Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26

Neshtt answered. raising his head and
looking Wingrave straight in the face. 1T
seems rather low-down thing to come
begging. I'd rather cut my right hand
OH than do it for myself. but Ive-some
one else -. to think about, and if I'm ham
; mered. I'm done for Give me chance.
: Mr.; Wingrave, I'll pay you in time
What do you ask for?' Wingrave said
, ~ thought that you might give me time
Ntspltt SAID. and III pay you the rest off
WIN the whole of my profits every year"
"A most absurd proposal" Wingrave
| saia coolly Il Will instruct my brokers to
take $4,000 down, and wait one week for
. the balance. That is the best offer | can
, make you. Good-day,"
The young man stood as though he were
stunned.
II can't find it, he faltered. II can't
Your resources are not my affair" Win
grave said. Il shall instruct my broker 10
do as l have said. If the money is not
forthcoming. you know the ALTERNATIVE"
Il you mean to ruin me- them" Nesbitt
) said slowly.
- mean to exact the payment of what is
due to me-" Wingrave said CURLY. "If
you cannot pay. IL seems to me- that I am
the person to be pitied-not you. Show
Mir. Nesbitt out Aynesworth."
Nesbitt turned toward the door He was
) very pale, but he walked steadily. He did
rot speak another word to Wingrave.
I'm beastly sorry" Aynesworth said to
; you"
5 Thank YOU" Nesbitt answered mo one
! H.
Aynesworth returned to the sitting room.
Wingrave had lighted a cigarette. and
: watched him as he arranged some papers
t quite a comedy. isn't t." he remarked
srimiy.
1T doesn't present itself in that light to
me-. Aynesworth answered.
| Wingrave blew the smoke away from in
front of his face. 'Ah!' he said. Il forgot
That you were a sentmentalist. | look
upon these things from my own point of
view. From yours | suppose l must seem
10 7 I,,,i+ F,.,,, IL
ly that the sufferings of other people do
not affect me in the slightest"
Il am sorry for you" AynesWorth said
shortly. IF there is going to be much of
this sort of thing, though, fmust ask you
to relieve me of my post 1 can't stand
Winsrave answered. q think that you
would be very foolish to leave me. though
1 must be a most interesting study"
| you are-what the devil made you,'
l Aynesworth muttered.
Wingrave laid down his cigarette.
Il am what my fellows have made me-"
he said slowly. Il tasted hell for a good
many years. 1t has left me- l suppose.
with a depraved taste. Ring up my brokers'
Aynesworth. / want to speak to Malcolm
son. He had better come round here
The day dragged on. Aynesworth hated
ii ALL and was weary long before it was
half over. Every one who came was angry,
and good many came whom Wingrave re-
| fused to see Just before o'clock young
Nesbitt entered the room unannounced.
Aynesworth started toward him with a lit
tie exclamation. The young mans evident
excitement terrified him. and he feared
| tragedy. MalcClmson, too half rose to his
feet. Wingrave alone remained unmoved.
| Nesbitt walked straight up to the table
! at which Malcolmson and Wingrdve were
sitting. He halted in front of the latter.
! "Mr. Wingrave.' he said, you will give
me my receipt for those shares for $4,000"
|, Wingrave turned to paper by his side,
and ran his foretinger down the list of
! names.
'Mr. Nesbitt,' he said. Yves. $4,000.
l. The young man laid slip of paper upon
the table.
= THAT is certified check for the
amount he said. Mr.. Malcolmson, please
give me my receipt"
"Ah!' Mr.. Wingrave remarked: 81
thought that you would find the money!
Nesbitt bit his lip, but he said nothing till
he had the receipt, and had fastened it up
| in his pocket. Then he turned suddenly
round upon Wingrave..-
Look here. he said you've got your
money. I don't owe you cent. Now I'm
/, going to tell you what think of you
Wingrave rose slowly to his feet He
was as tall as the boy, long, lean and hard.
His face expressed neither anger nor ex
element but there was slight, danger
GUS glitter in his deep-set eyes.
'If you mean" he said, that you are go
ing to be impertinent. would recommend
you to change your mind
Nesbitt for moment heSitated. There
was something ominous in the cool cour-
age Of the older man. And before he
|
II presume" he said. that you chose
your own profession. You knew quite we'll
that there was no place in it for men with
a sense of the higher morality. 1t is a pro-
fession of gamblers and thieves. If you'd
won, you'd have thought yourself a smart
fellow, and pocketed your winnings fast
enough. Now that you've lost-dont
whine. You sat down willingly enough to
play the game with me. Don't call me
names because you lost. This is no place
for children: Pocket your defeat, and be
L. of n yovf tir,oop
Nesbitt was silent for a moment. Win
lgrave, cool and immovabe, dominated him.
He gave little laugh, and turned toward
the door.
Guess you're right" he declared; well
let it go at that
|. tAynesworth followed him from the ROOM
scrape," he said.
Nesbtt caught him by the arm.
Come right along he said Il haven't
had drink in the daytime for year, but
were going to have big one now. 1 say,
do you know how I got that money!
| -Aynesworth shook his head.
| ION easy terms, hope
They sat down in the American Bar, and
| a cOlored waiter in a white linen suit
brought them whisky and Apollinaris in tall
tumblerS.
Listen Nesbirt said. "My brain is on
| the reel still. 1 went back to my Office
and If 1t hadn't been for the little girl
should have bought revolver by the way.
Old Johnny there waiting to me, no
end of a swell, Phillson, the uptown law
| yer. He went straight for me.
been dealing in Hardwells?' he asked.
| II nodded.
| "'Short, eh?'
Six hundred shares answered There
I was no harm in telling him. for the street
knew well enough.
bad job he said. How much does
| Wingrave want?
TO- " ia es At s5z par ear answered 1T comes
I'm going to find you the money he
| said
'Then 1 can tell you the things in my Of
] flee began to swim. I'd an idea somehow
| that he was there as friend, but nothing
| like this. l couldn't answer him.
Its a delicate piece Of business he
| went on In fact, the fewer questions you
I ask the better. All 1 can say is there's a
! chap in Wall street got his eye on you
| Your old dad once helped him over a much
worse place than this Anyhow, I've a
| check here for 100000. and no conditions,
only that you don't talk
"'But when am 1 to pay it back" I
gasped.
IF my client ever needs 1t. and you
| can afford it. he will ask FOR it, Phillson
| answered That's ALL
| And before 1 could say another darned