Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-04-14
CHAPTER I.

Wainwright, tinancier, topped
the ridge overlooking the water
i in a climax of architectural hid
eousness and eXtravagant cost. The
grounds of Charles Wainwright, finan-
rler, stretched out into countless acres
of landscape gardening. The whole es-
tate of Charles Wainwright, financier,
eclipsed those of his neighbors in the
fashionable suburb, even as the name
Of Charles Wainwright, financier,
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
pm his $2,50o.000 country place, with
its modest equipment of forty-one serv-
lnts, Mr. Wainwright so far carried
INTO the wilds the atmosphere of bust
less and the burden of other mems
wealth as to have a very complete lit
lie stockbroker room fitted up adjoin-
ag his big library and to keep man
hight and day at his private wire.
Charles Wainwright, fnancier, was
bachelor No obese or statuesque wife
farried about with her a portable ad
serttsement Of his wealth in the shape
bf fabulouSly valuable jewels or made
bis 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
md two children to divide it. These
ehildren - Dallas, strikingly pretty
and still more strikingly Independent
girl of twenty-four, and Perry, a de-
lightfully lazy, lovable lad of twenty
pne-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, I'M
eventful month at the big house on the
hill early in the summer of 19-, when
a day dawned whereon fate booked
number of decidedly interesting fateful
happenings to occur.
Wainwright himself was up betimes
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 unobtrusive efficiency had long
since won the financier's admiration.
This morning affairs in the financial
world had gone more than ordinarily
to Mr.. Wainwrights liking. Moreover.
q paragraph in one of the city papers
that had caught his eyes had set his
lean gray face to twitching with as
near an approach to a smile as the
great man ever permitted. Altogether
he was in an unwontedly genial mood,
and some Of his good nature so far ex-
banded as to include his busy secre-
tary.
Thompson" he remarked as the last
batch of correspondence was cleared
nway, you're looking pale. Do work
you too hard?"
mo, indeed, sir" replied the secre-
tary, with promptitude that mao
something almost slavish i'm il.
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 10 help you do the
telegraph part of it, then. r.
Thank you. sir. You are very kind
indeed; but. if it's just the same TO YOU.
I'd rather handle it all myself. | hope
the works perfectly satisfactory, sir?"
Perfectly, Thompson. You're the
only employee / have who seems TO
love work for works sake. Seen any
thing Of Mr.. Gibbs this morning.
''No. sir. ] don't believe he's up yet.
Coming by such a late train last night,
you know. sir, and
Il was up as late as he was, and l
was at work by s. But when a man
takes his first holiday I'm six years. as
he is doing. / suppose oversleeping is
part of the fun. There's 4 man to pat
tern yourself after. Thompson, I re-
member when he started out he hadn't
a penny-nothing but the resolve to
get money and then TO get more Of IL.
And now look NJ him, Al thirty-fve
he's the head Of one Of the bushes.
brokerage houses in
Good morning. broke in n voice
from the foot Of the broad stairway
across the hall. Sorry to b. 50 late.
DO you know how the market fsg'
ITS opened even stronger than
hoped" said Wainwright. Take a
look at these dispatches and see for
yourself. Had your breakfast
Yes. thanks answered the new
comer. well groOmed. stockfly built
man. lounging into the rooms. with a
mol at Thompson. who discreetly
wIhdrew into the adjoining onice.
seems queer 70 have a whole dav
away from the ofice. I hardly know
what to do with 50 much spare time
Its the everyday hard work that's
put you where you are today. Gibbs.
and that's interested ne in YOU For
instance. that deal Of yours in south
Sea eOpper-
Yet that was the deaI the papers
all
-AIl denounced ron fors What DO
you csre2 You were within the law.
They've been hamulerinE IRE for years
and attribgtinE al sgrJs - low NO
lives to ne AZ long ss the law doeSn't
Interfere Tn e1ins 70 ct an can 50