The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-10-01
CHAPTER /
A CONMoIssEUR.s yAGARY.

MI Fdutlne WISHES 10 speak I
you. sir" said the o~fficeboy.
An right" and ] heard the sna
of the connection.
rs that you. LESTER" asked Phil
Vantine's voice.
Yes. SO you're back again?"
Got in yesterday. Can you com
up 70 the house and lunch with me to
'Tll be glad to- l ssid. and mean
It, for ! liked Philip Nantlne.
I'm look for you. then, about 1850.
And thar is how 1t happened that, al
hour later, l was walking over towart
Washington Square, just above which
on the Avenue, the ola Vantine man,
sion stood. 1t was almost the last sur,
viVal OF the old regime; for the tide O
business had long since overfowet
from the n~eighboring streets into the
avenue and swept its fashionable foil
far uptown. Tall office and loft build.
inEs had replaced the brownstont
houses: only here and there did some
desperate rear-guard defying the ad-
Vancing enemy.
Philip Vantine was one OF these. He
had been born in the house where he
still lived, and declared that he would
die there, He had no one but himself
to please in the matter, since he was
unmarried and lived alone, and he NIT
igated the increasing roar and dust OF
the n~eighborhood by long absences
abroad. 1t was from one of these that
he had just returned.
/ may as Well complete this pencil
sketch. Nantine was about 90 years
of Isl the possessor of q comfortable
fortune, something of d connolsseur in
art matters, a collector of old furniture,
a little eccentric-though now that !
have written the word, I find that
must qualify ii, for his only eccen-
tilctty was that he persisted. in spite of
many temptations, in remaining a
bachelor. Manageable women had
long since ceased TO consider him:
mothers with maturing daughters dis
missed him with a significant shake
OF the e 1t was from them thai he
got the reputation of being an eccen-
trio. But his reasons for remaining
single IN no way concerned his law
yers-a position which our firm had
held Tor many years, and the active
work OF which had come gradually into
my hands.
1t was not very arduous work. con-
sisting for the most part of the draw
ing of leases, the collecting OF rents,
the retnvestment of funds. and the ad-
justment of minor differences with
tennants-all of which were left to cur
discretion. But occasionally it was
necessary to consult our client on some
matter OF unusual Importance, or to
get his signature to some paper, and,
at such times, | always enjoyed the
talk which followed the completion of
the business; for Vantine was q good
talher, with q knowledge of men and
OF the world gained by much travel and
by a detached. humorous and penetrat-
habit of mind.
He came forward to meet me, as I
gave his man my hat and stick, and we
shook hands heartily. / was glad to
see him, and / think he was glad to
see me. He was looking in excellent
health. and brown from the voyage
over.
Its plain to see that the trip did
o good I said.
Yes" he agreed; 81 never felt more
MT. But come along: we can talk at
table. There's a little difficulty / want
you to untaEgle for me-"
| followed him upstairs to his study,
where a table laid for two had been
placed near q low window.
Il had lunch served up here" Van
tine explained, as we sat down, 'sbe-
U this is the only really pleasant
left in the house. II 1 didn't own
that plot of ground next door, this
place would be impossible. AS it Is, /
can keep only the sky-scrapers far
enough away to get a little sunshine
now and then. I've had to put in an air
filter, too; and double windows in the
to keep out the noise; but /
dare a | can manage to hang on
4 can understand how you'd hate to
move into a new house" l said.
Vantine made a grimaee.
Il couldn't endure a new house. I'm
used TO this one-I a find my way
in it; / know where things are.
I've grown UP here, you know; and, as
q man gets older, he values such asso-
Citations more and more. Besides, a new
house would mean new fittings, new
furniture
He paused and glanced about the
room Every piece of furniture in it
was the work of a master.
i suppose o found some new
things while you were away?" I said.
You always do. Your luck's proverb-
ial."
".Yes-and It's that I wanted to talk
TO you about / brought back six or
eight pieces; I'll show them to you
presently. They are all pretty good,
ind n is a thing of beauty. It's more
That that-it's an absolutely unique
work Of art Only, unfortunately. it
kn,t mine
Tt isn't yourse'
No. and I don't know whose 1t is.
II I did I'd go buy it. That's what I
want You TO do for me-. It's a Roule
cabinet-the most exquisite l ever
saw"
49, nSI6 dtI 1t COlllS IRON RI cues
toned, more and more surprised.
1t came from Paris, and 1t was adj
dressed to me The only explanation
/ can think of is that my shippers AT
Paris made a mistake. sent me a cab
met belonging to someone else, and
sent mine to the other person
You had bought one. then?.
Yes and it hasn't turned up. But
beside this one, it's q mere daub My
man Parks got it through the customs
yesterday. As there was a Boule cab
met on my manifest, the mistake
wasn't discovered until the whole lot
was brought up here and uncrated this
morning
Weren't they uncrated in the Gus
toms n
mo. I've been bringing things In for
q good many years, and the customs
people Know Tn 9Gt q thief
d Quite tnpliment." 7 point
60 Tnay zen tearing things
wide open I@te
They've fIad tsp Of some sort, T
suppose. Come Iii. ne added. answer
ing u tap ay the door.
The door opened ana Vantine's man
gentleman to see you, sir" he
said, and handed vansineg card.
Valltine Locked at 1t g little hIankiy.
r. don't know hiru,' he said What
does he wanty~
.sFJa yv.Yutz IN sea ,-or az varv ha5