The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-09-07

~ the uniovely signs Of q meal where
av1viaiify has passed the bounds of
usenss. A msgnum OF champagne.
eooty. another half full. stood In the
,1oole OF the table: whiskey, brandy,
nQoors OF various sorts were all rep
Seseufsd: glasses-some full. some
enpty. some filled with cigar ash and
uearetss stumps-sn ugly sight,
Tho guest In chief arose. Short.
thicksef. red-fsced. with Dubious eyes
~ seemed. indeed. n very fitting per.
eon TO have been the recipient OF such
hospitality. lie stood clufching a 1T.
tie st the ablecloth and swayinx upon
his feet II was obvious that he was
. person Of entirely different class
nom his three companions.
"Centlemtn." he said. II must-be
ON ! thank you very much for this
hospitality. Honored. I'm sure. 10
nave sat down in such company. Good
afternoon. all,
He lurched a little toward the door.
ut his neighbor al the table-who
vas aisi HIS host-csught hold OF his
coattaii and pulled him back into his
chair.
mo hurry. Masters" he said. "One
more liquor. Ell! It's a raw after
noon"
'N-not another drop. Sir Richard.
] am very much obliged TO you all. but
! must be on. Must be on" he re-
peated, making another effort to rise.
His host held him BY the arm. The
man resented n.
DIN II all. I'm not n prisoner. am
~" he exclaimed angrily. Tell you
I've got-appointment-cl
That's all right. Masters" the man
whom he had addressed as Sir Rich.
ard declared soothineIy. I'VE want
Just word with you on business first,
before you go-Coionel Dickinson,
Lord Merries and myself"
Masters relapsed sullenly into HIS
chair. SO they wanted - talk bust.
ness, Perhaps II was for that reason
that they had hidden him sit al their
table-had entertained him so well!
The very thought cleared his brain
Sir Richard lighted a cigarette and
leaned further back in his chair. He
was n man of apparently about 80
years OF age-tall. well dressed. with
good features save for bis mouth.
which resembled more than anything
rat trap He had the air OF a man
who was a careful liver. One would
have judged him TO be what he was
n man OF fashion and a patron OF the
turf.
Masters" he said, Eve want to
speak 10 you plainly. We three have
had a try. as you know-Morries.
Dickinson and myself-to make the
coup OF our lives. We failed. and
we're up against it. hard"
Masters was sitting right. looking
fixedly at his host.
Take my own case first J." the lat
ter continued. 81 am Sir Richard
Dayson. ninth baronet. with estates
In Wiltshire and Scotland. and a
town house In Cleveland Place.
There isn't bit of my property that
isn't mortgaged for more than its
value. have c26.0OO 10 pay you on
Monday. To save my life. could not
raise $4,000 farthings.
Take the case next" Sir Richard
continued. "of my friend Morrles
here. Morries is an earl. IL Is true.
but he never had penny TO bless
himself with. He's tried acting. re-
porting. marrying anything to make
an honest living. What is the
amount OF your debt to Mr.. Masters.
JIM"
Eleven thousand two hundred
pounds" Lord Merries answered.
I'VE come now. Mr. Masters. to our
friend Colonel Dickinson" Sir Rich
ard continued Colonel Dickinson
n. perhaps. in a more favorable stu
alton than any OF US He has n small
but regular income. and he has eXpec-
tations which II is not possible to
mortgage fully AT the same time.
u will be many years before they can
-er-fructify. He Is. therefore. with
Us in this somewhat unpleasant pre-
idicament in which we ind ourselves"
"Cut II short Masters growled.
whats II all meant"
ut means simply this. Mr.. Masters. -
Sir Richard said. I'VE want you 10
take six months notes for our indebt-
edness TO you"
Masters rose To his feet
so that's why I've been asked here
and fed up with wine and stun. eh?"
he exclaimed thickly. well my an.
swer tO you IL soon given. No"
Sir Richard rose also 90 his feet.
"Mr. Masters. beg % you 20 he
reasonable" he said You will do
yourself no good by adopting this ar
titude. Facts are facts. We haven't
got thousand pounds between MS"
I've heard that sort % talk be-
fore" Masters answered. with n sneer.
Job Masters IL TOO old n bird 10 be
caught by such chan. I'll take my
risks, gentlemen"
He moved toward the door The 81.
ieBce. % he crossed the room. seemed
a little OMNIBUS. Tie looked over his
shoulder They were all three stand
ing IN their places. looking at him.
He reached the door and turned the
handle. Tho door was fast lic shook
Il gently ~ first and then violently
Suddenly he realized that ~ Was lock
eu. lie turned sharply around
What games this7" he exclaimed.
fercely. lot me ont Of here. or IN
break the door down"
SIR Richard Dyson como toward
him There was something IN his
appearance which terrified Masters.
He raised HE fst tr strike tho door
"Mr Masters" Sir Richard said
suaveiy. tho truth o. that We cannot
AFFORD 10 let you 90 unless you agree
20 40 what We have asked Change
your mind. Mr. Masters Take those
notes. Wen do our best 20 meet