Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-04-08


mufinous as those of a spoiled child, and
even the tilt Of his soft felt had had
detected aid
Where do You want to Coz | asked
in return. The Penguin club lies about
three miles of to the east"
Yes. hiatt it, he said. I'm a Pen
guinite. worse luck He dropped the
fshing-rod and tried 70 kick some of the
mud from his boots. Il came out TO get
some fishing at ) this morning. and not
a bite have | had, nor a morseI of food
tasted since. My legs ache at the thought
of that three miles yet to go. Isn't there
a farmhouse somewhere near where |
could get something to eat?"
The appeal in his eyes was SO plaintiye
that | could not help smiling. Thereat
he smiled back
It's a beaStly pickle. isn't it?' he
said. The next time I'll arrange to
have man follow me with lunch"
1t was only a quarter Of mile to my
cottage. Come along with me-" l said.
III fix you up"
He grinned gratefully. and trudged
along beside me until we came 10 the cot
tage. | called for Charles and sent him
off with the horse. By the time he re-
turned. my guest was feeling consider
ably better. having postponed famine by
the aid of whisky and soda. He sat
down to dinner with the air of a king
come into his own. For time he ate
silently but Strenuously, then he looked
up at me.
They don't give us such food at the
club, no. Stree, and as for the wines,
they can't compare with your claret
Funny to think of finding such things
down here in the country. away of at the
end of an empty beach. | didn't know
there was civilized man within fifty
miles of here. Do you happen TO come
from New York;"
"Originally," | made answer But it
was some time ago"
Funny thing New York" said my
guest When I'm back there | think I'd
like to be out in the open country, but
as soon as I have my wish I'm crazy
for the old burg. I've been down at the
Penguin now for more than two weeks,
and | don't suppose an hour of the day
passes when | don't long for the scenery
of Broadway. The worst time is at
night. | can sit on the club porch and
fairly hear the Elevated sizzle by. Some
times it seems as if l really couldn't
stand it any longer"
why do YOU" | asked.
There are reasons. good and suff-
cient reasons" he answered, with a slow
smile. Reasons for which | might be
living in Kamchatka as we'll as any
" here else"
lie looked at me intently for few
seconds, then lighted cigarette.
You're not inquisitive, are you? First
rule to success in any business affair
However, there are certain facts you are
entitled to have: my name is Rodney
Islip, and I'm broker, offices at 81 Wall
Street. where I'd be glad to execute any
orders for you at any time of year
though between you and me the present
is a particularly bad time to invest in
! anything. not even including British con-
soils or government bonds. This recent
French smash put lots of people out of
business. You've heard of it, [ suppose
the most outrageous swindle since
Whitaker Wright"
Il read of it in the papers. 1t seems
this man Etenne induced half the poor
of Paris to trust their savings to him,
and then played one company into the
hands of another until the bubble burst
isn't that about it,"
The man in tweeds nodded. He threw
back his head and blew cloud of smoke
| in an upward spiral. 80 little differ
ence," said he. between absolute triumph
/ and absolute defeat A jerk of the tick
cr may convert the greatest benefactor
! into the deepest villain. For Etienne-
though l think that's only a pseudonyn
Of his--is undoubtedly villain when
you think of the numberless lifetime saw
/ ings he has swept away. Why will PEG
/ pie trust promoter? Haven't they all
Of history to judge by"
/ History teaches that people are al
ways ready to be fooled" | answered
However. ! don't blame them. I'm g
mans nerve was only big enough I'd fol
! low him myself"
/ Islip looked at me with merry twin
kle.
The solitary life makes You philoso
pher," he said. Il envy you. I'm a:
restless as a hawk"
l smiled An uneasy conscience"
No; I'm no Etienne. l believe th'
only place for such men is under loci
and key. But | hate to sit still ant
think-in my present condition
He did not seem disposed TO explain
that position. and l would not press him
After a time we adjourned to my bal
cony aud sat there enjoying the day, car
rying on a somewhat desultory CONVEX
Sation. | found that | liked this man
there was frank camaraderie abou
[ ,,,I f,.tt %kn
irresistibly appealed. He seemed tn
better sort of young New Yorker, thor
oughly optimistic. always at his ease
could see he had the knack of knowing
how TO dress even his loose, 5aggy out
ing clothes set we'll upon him.
DO you ever shoot at guils?' h
asked. noting the birds that wheeled con
tinualIy in from sea and over the cliffs
No; it's bad luck to shoot them. L
stormy weather when sailors can't Sc
their hands before their faces, they ca
hear the beating of gulls' wings and loo
out for hidden rocks. One comes I
think a great deal of seafarers down thi
way"
, II dare say. 1t must be beastly wor
in a storm at sea-
Il often think that when I'm in be
on bad night The Shoal Light yonde
keeps most Of the ships away
We smoked for time in silenct
What a contrast" Islip said at length
: between this quiet beach and the folk
at the club l think l like this the be
ter of the two, but l should want con
pany."
Many people over there now?"
asked
"A goodish number
, "Wao are they" | inquired idly.
''Oh, the usual crowd of city ma!
mates with their wives and familie
James G. Purviance of Oil. with tn
Mrs and two marriageable daughter
! The Mrs. has her eyes on Colonel Fe
, loves the man who judges the hackney
at all the shows. | think he'd rattle
stay single. but the nets are Tightening
and Mrs Purviance isn't going 10 let nj