Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-14

iously.
1T was some time in the early au-
tumn. probably october, but / can
not recall the exact date" he replied.
why do you ask?"
I'VE heard tell o. some such deal
round ten year ago, but it's long
time back. Did you know this young
Teller and his family yourself, MI.
Rohbins?"
Il don't think he had any people,
at least In New York. l have
vague recollection that he came from
the South somewhere. but although
our acquaintance was merely casual
it is extraordinary how clearly
can picture him now. Tall and
straight as that Apollo over
there He gestured with a thin.
delicately veined hand toward one OF
the bronze figures. Handsome
Larry they called him. but he was
the most modest, unspoiled lad
Imaginable. He had brown hair and
deep hazel eyes with n mischievous,
reckless light in them and low
rich voice that an actor might have
envied-Ah. well. as you say, Mr..
Peters, it's n long time back. !
wish had known young Shirley bet
ter and he had come to me instead
of Bernhard: / had money and in
fluence then, and we might have
found a happier way out of his diff
ficulties than the desperate path he
chose."
Il reckon he was proud and hot
headed, and mebbe went clean crazy
when Bernhard turned him down."
observed Geoff. You knew Mr.
Bernhard real well at that time.
didn't you, MIR. Robbins ?-Sociable
like, / mean, outside o the stock
market and such?'
He had little or no social stand
ing in those days; myself put him
up for membership at the first eX-
elusive club to which he was ad-
mitted" The gray head was lifted
proudly. HE was comparatively
young man, not more than thirty
five. but he made it a point to
cultivate the older fellows who
might be of use to him.
Il don't believe he ever made n
move in his life that wasn't cal
culated in advance. and although l
gathered that he came from some
small town and had had few early
advantages he learned quickly and
never forgot"
WAS he livin' all alone when that
young Teller went to his rooms and
killed HIMSELF" inquired Geoff.
Yes, except for a manservant
past middle-age then, who did
everything for him. He had a floor
through in a shabby old house down
on East Eleventh street, but he'd
picked up some odd bits of good
furniture and a few antique rugs
and etchings of real merit. and
either he or the manservant had a
nice taste in cigars and mellow
whisky. He was perfect host;
talked well and to the point and
was a rarely appreciative listener
Quite a little crowd of us got into
the habit of dropping in on him &C.
Casionally, very much as we would
have gone to the club: but the talk
was less constrained. and as II
naturally turned to matters of
finance, | suspect that he gained not
only more than one valuable tip, In
those early days, but rather COM
prehensive knowledge of the inner
workings of the game which enabled
him to turn and crush some Of us
later" Robbins tone had grown bit
ter with retrospection. but now he
reused himself. You were ask
ing me about the tragedy of young
Shlrley's suicide. 1t didn't create
very much notoricty, for the boy
was practically unknown in town
except to a few of us, and sensa-
tional trial and an international
scandal were occupying most of the
space in the newspapers; but we
rather fought shy of Benkard's rooms
after that, and it wasn't long before
he moved"
The old man had begun to pluck
restlesSly at the worn, plush cover
ed arms of his chair, and Geom re-
trieved his hat and then paused.
I'm sure I'm much obliged to YOU
for tellin' me all this. MIR. Robbins
and our medical examiner will find
it useful. You don't happen to recol-
lect the name O. that manservant
Mr.. Bankard had In them days? II
wasn't Henry Carp?
The butler his sister is employing
now, the one who found the body?''
Robbins shook his head slowly. II
read about it in the papers, but II
didn't bring anything back to my
mind. The man was so perfectly
trained and -effacing that
doubt whether | should recognize
him again if | saw him. You may
tell your medical examiner that
shall he glad to he of any possible
service | can in his investga ton.
had no feeling of personal vengeance
against Joseph Bernhard; all that
died long since, together with most
Of my interest In life. But when
| opened my evening paper on
Thursday. Mr.. Peters. and read of
what had taken place out at Sunny
Beach, | thought over the PAST; with
the memory of young Shirley and
others in my mind. IT came to me
hot - ,.yI, IS a..
had indeed ground slowly, they had
ground exceeding SMALL"
Seems kinder that way, sir"
Geoff agreed discreetly. I'm sorry
to have took up SO much o.. your
time, but there's just one more
thing I'd like to ask you 'bout afore
| git back to Sunny Beach"
lie hesitated. and Robbins raised
his eyebrows inquiringly.
What Is 1t, Mr.. Peters?"
"Wimmen." The reply was sue
cinct Did you ever hear tell o.
Mr.. Bernhard gettin' stuck on any
buddy or maxim up to emf"
Women were apart from his
scheme of things in those early DAYS.
for matrimony would have hampered
him in his ambitions. and there was
no mention of scandal in connection
with him. but lately there have been
rumorS-"
He paused in his turn, and Geofr
asked. eagerly:
You think nhebbe he was plan
MIN to git married, now that he had
bout ev'rythin' else in the world
that man could want?"
mo, not that. There Is a certain
woman not-er--not in society, in
whom he is said to have shown ouite
an interest for the past year or
two. but the rumor died out several
months ago. 1.-The man is dead.
and. really. [ don't care To anan ].