Evening star., 1909-07-11

by year the two old people drifted farther
and farther apart. He, with a touch Of
senility that is shown by even some Of
the best balanced Of old men. was caught
became familiarly known among the
chorus girls as the old man." There
was nothing bad about him-he was just
showing little coltishness in his old age
the embers in the ashes of his life were
cracking and sparkling again for brief
season before they died out entirely.
Doubtless nothing ever would have been
heard about it II it had not happened
that one day New York was shocked by
tragedy of unusual importance. A great
man, a very great and famous man. was
shot to death by a young millionaire as
the result Of a quarrel over a woman.
When milady's husband heard Of the
tragedy he tainted. He saw at once-or
thought he saw-a great danger for him
connection with that of the man who
had been killed. He feared exposure. OBJ
loquy-ruin perhaps-but more than all
else the contempt Of his wife, milady.
concentrated on keeping his name out of
the case. In the natural course of events
there was no reason why 1t ever should
be brought into 1t. He did not have
even the remotest connection with the
tragedy. He had been simply an occa-
sional companion Of the man who had
been slain, and an innocent participant
In some of the rather gay meetings OF
which the famous man had been fond.
Blu But -, milady's ss husband was -, obsessea sea1
business, forgot society, forgot home
everything-in his effort to keep his name
from being mentioned in connection with
the people concerned In the terrible af-
e.: IT.
and others to use their influence to pro-
tect him from exposure. They took his
money. They did nothing. Some of them
knowing his state of mind, stirred others
to frighten him still further, and he be-
came one of the richest pickings that the
swarm of vampires ever had in New
York. Day after day, week after week.
month after month. the man was tortured
by these blood-suckers tearing at his
bosom.
Just when his mind was in its greatest
turmoil. when he was the most sorely dis
tressed. a panic of unusual violence Wis
tied Wall street. His business needed his
very best care and attention, but his fan
ced fear filled his mind to the exclusion
of everything else. Had his brain, been
as clear and his judgment as calm as In
former days he might have set his house
in order without a bit Of trouble and have
weathered the storm. But with kundreds
of thousands of dollars that he had
thrown away to the flock Of vampires
that hung about him continually and with
his business affairs upset and in disorder
he suffered one severe financial loss after
another. He made feeble efforts. 1t is
true, to stem the tide. but his former
courage and ability seemed to have de-
serted him and he sank deeper and deeper
into the mire Of failure. The more he was
beset in Wall street the more the black
mailing vampires pressed him close. He
was literally between the devil and the
deep sea, and one day the city was
astounded and Wall street shocked by
the news of his failure.
1t was crushed and broken old man
that went to miladys palace in the most
golden part of golden New York that
evening, and 1t was a poor old creature