Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-26

CHAPTER III. Continued.
The ability to look forward, which
had enabled his father to see and re-
move all obstacles before he came to
them, had transmitted to the son. Van
draken knew that unless he could find
some way to remove the grisly spec
tire, he would have to abandon that
part Of his dreams, and only SOW a
thin crop Of wild oats, such as any
poor devil on ten. thousand year
could SOW; crop which would be no
credit to anyone, least of all to the
richest young man in the world. Every
day he lived he was reminded more
and more forcibly of this fact, so that
his mind-which had really been
working for long time on this sub
ject-was absolutely prepared for the
suggestion contained in Abdul Won
Tarsenheims letter. Instead of ap-
pearing, as it would have appeared to
any ordinary mind, as monstrous
absurdity, it simply filled in Vandra-
ken's a long-felt want.
A curious crowd had collected out
side the Ritz Hotel, for it had leaked
out that the motor waiting at the
entrance belonged to Vandraken. The
halfpenny newspapers had thorough
ly whetted public curiosity about him
by constantly referring to him as the
richest young man in the world. There
and away bigger than Vandraken's,
but they all belonged to elderly men;
and there is nothing thrilling about
rich old man, except his testamentary
dispositions. But the thought of
youth and wealth combined is differ
emit; men speculated on what they
would do if they were Vandraken. One
paper offered prize competition for
the most original answer. Another
more economical asked for answers
to the question, would any woman
refuse to marry him?" and, of course,
a great many women wrote to say
they would refuse, and bought the
paper to see their names in print.
Vandraken had become blase about
being advertised; the yellow papers in
America had given him surfeit Of it:
but all the samoa small crowd in
Piccadilly!-he knew it generally took
royalty to gather that. He heard one
man say, wouldn't mind being run
over by that motor. A jury'd give
proper damages against i'm"
Another man hazarded the opinion
that "E was going down to the Bank,
to see if is coin 'ad arrived from
America"
Vandraken smiled to himself as he
thought of their establishment, if they
knew his real Grand
Abdul Won Tarsenheim was at home,
and Vandraken was ushered into a
\ Sol II - -,
Gals. An object like large cupboard
occupied one corner; it was concealed
by curtains.
Much more like blackmailer's den
than scientists laboratory" thought
Vandraken, only slightly treasured by
the smell of chemicals. Won larsen
helm did not keep him waiting long,
but he stood at the door and scrut-
missed his guest, instead of speaking.
His long neck, thrust outwards and
upwards from his rounded shoulders,
made his visitor think of vulture.
He was tall and very swarthy. His
hooked nose, and long, dark, pointed
beard, suggested an Afghan. His eyes,
piercing and dominant, were meshed
in q network of speculative lines. His
general expression was mocking
smile, as though he regarded all the
world from point Of tremendous
superiority. His accent was only
slightly foreign, but he had peculiar
modes of expression, suggesting the
foreigner, without giving any clue to
his nationality. His age might have
been anything over forty. There was
something tremendously forcible about
him which did not go with age; but
while his hair was black, his face had
the wrinkles OF wise old man who
has lived a life of concentrated
thought.
He kept up his steady gaze on Van.
draken, as though he could do it for
ever.
(. 1.-THE beggar's doing 1t for effect
thought the young man growing rest.
less under that silent scrutiny. Its
up to him to speak first" But, being
unable to stand the situation any long
er, he burst out: 81 suppose you
speak English?"
ooh, yes, speak the English; also
understand the American. l have
lived in that country"
Vandraken laughed "Then we will
u 6SS S1AOue5 Oil llSul. 1 Cdll1S W bic YOU
about your invention"
"Ah, yes, my invention
1.-THE one you wrote to Mr.. Dutton
worth about. The letter was passed
on to me-"
$50! Let us Sit" answered this
sombre host, coming forward from the
door, waving Vandraken to chair as
he took one facing him, and rested his
open hands on his outspread knees
"This Mr.. Duttonworth never answer
my letter; he thinks I am a fraud
But 1t is natural. Oh, yes, that Is
quite natural. And you do not thinl
1t a fraud? You wish to buy it? The
terms you know from the letter
yes?"
cit may be a fraud, for all I know
1t probably it; but I am willing t.
know more about it. understand 70,
claim to be able to make one man talk
the consequences of the exoesses-an'
-er-dissipation of another"
1.-THE physical OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
@That's all that bothers me. TIL
moral consequences can look afte
themselves"