Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-14

/ 1uSldN uS \dii fOh
stein, said to be the bandsomest mar
| I'm Berlin, went to Nice to get rid oil
| the winter and while there concluded
/ to run over to Monte Carlo. He spent
! ten days over tue gambling tables, at
! the end of which time, one evening
| about 10 o'clock, he had gambled away
| the last pfennig of his fortune. The
baron had excellent self control, and
when he arose from the table not a
/ person there suspected that he was
ruined. He sauntered out into the
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 and a general high flier. This is
what stared him in the face. But for
the present he was 10 the world the
same handsome, rich, aristocratic Won
Hemm erstein he had always been. He
we'll understood the value of credit.
and it occurred to him that there was
a chance for him since the world did
not vet know that he was ruined.
But how should he avail himself of
this advantage? Marriage with
wealthy woman suggested itself as the
easiest way out of the difficulty. There
were q dozen rich spinsters in Berlin
who would be glad TO get him. If for
nothing else. for his social position.
and it was quite probable that a con-
fession of the state of his affairs would
not with some of them stand in the
way But this sc n eme was not to the
baron's liking. He preferred independ-
ence to subservience to a rich wife.
He turned it down at once and went
on with his deliberations.
If Won Hemmerstein had been born
a commoner 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 promoter. He looked
upon the financial part of ones life as
ninety-nine hundredths of it, for, born
aristocrat that he 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,
81 will look for my money where /
lost it, he certainly acted upon that
principle. His ideas rapidly took shape
in raising the wherewithal to take 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 pfennig, he knew that
to do so he would injure that credit |
which was now his only financial pos
session. With the instinct of q true |
financier, he Stunned field that would !
weaken him. To whom, then. should |
he turn? The answer was simple-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, and, acting on the prin- /
riple that only a poor man can afford |
uXuries-on credit-he informed his |
that he was dissatisfied with /
MS rooms and removed to the most ex-
Densive 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
'few. he ordered expensive wines and
he most dainty foods. Under this ex-
lilarating influence he formed a plan
worthy of his genius.
1t was not a scrupulous plan; but.
While there is no intention here to ad-
-ocate dishonesty, how many of the
cts of ultimately successful specula-
ors, at times when they are swamped
With debt, are scrupulous? Some per-
on or persons must be made to take a
inS
where a rich man has knowingly lent
poor man large sums with no 9th
T security than his confidence In his
reditor's genius.
Without giving up his rooms-he
you'd not have been able to pay his
'ill-Von Hemmerstein went to Paris.
there he sought a jeweler named
,heseul. doing business on the Rue
e Ia Paix, and asked to see some val
liable gems. After looking over Il
lumber OF stones he appeared to be
much pleased with ruby valued at
5000 francs. The jeweler kept bring
ng out other stones. but failed to draw
he baron from the ruby.
Monsieur" said the baron at last, |
1 wish to purchase the ruby, but l t
o not wish to pay for it Immediately.
refer you to the German embassy,
Thich will give you report on my I
ocial position and advise you as to
~ credit. Kindly attend to this mat
n tomorrow afternoon, for will come I
1 at that time for the gem"
Tossing his card on the counter. he
1T the shop. NJ. Cheseul following
i'm TO the door, rubbing his hands |
The jeweler sent at once to the en-
lssy for Al report on Baron Gustavus i
arl Won Hemmerstein. The reply was
lat the baron's social position was the {
est. that he was known to be wealthy B
nd that NJ Cheseul would be justified {
| giving credit for the price of the |
I'm. But the embassy would not be !
for any one but Baron Won
emmerstein himself Its represent
tive would go TO tho Shon with him IN