Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-09-25
CHAPTER I.

-HE country house Of Charles
Wainwright, financier, topped
the ridge overlooking the water
j in climax Of architectural hid
eousness and extravagant cost The
grounds Of Charles Wainwright. fnan.
cier. stretched out into countless acres
of landscape gardening. The whole es-
tate of Charles Wainwright, dnancier,
eclipsed those Of his neighbors in the
fashionable suburb, even as the name
of Charles Wainwright, fnancier,
eclipsed almost every other in the city
world where money ruled as undis-
puted and absolute monarch.
Even when he turned from the bus
tie Of city and fellow money builders
and sought for space the simple life
on his $2,5OO.O0O country place. with
its modest equipment Of forty-one serv.
ants, Mr.. Wainwright SO far carried
into the wilds the atmosphere of bust
ness and the burden Of other mems
wealth as to have very complete lit
tie stockbroker room fitted up adjoin-
ing his big library and to keep a man
night and day at his private wire.
Charles Wainwright, flnancier, was
bachelor. No obese or statuesque wife
carried about with her q portable adj
yertisement Of his wealth In the shape
of fabulously valuable jewels or made
his name renowned In opera box, New
port casino or Lenox cottage. His only
brother had died years before, leaving
a mere beggarly million dollars or so
and two children to divide 1t. These
children - Dallas, strikingly pretty
and still more strikingly Independent
girl Of twenty-four, and Perry, de-
lightfully lazy, lovable lad of twenty
one-lived with their uncle, who man
aged their affairs, let them go pretty
much as they chose and-as they were
more or less ornamental and enter.
tanning and decidedly popular - was
rather fond Of them.
The trio had passed a pleasant, un-
eyentful month at the big house on the
hill early in the summer of 49,. when
a day dawned whereon fate booked a
number Of decidedly interesting fateful
happenings to occur.
wainwright himself was up betines
and at work in his library, porting over
market reports. cipher kilograms and
dozen other details of deals which his
simple life cult did not prevent him
from operating at long range. With
him was his secretary, Thompson. a
pallid, earnest looking young fellow
whose unobtrusiv efficiency had long
since won the 6nanciers admiration.
This morning affairs in the financial
world had gone more than ordinarily
10 Mr.. Wainwright's liking. Moreover
a paragraph In one Of the city papers
that had caught his eyes had set bis
lean gray face to twitching with as
near an approach to smile as the
great man ever permitted. Altogether
he was In an unwontedly genial mood
and some of his good nature so far ex
panded as to include his busy secre
tary.
Thompson" he remarked as the last
batch of correspondence was cleared
away, you're looking pale. Do work
you too hard?"
'No, indeed, SIR" replied the secre'
tary, with a promptitude that hat
something almost slavSh in 1t.
Feeling all rightT' went on Vain
wright. "You need more exercise. Why
don't you get out Of doors oftener?"
''The work, SIR
"Get another man to help you do the
telegraph part Of 1t, then. r.
THANK you, sir. You are very kind
indeed; but, IL it's just the same to you,
I'd rather handle 1t all myself. hope
the works perfectly satisfactory, sir?'
Perfectly, Thompson. You're the
only employee I have who seems to
love work for works sake. Seen any.
thing of Mr.. Gibbs this morning?"
mo, sir. don't believe he's up yet.
Coming by such late train last night,
you know. sir. and"=-------..-