The Raymer enterprise., 1912-08-08
The Corrector of Destinies
Being Tales of Randolph Mason as Related by
His Private Secretary, Courtland Parks
My Friend at Bridge
By Melville Davisson Post
Copyright By Edward J. Clode

on lne evening OF tne tWenty-tnlru
of December ! was one OF party at
bridge at the residence OF Baron
Adolph Won Hubert on Eighty-sixth
street. The baron was the American
agent OF the Berlin banking house Of
Welssell G. Co.
The little party on this evening con-
sisted OF Madame Won Hubert. the ba.
ron. Winfield Gerry and myself. Young
Gerry. who went everywhere among
people Of leisure, was taken to be
enormously rich. His brother, Marcus
Gerry. was certainly one OF the
wealthiest men In New York. He was
the largest stockholder. and financial
dictator. OF the Fifty.eighth National
bank Winfield Gerry was under thir-
ty. courtly young fellow. almost as
handsome as girl. He was eItrava-
giant. daring, 1t was said. and reckless.
He had been brought up from boyhood
on the continent, ! think. and was col.
ored with the Latin temperament.
do not remember ever to have
been so fortunate at cards as on this
evening. When we arose from the
table. had won 500. OF which sum
the baron lost two hundred. The re-
malnder was the loss OF Winfield
Gerry. | was glad OF this distribution
OF the loss. Young Gerry was reputed
an idle young fellow with millions at
his finger tips.
The baron. keeping his money, like
Teuton. in gold. handed me ten dou-
ble-eagles. Mr.. Gerry said that he
would give me n check at the club.
and asked me to ride down town with
him In his carriage. We were scarce.
ly seated before he turned to me and
said. in quiet, even voice, as though
he were announcing a score:
II can't pay you. Mr.. Parks"
I turned In astonIshment to see II
he was Iesting. The electric light in
the carriage showed me face dis
tressingly drawn and tired. There
was no pleasantly behind that counte-
nance. The solution came to me in.
stantly. This man, posing as 4 gen
,icmap. was In fact cad; he was
about to question the regularity OF the
game. the regularity OF friendly sit
ting at bridge In the house OF such
people as the Won Hu5erts. | bristled
with Indignation.
And may | inquire" answered
frigidly, why Is 1t that you cannot
pay me. Mr., Gerry?"
The man did not at once reply. He
took L cigarette from his pocket. light,
cd 1t and leaned back on the cushions
OF the carriage.
For the best reason In the world,
Mr.. Parks" he answered; Il have at
this moment. to be entirely accurate.
just two hundred and thirty.eight dol
lars and seventy.tlve cents
was greatly relieved. MY dear
sir" ! laughed, 81 do not expect you
to carry about cash drawer. | knew
an EDgllshman once whose income
was something Ike n hundred thou.
sand sterling, and who did not have a
shilling in his pocket from one years
end TO the other. should be glad OF
your check. should be glad OF any
You are alone there" he said sim
ply.
My annoyance returned. I detest
passages at banter. Il trust" | said,
that you will permit me to under
stand you"
1T would be better. have no
doubt" he said. looking me evenly in
tho face. 81 have not intended to be
either obscure or facetous. The sum
which I have Just mentioned repre-
scnts oil the money that have In the
world. My reputation for wealth Is
mere shell. owe ninety.five thou.
sand dollars. exclusive OF this little
debt to you. Stable and tailor bills.
various club dues, run fifteen hundred
more. owe twelve hundred In over.
drafts. It is near hundred thou.
sand, you see. Against this. have
perhaps FIVE thousand dollars OF per,
sonal effects: horses worth thirty.fve
hundred and bundle OF worthless
stocks. am beastly poor. atrocious.
ly poor. you see. Mr.. Parks"
I listened In astonIshment.
you will doubtless put me down a
cad" he went on. TO Join n game OF
bridge when | had not the money to
pay my losses. In fact. did not In
tend 10 play. I called. intending to
make my excuses to the baroness and
depart. found this politely impos'
sible. and sat down to the table
hoping that two hundred dollars
would cover my proportion OF probable
loss" lie paused and made a depre.
eating gesture. 1T was no idle fancy
OF the ancients to picture fortune a
woman. | might have known"
Then he stopped. stripped of his
gloves. took out his purse, removed
two rings, unlocked jewel from his
tic. and. before realized what he
was doing. handed them all to me.
put back his hand He thrust the ar.
ucles into his waistcoat pocket and
dropped his hand on his knee.
II thank you for the courtesy" he
said. but you would much better take
them. They will presently be listed
by the referee In bankruptcy. One