The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-03

90
Copyright, 1907, by w. G. chapman,
My name is Seymour Wibraham
Wentworth. am brother-in,law and
E,nth African millionaire, and famous
ft'anciei. Many years ago, when
Charlie Vandrift was a small lawyer
III Cape Town, I had the tquallfied)
god fortune 70 marry his sister. Much
later. wien the Nandrift estate and
farm. near Kimberley. developed by
degrees into the Cloetedorp GoIcondas.
4 Limited my brotherin law offered me
tlc not unremur1erative post of secre-
tary: IN which capacity, have eNer
sinec been his constant and attached
cemranion.
He is not a man whom any common
sharper can take in. is Charles Van
drift. Middle height. square build.
FIRM mouth, keen eyes--the very pic
t,ire of d sharp and successful business
i genus. 1 have only known one rogue
Impose upon Sir Charles. and that one
rogue, as the Commissary of Police
III Nice remarked. would doubtless
have imposed upon syndicate of
vidocq, Robert Houdin. and coglios-
We had run across to the Rivera for
afew weeks in the season. Our object
being strictly rest and recreation from
the arduous duties OF financial combi-
nation, we did not think it necessary
to take our wives out with us. Indeed
Lady Nandrift is absolutely welded to
the joys of London. and does not app
Mediterranean littoral. But Sir Charles
and /, though immersed in affairs
when at home, both thoroughly en-
Joy the complete change from the city
to the charming vegetation and pei
lucid air on the terrace at Monte Carlo.
We are so fond of scenery. That de-
licious view over the rocks of Monaco,
with the Maritime Alps in the rear,
Sna s,,< ,o,
ton the imposing Casino in the fore
ground. appeals to me as one of the
most beautiful prospects in all Europe.
SIR Charles has sentimental attach
ment for the place. He finds it re-
stores and freshcns him, after tho tur-
moi! of London. to win few hun
dred at roulette in the course OF an
afternoon among tho palms and cac-
fuses and pure breezes of Monte Carlo.
The country. say ]. for faded INTEL
lect! However, we never. on any ac-
count ,., .i actually stop in the Principal
Carlo is not a sound address for a
financier's letters. He prefers a. COM
fortabie hotel on the Promenade des
Angiais at Nice. where he RECEIVERS
system by taking daily excursions
! along the coast to the Casino.
Ibis particular particular season We were
Anglais." We had capital quarters on
the first floor--salon, study, and bed
roor,s--and found on the spot a most
agreeable cosmopoiitan society: All
about curious imposter known to
his followers as the Great Mexican
= seer and supposed to be gifted with
SECOND sight. as well as with endless
other supernatural powers. Now, it
Is a popularity of my able brother-in-
laws that. when he meets with a
d,iack, he burns to expose him; he is
SO Keen a man Of business himself
that it gives him, so to speak, a dis
interested pleasure to unmask and de-
test imposture In others. Many ladies
at the hotel. some. of whom had met
and converscd with the Mexican Seer.
were constantly telling us strange
stories of his doings. He had disclosed
TO one the present whereabouts of
runaway husband: he had pointed out
to another the numbers that would
win at rouatte next evening: he had
shown a third the image on u screen
Of the man she had for years adored
Charles didn't believe word of 1T;
but his curiosity was reused; he wish
81 ed to see and judge for himself of the
4 wonderful thought reader.
What would be his terms, do you
think. for private seance?" he ask
edsof Nine Picardet. the lady to whom
the Seer, had successfully predicted
the winning numbers.
'.He does not work for money"
Nine. Picardet answered, but for the
good of humanity. Tn sure he would
gladly come and exhibit for nothing
his miraculous faculties"
"Nonsense!" Sir Charles answered
The man must live. I'd pay him five
Euineas, though, to see him alone.
+. What hotel is he stopping at?"
The Cosmopolitan, l think" the
lady answered. ."oh. no; l remember
now. the Westminster"
Sir Charles turned to me quietly: !.
go round 70 this fellows place i'm
mediately after Dinner .and offer him
five pounds to'Fgiee "a private seance
at once in my rooms. without men
ttoninE who am TO him: keep the
name quiet. Bring him back with
you, too. and come straight upstairs
with him. so that there may be no
, ,Se saf1nw Ma .s, See Just how much
went as directed. I found the
Seer very remarkable and interest
ing person. He stood about Sir
cfarless own height, but was slim
q lner and straishter. with an auuiline
nose, strangely piercing eyes very
Is large black pupils and finely chisel-
I'd, close shayen- face, like the bust
Of Antinous in our hall in Mayfair
What gave him his most characteris.
5s Tic touch however, was his odd heat
eof hair. curly and wavy like Paderew.
* skis, standing out in halo rounl
his high white forehead and his del.
icate profile. ] could see at a glanc,
| why he succeeded so well in Impress
!s ing women; he had the look of /;
II.
have come round said az,
s$3s3 ask whether YOU Will consent to Civ,
seance at once in friends rooms
n and my principal wishes me to adj,
that he Is prepared to pay five hound
as the price of the entertainment"
senior Antonio Herrera--that W.,
what he called himself-bowed to m,
with impressive Spanish politeness
lis duskE, olive checks were wrinisla,
with q smile of gentle contempt as h
~ & - -
do not sell my gifts, bestoy
~ fes Them freely: II Your f,.iend1vnm
synonymous friend-desires To bc,,oI,
he cosnic wonders that are wroi,,pp
through re, my y, hands am glad TO shov
happens when 1t Is necessary IN W 49, oe'
Ass VINCE and confound a screptic 10
ssT that Your friend is sceptIe e. ~
Ilistincliveiyl. ] chance to have no on
at all this evening, lie ra
gss big hand through his fine. long h.i
fsssS effectively. Yes. / go.r he eon ~