The Washington herald., 1908-03-07
CHAPTER VIII.


face Hyde Park-not far from the corner
of that narrow little turning, Deanery
street, stood a great white house. one OF
a short row. The windows were protected
from the sun by outside blinds of red and
buff-striped holland, and the first floor
sills were gay with geraniums.
The house was one of imposing impor
tance. and dwarfed its neighbors, being
higher. larger. and more artistic. On
the right side dwelt one of Manches-
ters cotton kings. and on the other
duke whose rent-roll was one of the big
gest in the United Kingdom. The center
house. however. was far more prosperous
looking than the others. and was often
remarked upon by country cousins as
they passed up and down upon omnlbuses
It was certainly one of the finest in the
whole of that select thoroughfare, where
rents alone were ruinous, and where the
possession of a house meant that ones
annual income must run into six figures.
The mere nobility of England cannot af-
ford TO live in Park Lane nowadays. II
Is reserved for the kings Of Britains
commerce. the stock exchange speculator
or the get-rich-quick financier.
Those who read these lines know well
the exterior of many of the houses OF
notable people who live there. Some are
in excellent taste. while others betray the
blatant arrogance of the man who. risen
from penury. has suddenly found himself
a controller Of England's destinies, a
birthday knight. and the husband OF a
woman whom the papers have suddenly
commenced to dub the beautiful Lady
So-and-so-" Other houses are quiet and
sober In their exterior small. modest,
nd ha ,g
men of great wealth. who posing as gen.
tlemen, are hoping for peerage.
The hopes in Park Lane are many.
Almost every household possesses a secret
ambition, some 10 shine in society. other
in politics. and some even in literature.
The really wealthy man sneers at baro.
netcy, an honor which his tea merchant
received last year and as for a knight
hood, well. he can plank down his money
this afternoon and buy one just as he
bought cigar half an hour ago in Bond
street He must have a title, for his wife
wants 10 be known by the name of his
country place, and he has secret ambi-
tions for a seat in the lords. And so in
every house in that long. one-sided row
are hopes eternal which rise regularly
every year toward the end of June.
Diamond, copper, soap. pork. and rail-
way kings who dwell there are a
curious assortment. yet the combined
wealth of that street alone would be suf-
ficient to pay off our national debt and
also run a respectable-sized kingdom for
a year or two.
Almost every man could realize a mil
lion sterling, and certainly one Of the
very wealthiest among them was old
Samuel Statham, the man who owned
and lived in that house with the red-strip-
ed sun-blinds.
While Max Barclay was engaged in his
investigations at the deserted house in
Cromwell road. old Sam was standing at
the window OF his study, a large front
room on the ground floor overlooking the
park II was a quiet, soberly-furnished
apartment the carpet of which was so
soft that ones feet fell noiselessly. while
over the mantel-shelf was n large life
sized Venus by a modern French artist.
the most notable picture in the Salon five
years ago.
The leather-covered chairs were all
heavy and old-fashioned. the books in
uniform bindings Of calf and gold, and
the big writing table OF the early Vic
torian period Upon the table stood
great silver candelabra fitted with cleo
trio lamps, while Uttered about the floor
were quantities of folded papers and busl-
ness documents Of various kinds.
room. Artistic taste and luxury are COM
monty associated with Park Lane. there
fore the stranger would have been great
ly surprised II he had been allowed 10
peep within. But there was a curious
fact about the house.
No stranger had ever been known 10
pass beyond the big swing glass doors
half way down the hall No outsider
had ever set foot within.
Levi, the hOok-nosed old butler. in his
weli-cGt clothes and spOtless linen. was
Jealous janitor. No one upon any pre-
text whatsoever. was allowed TO pass he
yond the glass doors. His master was a
little eccentric, 1t was said. and greatly
disliked intruders. He hated the inouisi-
tiveness Of the modern press, and always
reared lest his house should be described
and photographed as those OF his neigh
bors constantly were. Therefore all stran-
gers were vigorously excluded
Some gossip had got about concerning
this year ago the wealthy old fnan-
eier had been taken suddenly i'll. and his
doctor was sent for from Cavendish
square. But even he was not allowed 10
pass the rigidly- guarded frontier His
patient saw him in the hall. and there he
diagnosed the ailment and prescribed
The doctor in question, a well-known
physician. remarked upon old Sans &c
centricity over a dinner-table In Mayfair.
and very soon half smart London were
talking and wondering why nobody was
ever invited to the table of Samuel Stat
ham.
In the city as head OF statham Broth
ers, foreign bankers. whose offices in
Old Broad street are known to every CITY
man, he was always affable. yet very
shrewd. He and his brother could drive
hard bargains, but they We're always
charitable. and the name OF the firm con-
startly figured for a substantial amount
in the lists in response to any charitable
appeal.
From small beginnlngs-the early davs
OF both brothers being shrouded in nvs-
tery-they had risen to become what
they now were, house second only 20
the h0thschlds in financial power. a
house whose assistance was sought bv
kings and emperors. and whose interests
were worldwide.
That morning old Sam Statham appear
cd unusually agitated Rising AT
o'clock. as was his habit summer ana
winter. he had been hard at work for
hours when Levi brought him his tinv
cup OF black Turkish coffee. Then. elanc-
ing at the clock upon his desk. ne had
risen, gone TO the window. and gazed
out eagerly. as though in search of some
one
1t was o'clock and there were plenty
or people about. But, though he looked
up and down the thoroughfare, he was
disappointed SO he snapped his thin
fingers impatiently and returned to his
writing.
His personal appearance was truly in
significant When. in the street. he was
pointed out TO people as the great Sam
uel Statham. they Invariably expressed