The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-16

now used for an office AS threw back
the mahogany door, / observed Ran
dolph Mason leaning over the table in
the middle of the room. He straight
ened up, cast a steady, searching glance
at young Gerry that ran swiftly over
him TO his feet, then turned abruptly
and walked into the adjoining room,
closing the folding doors behind him.
We entered and young Gerry took
chair by the window. HWas that Ran
dolph Mason9' he said.
/ answered that it was.
s'Until ] saw his face he contin-
ued, ~ could have sworn that it was
Liebach, the greatest surgeon in Eu-
rope. He has Liebach IS hands, too.
But the resemblance vanished when he
looked I'D. This man s lean, sinewy,
protruding jaw is almost menace. He
is not rs gray as Liebach, either and,
besides Liebach has, once in while,
something gentle in his face, il they
do call him the wolf In Munich.
This mans face looks metallic, as
though it might ring If you struck
it
I laughed, tossed him the morning
paper, and begged him to excuse me
while I ran over the morning mail. l
was scarcely seated before Pietro ap-
peared saying that Mr.. Mason wished
to see me. / arose and went Into the
adjoining room.
Randolph Mason sat at his table,
his elbow on the writing pad and his
chin propped in the hollow of his hand.
Before him was square sheet from
his memoranda files. He began to vol
ley questions in a voice that snapped
like the click of gun barrel in It's
block
sis Wilder acquitted''
EYES," I answered; ga per curiam
opinion Yesterday. The mandate will
come down from the United States
circuit court Of appeals Monday
"The Atlantic Canadian securities7,'
"Returned out of court, coupons paid
up, costs assumed By the syndicate.
"Andre Dessausure7'
"Dead.' ] replied.
At the word, Mason turned over the
memorandum sheet on the table, fold
ed his arms and stared vacantly at
the rows of bookcases lining the wall,
This was the enemy beyond him. The
state department waited n day too
long, The little Frenchman had taken
to his braZler Of charcoal like an I'M
pulsive son of the Quarter Latin, and
Mason had failed. ] seized this op-
perfume mood to get an audience for
young Gerry,
"Mr Mason" said, Gin the next
room is d0OIueT Inan UOohSu W ihc
same shipping point.
He turned sharply in his chair.
Bring him in,' he said
] opened the door and requested the
young man to come into this private
Office, although ! had little hope that
Randolph Mason would even hear his
story to the end. I had no hope of
his assistance for young Gerry; his case
had none of the elements Of uncor-
rected injustice. bringing IL within
Mason IS zone of interest l expected
TO see Mason search him mercilessly
for a moment, and then drop him as
a prospector would spurious nugget.
Young Gerry entered and remained
standing by one of the bookcases near
the table. Mason looked at him care
fully for moment; then he said,
"How much do you owe?'
Winfield Gerry glanced quizzically
at me. / reassured him with a nod
and he answered, "In round numbers,
one hundred thousand dollars.'
'For what9' said Mason.
Borrowed money" replied Gerry.
The young man hesitated; then he
said: ''1 am thought to be rather reck-
less where money matters are con-
cerned. Horses that are not fast
enough. women that are too fast;
usually an explanation is required to go
no further
could readily see that he was hop
ing to evade this query;
"What is the truth about itH' said
Mason,
Young Gerry shifted his feet un-
easily. "Well.n he began weakly,
"won I that do for an explanationf
How can it matter, anyway. The
money is gone
Maonn IL
peat his question. The young man
seemed to 90 through that period of
uncertainty and hesitation common to
the court witness who finds himself
forced by the examiner either to make
clean breast of his story or stub
bornly refuse to answer anything at
all. He chewed his lips nervously,
fumbled with the buttons on his
walstcoat and stroked gently the
angle of his jaw. Mason waited with
out apparent interest.
Finally, he arrived at his conclusion.
He dropped his hand as with a gesture
Of resignation.
Every WE'LL" he said. "this is the
whole truth: Ny father and Egan
Bedford were financial partners. One
day Bedford borrowed all the money
he could get in Wall street on the
firms credit. and apparently used it
In an unsuccessful effort to hold up a
line Of rotten securities, while in fact
he secreted tho money, A little later
the firm failed. Bedford cleared him
self of the wreck in bankruptcy. NJ
father paid up the losses out OF his
private fortune as far as he could.
When he died | assumed the remainder
of the loss, about two hundred thou
sand dollars. ] have paid half of it;
but l can go no further
He dropped his hand Imply on his
knee, as he had done the evening be-
fore in his carriage. Again I was
astonished at the contradiction which
Winfield Gerry presented / studied
his face. 1t was drawn and tired, as
it had been last night. ] had been
wrong bout him, wrong about his char
acter. his habits and the causes of his
unfortunate condition. This boy was
breaking at the knees under the bur-
den of another's wrong. I understood
him now. The air of recklessness was
assumed 70 explain these debts He
was playing the loose spendthrift, while
he strove TO clear his fathers name
and TO return what Bedford had stolen.
Young Gerry pulled himself together.
"I hardly realize why have laid this