The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-17

| canon, WQdC AL 1 w LII you'
well, it isn't settlements; I am
not going to be married again." said
the canon, Enthusiastically hiding
his anxiety with a joke. Il am not
even come for legal advice, but mere
ly for your opinion as a man of bust
ness. A certain friend Of mine is
I connected with the Susco Railway
Company, in British Guiana. What
do you think of it as an investment?'
For YOURSELF"
ct don't say that. Put it as gen.
orally as you please"
well, such things are not much
in our way" was the quiet reply.
"Our clients investments Che looked
up at the yellow tin boxes that orna-
mented the Office walls) are not, as
a rule, in British Guiana securities;
but I do happen to know something
about the Susco. If I had not a shil-
ling in the world, I would perhaps &C.
cept fifty shares of such a company,
as a gift, provided they were fully
paid up; but not a hundred, because
that would put me on the direction"
"And why not?"
Because my name would then be
made use of, and might induce isnor-
ant persons to invest in the under
taking, which is, in my opinion, thor
oughly unsound."
do you mean to say it's a bubble
company"
THAT is a strong expression, and
suggestive of fraud. Let us call 1t
a balloon company-it is all in the
air."
my dear Irton, you alarm me
more than I can say. John Adair,
Sophy's husband, is a director of it"
Triton shrugged his shoulders.
o~verweening conceit; one, in my
greet to you, canon, I can easily be-
lieve; but surely it is not one of sur
prise" ...g.
1T has shocked and surprised me
beyond measure. You don't mean to
tell me that it is Adair's practice to
mix himself up with such undertak-
ings?"
my dear canon" returned Triton,
grave1y, cts quite contrary to my
custom to interfere, unless I am pro-
fessionally consulted, in other peo-
pies affairs. Moreover, Mr.. Adair
and I are not on very good terms.
would therefore much prefer you to
go elsewhere for information. about
him" r
But I am here to consult you pro-
fessionally. I wish, for Sophy's sake,
to know the whole truth. Tell me
all; it will be the truest kindness"
II can only speak from hearsay,"
returned Triton, after a moments
pause; but it is a matter of common
report-and has been for these many
months-that Adair is a great specu-
lator. That he has a finger in al
most every new-made pie, and some
of them, I am sorry to say, dirt pies.
He is a man of great ability, but of
overweening conceit; one, in my
opinion, who would never be content
with the moderate profits of a legiti-
mate business. 1t must be admitted
that he has peculiar advantages in
the fact of his money being settled on
his wife; that is always a great temp
tation to such men to gamble. Ruin
can never touch him, he has always
his wife's principal to fall back on,
no creditor can claim it, and that
will insure him a certain income.
These companies, are unaware Of that.
He is known to be a partner in a re-
| spectacle firm and to live in good
style, and it is worth their while to
purchase his name. That is the long
and short of it."
The canon grew not only grave,
but gray; he looked ten years older
than he had done five minutes be-
! fore.
"Adair assured me with his own
! lips last night that he was connected
with no undertaking except the Susco
Railway, which, moreover, he stated
to be q perfectly safe concern; as
safe as an English railway debenture
stock we're his very words. Did he
deceive me wilfully, or is it possible
he was daceiving HIMSELF"
eff you compel me to give you a
categorical reply" returned Triton,
with evident reluctance, 1.-The latter
supposition is impossible"
He lied to me?"
Undoubtedly he did"
"That is enough" sighed the
canon, rising slowly from his seat
And all vigor seemed to have gone
out of him. He looked a broken man.
II don't think l can ome up here
again just yet, Irton," he murmured,
as they shook hands; Il may want
you to come down to me at Cam
bridge; you will oblige me so fa--, /
know, if necessary"
And much farther, my dear
canon" returned Irton, warmly. "At
any hour of the day Or night you may
depend on my attending to your sum-
mons"
CHAPTER XIV.