Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-05-22
A Shrewd
Business Deal
Though Questionable, II
Bespoke the Cen
tleman
BY F. A. MITcHEL

stein, said to be the handsOmest man
In Berlin, went to Nice TO get rid OF
the winter and willie there concluded
to run over t. Monte Carlo. He spent
ten days over the gambling tables. at
the end OF which time. one evening
about 10 O'Clock, he had gamblcd away
the last pfennig Of his fortune. The
baron had excellent self control, and
when lie arose from the table not n
person there suspected that he was
ruined. He sauntered out into thu.
brilliantly lighted gardens, where he
did what an American would call a
job OF thinking.
The fact was evident that he must
come down from his exalted position
as an intimate associate Of the EN-
peror, a leader of fashion. a pet Of the
ladies nnd II general high 1ier. This is
what stared him In the face. But for
the present he was to the world the
same handsome, rich, aristOcratlc Won
Hemmerstein he had always been. He
well understood tho value OF credit.
and It occurred to him that there was
a chance for him since the world did
not yet know that he was ruined.
But how should he avail himself Of
this advantage7 Marriage with a
wealthy woman suggested itself as the
easiest way out of tho difficulty. There
were n dozen rich spinsters In Berlin
who would be glad to get him. II for
nothing else, for his social position.
and 1t was quite probable that u con
fessiOn Of the state of his affairs would
not with some Of them stand In the
way. But this scheme was not to the
baron's liking He preferred ~independ-
enc to subservience to a rich wife.
He turned 1t down at once and went
on with his deliberations.
If Won Hemmerstein had been born
a and a business man he
would have displayed a genius for
making something out of nothing
Quite likely he would have distinguish
ed himself as a promoter. He looked
upon the financial part of ones life as
ninety-nine hundredths of 1t, for, born
aTistocrat that be was, he realized that
without means his blue blood would
be as red as that OF other peoples
Whether or no he had heard the state
ment of certain ~resOlute business men.
II will look for my money where /
lost It," he certainly acted upon that
principle. His IDEAS rapidly took shnpe
In raising the wherewithal to tnke his
place at the gambling tables and win
back what he had lost.
But how do this? Borrow from n
friend? No. Having never been oblig-
ed to borrow n pfennig. he knew that
to do so he would injure that credit
which was now his only financial pos
session. With the instinct of n true
%6nancier, he Stunned a ield that would
weaken him. To whom, then. should
he turn? The answer was sinple-to
the tradesman who gives credit to
those to whom credit Is believed to be
due.
Won Hemmerstein's problem was too
difficult to be solved at once. He went
back to Nice. aud. acting on the prln-
ciple that only a poor man can afford
lu~Xuries-On~ credit-he informed his
landlord that he was dissatisfied with
his rooms and removed to the most ex-
penslve suit at the hotel. He did this
not only to keep up his credit, but he
could think and act better under the
influence Of luxuries. With this in
view. he ordered expensive wines and
the most dainty foods. Under this ex
hilnrating influence he formed a plan
worthy OF his genius.
1t wns not a scrupulous plan: but,
while there is no intention here to ad-
vocate dishonesty. how many of the
acts Of ultimately successful specula
tors. at times when they are swamped
with debt, are scrupulous? Some per
son OF persons must be mnde to take q
risk on them, and there are instances
where a rich man has knowingly lent
a poor man large sums with no 9th
or security than his confidence In his
creditors genius.
Without giving up his rooms-he
would not have bAen able to pay his
blll-Von HemmersIeIn went to Paris.
There he sought a jeweler named
Cheseul. doing business on the Rue
de In PAX. and asked to see some val.
liable gems. After looking over a
number Of stones he appeared to be
much pleased with a ruby valued at
10000 francs. The jeweler kept bring
ing out other stones, but failed to draw
the baron from the ruby.
Monsieur said the baron at last.
II wish to purchase the ruby, but l
do not wish to pay for 1t Immediately.
! refer you 10 the German embassy.
which will give you a report on my
social position and advise you as 70
my credit. Kindly attend to this mat
ter tomorrow afternoon. for 1 will come
in at that time for the gem"
Tossing his card on the counter, he
left the shop. N. Cheseul following
him to the door, rubbing his hands
Ob~sequiOuBly.
The jeweler sent at onee to the en-
bassy for a report on Baron Gustavus
Carl Won Hemmersteln. The reply was
that the baron's social position was the
best, that he was known to be wealthy
and that NJ. CheSeul would be justified