Evening star., 1927-11-18

whistled softly under his breath.
Capt. Francis Newcombe lifted his
eyebrows inquiringly.
"You know him. he asked.
NO." Locke answered. Not per
sonally. I know of him, of course.
Everybody does. And l don't want
to be nosy and butt in, and you can
heave that glass at me by way OF re.
ply il YOU like, but how in the world
do you happen to know him."
Can't. Francis Newcombe smiled.
81 don't" he said. My ward, who
has been over here at school for the
last few years, has been classmate
of Miss Marlin, and she is spending
part of the Summer with them"
"Oh, l see" Howard Locke tapped
the end of his cigarette on the edge OF
an ash tray once or twice, and
glanced in evident indecision at his
companion.
Go on" invited Capt. Francis New
combe. What is it?"
Howard Locke laughed a little awk-
wardly.
"Well, / don't know" he said.
"Nothing very much. And I'm afraid
it's not done, as you English put it,
for me to say anything, since he is
your prospective host; still, as you
say you are not personally acquainted
with him yourself, l think perhaps
Won ought to know just the same.
II haven't anything definite to go
on. no authoritative source OF lnfor-
nation, but it is rather generally un-
derstood that old Martins gone bit
queer in the head"
Really" calculated Capt. Francis
Newcombe. Good Lord! / had no
idea of any such thing! And my
wards on this island of his IN the
Florida Keys, and
There's nothing whatever to be
alarmed about" said the young Amer
ican hastily. Its nothing like that.
He's as harmless as you are, or as l
am. It's only on one subject-money.
/ suppose he was one of the wealthl-
est men in America at the close OF
the war, and since then he's been
wiped out"
Wiped out?" Capt. Francis echoed
tncredulously.
Comparatively, Of course" said
Howard Locke. II don't know how
much he has got left-nobody does.
It's been the talk of the financial dis
trict. There isn't a shara of stock
anywhere to be found standing in his
name. He sold everything; and how
much was used to cover losses, ana
how much remained to himself no one
knows. You see, the last few years,
to put it mildly. have been hell in
financial and business way. The for
eign exchange situation has been big
factor in helping to play the devil with
ali sorts of holdings. Values have de-
preciated the market has gone smash.
Industries that were big dividend pay
ers haven't been able to meet their
overhead. You may not believe 1t,
but hundreds and hundreds have TAX
en- their money out of the banks, and,
insisting on being paid in American
gold certificates, when they couldn't
get the actual gold itself, have boarded
it in the safe deposit vaults. God
knows why! Just instances the gen.
eral panicky conditions everywhere, l
suppose. The aftermath of the war.
History repeating itself. so the writers
OH economics tell us. Small consola-
ton. However, Marlin met with crash
after crash. He lost millions. He's
not a young man, you know, and it
evidently got him finally in the shape
of a monomania. Finance. You un-
derstand? He was on a dozen big
directorates and his trouble began TO
show itself in the shape of an obses-
sion that everything should be turned
into cash, buildings, plants, every
thing-into American cash. Natural
ly he was quietly and unostentatiously
dropped. Poor devil. Certainly. his
losses were terrific. don't know
whether he's got anything left or not. "
by Jove!" said Capt. Francis New
combe gravely. I'm glad you told
me. Pretty rough that, call it,"
Yes" said Locke. '"It is! Damned
ugh, ] think everybody was sorry
tor him. And so he's down there at
this place of his now on an island in
the Florida Keys, eh?"
Yes" said Capt. Francis New
combe.
The young American selected an.
1t slowly between his fingers-and
leaned suddenly across the table.
Look here"' he said. I've an
idea. I'm going cruising somewhere
why not there? The Florida coast
hits me down to the ground. How
would you like to make the trip with
me?"
Capt. Francis Newcombe leaned
back in his chair, and laughed little.
I'm afraid not" he said. t"
"Oh, come on, be a sport~ urged
Howard Locke enthusiastically. The
more ! think of it. the better like it,
I'm have good company on cruise,
and you'll enjoy it. And it's quite all
right so far as my showing up there
is concerned. II isn't as though |
were foisting myself on their hospi-
tality. The little old boats my home;
and, for that matter. l can drop you
and sail solemnly away. Youn have
the time Of your life. What's the OBJ.
jection?"
Time" said Capt. Francis New
combe. ut would take a long while,
wouldn't it?"
"Well," said Howard Locke, II
wouldn't guarantee to get you there
as fast as a train would, but what diff
ference does a few days make? 1t
isn't as though it were a business en-.
gagement you had to keep"
mo: that's So acknowledged Capt
Francis Newcombe. And frankly
must admit it appeals to me; but"-he
looked at his watch-"I don't know
whether I can manage it or not. Any
way, I promise to sleep on it. It's
after IL and time to turn in. What
do you say?'
.That suits me-" said Howard
Locke. $50 long as you promise to say
yes in the morning."
"we'll see." said Capt. Francis New
eombe.
The two men rose from their chairs
and. crossing the room where severa
games of bridge were in progress
stepped out on the deck. And here
their respective cabins lying in differ
ent directions. they bade each other
goodnight.
But now Capt. Francis Newcombe
despitc the pitching of the ship ant
the general unpleasantness of the
night, appeared to be in no hurry
He walked slowly. 1t was the le,
side. and under the covered deck h,
was protected from the rain. Ht
looked behind him. The young Amer
ican, evidently in no mind for any
thing but the snugger shelter of hi