Evening star., 1909-07-15
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

My dear fellow. Cough said. 'if you
only knew half the story of my adven-
lures in search of a fortune you'd hold
the world in the greatest contempt. III
tell you what happened only few
months ago. / was in Copenhagen ard
trifie hard up. when ] received word
that big concession in the Adriatic
had been given by the Hungarian gov
ernment to a German syndicate. The
latter had heard of me as a man of
means and as man who could find
capital Therefore | was approached
md asked to wire to Cologne. | went
as the big American tinancier-put up
at the best hotel in the best suite of
rooms. although | hadn't the money 70
pay for them. l worked the trick Of Il
bogus telegram or two from bankers
and then l met the syndicate, | invited
them to a meeting-ten of them-in 4
private room at the hotel and heard
what they had to say. The moment
set eyes on them I saw they would fall
into my hands. They were little butcn-
ers and bakers and retired clerks
hard headed. but without experience.
They offered me big share of The con-
cesson for building casino, hotels,
etc. and I said | would consider it.
AS to the price, they were obdurate. and
put il in writing. That's just what
wanted. / got copy OF the concession
and allowed them to so. Then next day
/ invited them to meet again. They
came like lambs. thinking that l was
about TO finance them. When the whole
ten of them were inside the room ! locked
the door, and going to the table | calm
~ said, Gentlemen. the whole lot of you
are in prison. You should have seen their
faces. BY Jove. they were a study. Yes,
| went on, you've tried to induce me to
finance concession which you haven I
got The concession from the Hungarian
government is not complete, and ism
worth the paper it's written upon And
you've tried to get two hundred thousand
marks out OF me for it. You've attempt
ed to obtain money by false pretenses;
The whole crowd were fiabbergasted.
Some of them. when they could speak.
begged me to let them off Others were
inclined to be defiant"
And you soon dealt with them, | sup
pose, Granny?
Dealt with them he cried why.
before / left that room | had the whole
bag of tricks in my hands. syndicate,
concession as it was-and the sum
of two hundred and fifty pounds advanced
and get the concession completed.
Bluff
Bluff. of course. / simply struck them
so suddenly that before they could re-
cover I'd left Cologne for Budapest with
two hundred and fifty to go on with the
very fair bit of, business to transact
I've already made another five hundred
over it, and hope to make more"
You're a marvel. | shall begin to be
frightened of you soon,' / declared
My dear Phil, I'm always straight 10
| man who runs straight, as you know
he said, But like to get even with
some Of these business sharks sometimes
I love to do bit of sharp practice. and
so teach them a lesson On that day in
| Cologne ] was in a very tight corner foi
| money. You can't play the American
g.. ,.tn r.-t% act
recollect how / got that big order from
| the Russian government to buy Chilean
and Argentine warships during the Japa
nese war. / posed in Petersburg as g
| millionaire. and through a lady's inf1u
ence got in touch with the admiralty.
sold them four ships secretly, paid the
| lady fifty thousand francs for her serv
| ices as my secret agent, and made a POI
my self.
And you've lost it all-already--eh?
"Yes-every red cent he laughed. u
| invested ten thousand pounds TO provide
for little Gerte. That's intact. I'm glad
to say, so she'll never want"
| How is the child: / asked. knowing
| the strange. romantic story and how dear
the little nine-year-old girl was to his
| heart.
She's bonnie I went down to see her
| today. She's growing fast, and getting
| even prettier. By Jove. Phil | only wish
| | were not such wanderer," he sighed
Then L could see her more often. But
| the people she with at Brighton are
very good indeed to her.
She's delightful little thing | de-
clared. rejecting that out of his stroke Of
| good fort une he had provided for the tiny
orphan child he had some four years be-
| fore adopted as his daughter. Men might
call him hard names If they choose. but
| surely he had big generous heart-jusi
as he had big hand. big beaming face
and burly imposing figure.
| True. he loved Myra Stapleton with a
deep. honest and devoted affection. But
perhaps If the truth were really told
| fair-haired little Gertie. with her nine
year-old prattle, held first place in his
heart.
| knew the circumstances of her adop-
ton. and they were. indeed, romantic.
We were silent for a few moments, the
crimson London sundown flooding the
room. My thoughts had reverted to tha,
mysterious tragedy in Redcliffe Gardens,
and suddenly said
Granny you recollect that woman who
Joined Garshore at the Cecil last night
Was she Lydia Popescu?'
He started forward. staring at me.
Why" he gasped What do you
mean Didn't I tell you she was?''
Yes, but ] thought you might have
mist aiken her
What-what do you know about her?
You know something! Tell me-
And he looked straight into my eyes.
Was he blufhng me- as he Diuf1ed
others?
Il know nothing" | declared. returning
his gaze.
That's a lie Phil he said plainly.
You know something something about
hat woman
"You hate herr You told me So. Gran
ny"
I'm confidence. Promise me never tn
repeat what l said concerning her. he
begged i'm strange. harsh voice, with a
curious look in his eyes. No. Phil, YOU
are my friend-my best friend. Promise
me that one thing
CHAPTER VII
Dissects a Mans Heart.