Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-08-16

AdoInh Won Hubert on Eighty-sixth
a4roet The baron was the American
"@orsFof the Berlin banking house of
Weissell & Co.
The little party on this evening con-
s,sted of Madame Won Hubert, the ba-
ron Winfield Gerry and myself. Young
CORY. who went everywhere among
noonle of leisure, was taken to be
enormously rich. His brother, Marcus
1 Gerry. was certainly one of the
ueaItbiest men in New York. He was
tbo largest stakeholder, and financial
dictator. of the Fifty-eighth National
honk Winfield Gerry was under thir-
+v a courtly young fellow, almost as
bahdsome as girl. He was extrava-
CANT. daring, it was said, and reckless.
He had been brought up from boyhood
nm the continent, I 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
tbe baron lost two hundred. The re-
mainder was the loss of Winfield
Gerry. I 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
q Teuton, in gold, handed me ten dou-
ble-eagles. Mr. Gerry said that he
would give me a check at the club,
and asked me to ride down town with
him in his carriage. We were scarce
" seated before he turned to me and
said, in a quiet, even voice, as though
he we're announcing a score:
81 can't pay you, Mr.. Parks"
I turned in establishment to see it
he was testing. The electric light in
the carriage showed me a 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 gen.
tleman, was in fact a 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 Huberts. / bristled
with Indignation.
And may I inquire" answered
frigidly, why is it that you cannot
pay me, Mr.. Gerry?"
The man did not at once reply. He
took cigarette from his pocket, light
ed it 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-five cents"
l was greatly relieved. ''My dear
sir" l laughed, 81 do not expect you
to carry about cash drawer. / knew
an Englishman once whose income
was something like hundred thou
sand sterling, and who did not have
shilling in his pocket from one years
end to the other. I should be glad of
your check. l should be glad of any
you are alone there" he said sim
ply.
My annoyance returned. / detest
passages at banter. 81 trust" I said,
that you will permit me to under
stand you"
TT would be better, L have no
doubt" he said, looking me evenly in
the face. 81 have not intended to be
either obscure or facetious. The sum
which 1 have just mentioned repre-
sents all the money that / have in the
world. My reputation for wealth is
a 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. I owe twelve hundred in over
drafts. 1t is near a hundred thou
sand, you see. Against this, have
perhaps FIVE thousand dollars of per-
sonal effects; horses worth thirty-fve
hundred and a bundle of worthless
stocks. l am beastly poor, atrocious'
ly poor, you see, Mr.. Parks"
listened in establishment.
You will doubtless put me down a
cad" he went on, ito join game OF
bridge when had not the money to
pay my losses. In fact, / did not IN
lend to play I called, intending to
make my excuses to the baroness and
depart. l found this politely impos-
sible, and 1 sat down to the table
hoping that two hundred dollars
would cover my proportion of probable
loss" He paused and made depre'
eating gesture. cit was no idle fancy
OF the ancients to picture fortune
woman. l might have known"
Then he stopped. stripped OFF his
sIoVes9 took out his purse, removed
Two rings, unlocked jewel from his
ue' 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.
thank you for the courtesy" he
said' but you would much better take
.nem. They will presently be listed
oy the referee in bankruptcy. One
brazilian diamond, two and a hall
earats, valued at three hundred dol
iars. One imitation ruby, valued al
MY dollars. One baroque pearl, val
ueo at twenty-five dollars. The very