Evening star., 1933-04-21
INSTALLMENT XVII.

"You are a blockhead, my
dear fellow, and you are risking your
money on a pure surmiSe. And the
business men and bankers who have
been running after you are even greater
blockheads than you. wouldn't put
penny into any business you recon-
mended to me-" y
II believe that. for you haven't
penny" said Wolzogen, absolutely pale
with rage.
Listen to me, my dear Wolzogen."
said Marius in his ruthless, booming
voice, "and I'll tell you what I think
of your great business. I will buy 5000
marks Of German Shipping, Ltd. for
fall. You know what that means?"
Turning to the others. he said: "rn
fight you. I'll sell the snares you want
to buy and, in doing so, express my
belief that their present quotation Is
artificially pegged and that they Will
fall within short time, simply be-
cause Stephanson's deal Will never
come of. Here!"
He dragged the bundle of letters from
his pocket which not long ago he had
declared were affectionate letters from
his daughter, and he managed to ma
three 1,000-mark notes.
Here's the money. I am selling up
to 10000 marks. Do you understand:
Steward! An envelope! Some paper.
Have you gone completely crazy"
At this moment Wolzogen almost feN
pity for Marius. and was sorry that ne
had irritated him. Its madness, sheer
madness, trying to play against q man
like Stephanson! You might as well
throw YOUR money into the ocean,.
Up to now Vladimir had paid no at
tention to what was going on about
him. He did not understand. but SUD.
denly he became alert, and the Thought
flashed through his head: 1t was Ste
phanson's latest conquest"
"I want to play against Stephanson,
too" He drew from his pocket the
$500 he had received as tip from MRS.
Morris. add this to yours, Marlus.
Five hundred dollars. Almost feli INTO
the ocean yesterday, so suppose that's
their destiny"
were carried by the steward to the
little banking house in the arcade,
where they aroused Mr.. Traugott's sus-
picion. But down below everybody
held the view that Marius and Vladimir
were completely mad. The feverish
speculative mania had, however, some
what decreased. and expressions OF
caution came more and more to the
front.
In the end the man with the hoIe
In his chin got only three signatures
and only a total of 1850 marks on MS
list.
turned to little MILL but she showed
clearly that he had not been able to
conciiiate her with the box of choco-
lates he had bought. =,
you can give that to the children
she said Il am no longer BABY.
She wouldn't 60 to tea with HIM
either. She had no intention OF doing
SO, She didn't believe for a minute
that Wolzogen had deserted her only
because of the big business he was
engaged in. What do I get out OF
your business? Only snub."
But If he should take her to the
big masked ball in the first class
what then? His friend. Exl, the Jew.
eler was entitled to invite both of
them. and Wolzogen himself had
already made arrangements for a
pretty Dutch costume.
Mill was at last won over. Forgot
ten were the horrible hours OF waiting,
| her embarrassment in front Of the
steward and the tears over the spoiled
evening.
.I'm so happy" she said, and clung
to Wolzogen with the soft pliancy OF
| a child who has succeeded IN getting
her own way.
Stephanson's offer. 1t was only a
| little private cowardice which MADE
him anxious first to have Krieglacher' S
opinion. He found the scientist in his
cabin, which he shared with me
chanical engineer. All the tables,
chairs and a part Of the floor were
covered with manuscripts.
This is the most ideal working room
I've ever had and during the last few
davs have managed to polish up most
of my notes." Krieglacher explained. .
The notes" to which he pointed
were three tall piles of closely written
sheets of paper. They revealed nces-
SAINT daily work in the operation room
| and at the writing desk, Conscientious
ness, self-control, an extraordinarily
keen sense of responsibility and an in
| exhaustible desire for knowledge.
Thomas asked his forgiveness be-
cause he had interrupted the intensive
work of his colleague, and that purely
! on a private matter. Such and such
were the facts. Stephanson was deal
ing in German Shipping, Ltd, and
wanted him to participate to the ex-
| tent of a thousand shares. Did Prof.
Krieglacher think such present would
be compatible with doctors dignity?
| For, in substance, 1t was nothing but
present, anyhow.
"I don't see anything wrong in It," said
the professor, after q certain amount
of consideration. "Why shouldn't a
man as rich as Stephanson let an es-
tablished physician have little extra
fee? In my opinion, I think you can
reasonably accept"
Krieglacher had uttered these last
words in rather a distracted manner.
Over his prominent ochre-yellow cheek
bones there flashed, as not long ago
when he made his confession of gam
bling having cost him so dearly, the
penetrating dark flames of his small,
wise eyes, He suddenly leaped up and
walked several times backward and
forward in the narrow room.
"Well," he said in a hoarSe voice,
"that is a completely sound PROPOSE
toni mean about German Shipping,
Ltd. I heard them talking about it
at the dining table. Now that Sephan-
son himself"
He was no longer talking to Thomas,
no longer looking at him. and Thomas
was suddenly extremely sorry that he
had come to ask for advice.
II have small amount of cash." con-
tinued Kriegacher. paying no attention
to Thomas, which was set aside TO
carry me through the first few months
and to keep my head above water until
I got the American doctors license. II
1 could double this small sum- have
debts in Konigsberg which depress me.
And my sister is living in very strait
ened circumstances"
Thomas now realized that Krieglacher
was not looking at him because he was
ashamed.
II have sworn never to gamble again,
but this isn't a gamble, is it? 1t Is
simply a mathematical certainty. II
Stephanson himself"