Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-09-20
CHAPTER X.

There are all kinds of men in Paris,
all kinds of failures in life and all kinds
Of SucccsScs-the poor genius who dis
patches himself in an attic, and the
financial magnate. The Nicomte de Va
lair was one of those gentlemen who
might be placed In the latter category.
At a bound he had risen from compare
tive obscurity to sudden wealth and such
social position as his title, having its
source in the king of the Belgians, could
insure him in a society which cared rath-
or more for good dinners than old blood.
The Yicomte de Naliar's great hit had
been the successful floating of the City
and Suburban Messenger Company. Lon
don had refused to accept this scheme,
prcfarring TO send its servants out into
the rain and ruin its liveries, to having
little instrument in the house by which
70 summon at a trif'ing charge a messen-
ger, a doctor or cab. De Valiar, with
an eye keen as a hawk, had watched the
career Of the enterprise in the English
metropolis. He saw that it was insult
ed 10 the phlegmatic and exclusive tenn
permanent of the Briton. In the Ameri-
''A NbiOlE ut L airs ALONE was 70 Dc
found a successful field for its opera
tons
The projectors of the London com
p2ny, Americans, were glad enough to
sell the French patents. They even
laughed N their sleeves at the vicomte,
as they pocketed his cash, regarding him
already as a ruined man At the same
time they could not help admiring his
1udaelty The Nicomte de Valiar was
aud2tious, and he displayed consummate
tact in putting his scheme before the
public He opened a large and snowy
Once. He subsidized the most venal of
.o" IarS newspapers he pulled a thou
>aN0 strings. Then, when all was ready,
u' opened his subscription books. Hun
"f'dS came to his office, rang up a mes,
>ehE2r, and having subscribed, called up
cab on the queer little buzzing instru-
mehj, and departed rejoicing in their
hearts that there were such enterprising
men IN existence as the Vicomte de Va
Tar
All that was five years ago. Once
~oased, the vicomte had promptly with
"""n himself from the messenger enter
PRISE and invested the increased capital
""'o mat speculation had brought him,
III The Mutual Credit and Trust Com
Pany \ very limited number of shares
,u'N concern had been offered to the
'"o.'r Such was the prestige of the
''ooleS name that they had been sub
%'''e0 Tor over and over again in a very
few hours.
nut IL was not alone in the field of
."> ness that de Yaliar had achieved
."'" remarkable success. The ycom-
<>' was brilliant, dark eyed. handsome
''a3o, whom de Valiar claimed to have
. abroad during his travels in the West
'""''>- Martinique. rumor had it. Her
,- were much sought after,
"" VINO shall say that she was not
" ana excellent helpmeet? If
-''''| subscriber wavered, an invita-
Wv Wv" 10 'he house where they could talk
w, matter over almost invariably result
d" me closing of the transaction. 1t
a. "oS possible that a man with such
S>.aolShment-above all such a wife
N'0d so wrong. If the vicomte's idea
r,5 a." once was rather loud one, the
.'.oleu good taste of his wife cor
nv These things at home.
muse deep blue eyes of the vicomtesse
yor: NOT the only attraction at the de
nr.r mansion. There was always high
~ LOT those who relished that kind of
,.r and sprinkling of those ladies
D. Socn a woman as the de Valiar,
wo, sue was familiarity called at the clubs,
',u De sure to gather around her. They
Sow, women of great personal attractions,
bi~r, u them Divorces, others on the
road to that enviable state, the