The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1909-06-11
By JAMES PAYN. -
OR 4 TALE OF MONEY MADNESS.


/ said, 'instead of my Office. Now,
canon, what can 1 do for you?"
"Well, it isn't settlements; I am
not going to be married again." said
the canon, characteristically hiding
his anxiety with a joke. 'tI am not
even come for legal advice, but mere
ly for your opinion as a man of busi-
ness A certain friend of mine is
connected with the Susco Railway
Company, in British, Guiana. What
do you think of it as an investment? ?"
For yourself?"
II don't say that. Put it as gen.
orally as you please"
"Well, such things are not much
in our way" was the quiet reply.
''Our clients investments Che looked
up at the yellow tin boxes that orna-
mented the Office walls) are not, as
a rule, in British Guiana securities;
but I do happen to know something
about the Susco. If had not shil-
ling in the world, would perhaps ac-
cept fifty shares of such a company,
as a gift, provided they were fully
paid up; but not hundred, because
that would put me on the direction. :"
''And why not?"
Because my name would then be
made use of, and might induce ignor-
ant persons to invest in the under
taking, which is, in my opinion, thor
oughly unsound."
''Do you mean to say it's bubble
company"
'That is a strong expression, and
suggestive of fraud. Let us call it
a balloon company-it is all in the
air.
my dear Irton, you alarm me
more than l can say. John Adair,
Sophy's husband, is a director of it"
Triton shrugged his shoulders.
overweening conceit; one, in my
gret to you, canon, I can easily be-
lieve; but surelJ- it is not one of sur
prise"
s'It has shocked and surprised me
beyond measure. You don't mean to
tell me that it is Adair's practice to
mix himself up with such undertak-
ings?"
s'My dear canon" returned Triton,
gravely, cts quite contrary to my
custom to interfere, unless 1 am pro-
fessionally consulted, in other peo-
pies affairs. Moreover, Mr.. Adair
and 1 are not on very good terms. L
would therefore much prefer you to
go elsewhere for information about
him.
''But am here to consult you pro-
fessionally. l wish, for Sophy's sake,
to know the whole truth. Tell me
all; it will be the truest kindness"
81 can only speak from hearsay,"
returned Irton, after moments
pause; "but it is a matter of common
months-that Adair is a great specu-
lator. That he has a finger in al
most every new-made pie, and some
of them; l am sorry to say, dirt pies.
He is man of great ability, but of
overweening conceit; one, in my
opinion, who would never be content
with the moderate profits of a legiti-
mate business. 1t must be admitted
that he has peculiar advantages in
the fact of his money being settled on
his wife; thatis always great temp
tation to such men to gamble. Ruin
can never touch him, he has always
his wife's principal to fall back on,
no creditor can claim it, and that
will insure him a certain income.
These companies are unaware of that.
He is known to be a partner in a re-
spectacle firm and to live in good
style, and it is worth their while to
purchase his name. That is the long
and short of it..
The canon grew not only grave,
but gray; he looked ten years older
than he had done five minutes be-
fore.
"Adair assured me with his own
lips last night that he was connected
with no undertaking except the Susco
Railway, which. moreover, he stated
to be a perfectly safe concern; as
safe as an English railway debenture
stock were his very words. Did he
deceive me wilfully, or is it possible
he was doceiving himself?"
''If you compel me to give you
categorical reply" returned Irton,
with evident reluctance, "the latter
supposition is impossible.
"He lied to me?'
Undoubtedly ne did,
'That is enough" sighed the
canon, rising slowly from his seat
And all vigor seemed to lave gone
out of him. He looked q broken man.
81 don't think 1 can come up here
again just yet, Irton," he murmured,
as they shook hands; II may want
you to come down to me at Cam.
bridge; you will oblige me so IA, ]
know, if necessary"
And much farther, my dear
canon" returned Irton, warmly. "Ai
any hour of the day or night you may
depend on my attending to your sum
mons"
CHAPTER XIV.
The Thunderbolt.
Sad as had been the thoughts Of
canon AlQI6u OH Hio way up " IOhA
they were almost pleasant ones in
comparison with those which con-
sumed him on his return journey.
On the fourth morning, as the
canon eagerly ran his eye over the
letters lying at his room, it lit upon
a legal document.
What the deuce is this?'' he muir
plured, partly because he hated law.
partly because he was annoyed at not
getting the letter he expected, and
tore it open. The contents of it were
as follows:
"Sfr-We are instructed on behalf
of Wilhelmina Adair, the infant
daughter of Mr.. John Adair, of AL
bany street, London, to apply to you
as one of the trustees of Mrs. John
Adair's marriage settlements, dated
the 18th OF June, 18-, for state
ment of the property subject to the