Democratic messenger., 1911-11-18
The
American
He Entered London Society,
as He Had Made a
Fortune
BY BEATRICE GARDINER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciation. 1911.

daughter of Sir John and Lady Poin-
dexter. "thls effort to keep up Is
wearing me out. The estate has so
dwindled that we should be living ON
$500 n year and we are spending
$1,000"
but, my dear. II we retrench we
shall lose n social position that has
been the family right for 300 years"
Al that moment Lord Toppington's
card came up.
Lord Toppington was typical Lon
don swell As he entered. seeing
Gladys. he frowned. Her mother saw
his dspleasurc at her daughters pres
cnce and made an excuse to send her
from the room. Lord ToppingtoD seat
ed himself and said:
Lady Poindexter. come In the In
terest OF young American who has
recently arrived In London with de-
sire to enter the social circle. He has
applied to me TO secure an entrance
for him. and have consented to do
what can In the matter. He gives
dinner on Wednesday evening next
under my management. ] have put
the names OF yourself. Sir John and
your daughter on the list OF guests.
trust you will accept"
"The Polndexters have never known
iuH
reserve
"And would not suggest your doing
so now" replied his lordship. except
he lowered his voice-"this fellow
Springer is enormously rich"
You mean that he will buy shares
In Sir Johns
II have tried him on that. and he
would not bite He says he prefers to
put out the cash" Sinking TO whis-
per: lie has deposited sum to my
credit with my bankers. which am
TO place where like. ! have f2OO put
down against your name on the list"
Lady Poindexter's expression chang
ed She looked down upon the carpet
medltatively
Can you assure me that this will
not be known?"
II can"
Not for fifty times the amount
would consent to Gladys hearing OF
H. She has great family pride and
would scorn such transaction"
Lord Toppington took bit OF paper
from his porketbook and. rising. OF.
fered his hand to Lady Poindexter.
The paper was in his palm. and when
he left 1t was In hers II was check
for GOO
George Springer was n very singular
young man He had genius for
finance that fpw men even understand.
When he began his career ten years
before his appearance In London he
startled old financial heads by the ap-
parent recklesSncSs OF his plunges. and
they predicted II brief career for him.
the end being his burial under an enor.
nous debt Instead he emerged with
millions TO his credit Being still a
bachelor. he concluded to see the
world. not on the outside. but on the
inside With keen insight into hu.
man nature he knew that there are
hut few things in the world money will
not buy lie had gone practically to
work To gain an admission TO British
society. selecting Toppington. an impe-
cunious noblcman OF excellent lineage.
whatever that means. and one of the
best social engineers In London
He advised with Toppington as to
what lady he should reserve for him
self to take into dinner and Topping
ton told him that Gladys Poindexter
would he rs we'll worth cultivating as
any one Toppington also explained
that Gladys was ignorant OF the fact
that her presence had been purchased
aud II she got an inkling of II the
Polndexters from that moment must
he counted out from their calculations.
Springer was especially attentive TO
this information lie had a keen mp.
probation OF values and values OF diff.
ferent kinds Moreover. he apprecint-
ed the difference between moral and
money values. He had no permanent
use for these people whom he had
bought and was interested In meeting
one whom he could not buy. He was
bright fellow and good conversn-
tionalist. lie devoted his exclusive
attention to Gladys Poindexter. re.
framing from being diverted from her
at any time by others. There are three
stages OF reiinement-viZ. not enough.
sufiiciency and too much. Springer
belonged TO the middle OF these three
classes. He had not become effemi.
nate. Indeed. he was fine specimen
OF physical and intellectual vigor not
yet undermined by possession OF alb.
normal wealth such man was like
ly 10 be agreeable TO such n girl rs
Gladys Poindextcr
The American succeeded In making
as quick an introduction into London
society as he had into the coterie OF
multimlllionaires. lie was more often
met In the Poindexters' company than
others. and his attentions 10 Miss
Gladys were noticed But one day