortune was made.
II can be hard as nails" Kane said
when taxed with soft-heartedness
anent this performance; "Ackerly's a
cur and richly deserved to be made to
sQueal; but every man shogld know
how to temper justice with mercy.
I've been in too many tight places my
self not to realize how it feels to be
jumped on!"
So there you have the unique person.
aity, outward and inward, then newly
launched in the cream of English So
cisty.
No smart function was complete
without him, and in response to his
own lavish entertaining in town during
the season, he was deluged with invi-
tations to visit some of the most ex-
elusive country houses in England for
the shooting season. Being bachelor,
with not a relative in the world,' as
he said, he was naturally regarded as
a big fish in the matrimonial swim,
and might have married a titled beau
ty before the summer was over, thus
reversing the accepted Anglo-Ameri-
ran DrOcadyIra in recent wears