A Monte Cristo of Commerce.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 126, 28 May 1914, Page 10

A Monte Cristo of Commerce.

A DRAMATIC NOVEL OF INTRIGUE 'By I , ACL TRENT.) 'Author of "Kivltl Aaa.in.it \luiht,' , "The Votr." , "Tht Hnmr Srrr'iarii.' , "A Wife b<, I'urrhaar." rlc. CHAPTER MX I*o -Max Logan :i jrrcat fortuni" had thi. case, n-oiilih ill 1 n.,t alier hi* character, perhap- rn-ia.u>e h«- did not frre&tly valnc mcncv in «■*•!]. Immediately after ihe Mi<<-i>s«fn] iMiur of the N"arloilJ ('■orporHf.ion. I)** had tin headquarters, and had <v>rarjKApd a serif* ni bold frnanoii.l t.ra seasons tTmu hnd at mice brought iii'X Tntu prominenip. Hut. his were not tlie ways of l.adraru Hawke. and Mβ reremained unspotted. Although a wealthy msm. Max did n<H live ostentatious!). <.«vupyjn;» a srna.ll liouse in •■«[. .I*rm«<'. .iml LxMiifr co-nieirt with a single miHwiTTMit. Bin each ■week-end be hiul Et love of sport, nxttorinjr t» ■s-umn jjiui-p fjr away from His only intimate friends otbto .Pack and BQiel I'armAiV. who had nlsx) Sfdxled d-owii mi lyowimi. und one weic-end the Ihrep of them wpnt over to \jp Tnoqixpt foT a samo of polf. After a fiprfert. day on tt-iu- links They dined, at the Uerrnitajje fkrteU and aftersal dirwn on bToati verandah. their riptiT. \v--h.ilp dpow in dr<*p brcitfei of thr piiM"-ladcn air. 1 drensnlt «rf Ailern.' , Et3i<>l rpnrd.rkpd. 'riuddrnly. nnd ?avc a qui-ck look a*iMu.s. "I beiiflrpp ahp i* livjnjr wnib hpr ■Fa.'UiHr — sompwfecTi , in KuTTev/' .lo"k Ph r in<"*t.or Ttmr3fke<L "\ know. 1 ivTot.p li> her a -ff*w inoiAh* a{«o. birt lier answer was raahrr col.l. and I -lnn't like io fotx-e my acquaim aiK* when h's nfH -ivanlpd."' "■•Yon di-ln't ixll Jtw >-ou'<l ■wricten," h<T ■bmtiMT (>rt»U<- in. ipritkly. "No: I didn't. ;.hir..i: Tl. would hr poixl for you." "1 trondi'T if H-xwke Icia «ny monry Ifft? • I Abouid t-ikf .AjJ<«-ii to be poor," .1.-ick sai;L tixisiphtifuUy. "fve notik-od lwr nncp rir v wico in ibe <-itj. hnt shi , didn't si-- tn<\" Max said. but, his was sLiU ; nmpd away from "Huwko i-jn'i Idv<> liny of us. and slie's :i. -dut ifiil IL>w Uie maji mnpt faytp beiDfr an invalid. l'[x)n my word. ] f««'l sorry for him." I'anurter said. ".Jack. 1 nr-ver 't.old you that, she cfinre u> mc It wan tip before the fiOLauon of lix' counpetny. urld nis tha.; .the doctior -had w«m«l her tlnit llawhe must n«i be -worried. .She ap|M'ii!«l to mc to be .mrrrifnl. find —-I —■ I " "You refused.':" said iCihfl. '•What else couW I do* Not (inly tas I bonnd to yimr bnifher. but tiwre u-er«" others- -a. dead friend. Yrs. 1 ro-fir.-p.d: bxrt I'w sir&Tvd for it. and skill Miffrr." 'Then r.-iie musi. bl-ime wil fr>r Tier laihfr's coTii]i«on." "Yes. and riphlUy >»>. But if the same fjri nnistancei arosr ;ipniu J t-Oilld not. ar: "lilferent.iy." KiTipl looked at Max. and j;i-i for a niniiiPTit the. rmusk fi>ll from her f.irr. iin<i :'■•■ N.njtiiij: for him showoil itself in ■This arr makes m<- ■.-lepjiy. (.''nxl ii i^hl." ">hi' kisspxl her broi.hiT and cavp hpr li.ip.l in Max. and n.>w she looked at him frankly. "May. you've liad tud lurk i>t>.; per--li.i|m ir will i-oriic iii?lit -ionic day," she iiduel. lightly. .'il-.rip, tin- tiu> jiicnds ?iiKike,l i-n ->.i.-:. NViLliPr \ias n man to <'hanjje 'iphl.'y. and njwli knew tji«.i Lhe ntJier 1 ivp/I" Ailern. Mark, old ciiiip. I «o»d.'r you <lon % ; p--> ami sic Ajippn. Sh" Iras iioaTiiiifji you. in-l it'< rinir y-nu married, j \\<-a!i.h. cr>np'e.i with an am<-.ient name. I '•in- its Ma\ ,-.tid, "■There's Blhel. .<lie'l! marry .some diiy and I -sha.!! be qur.e eunlprrl U) let her kiddies siecewi to all I have. So. Max, I'm rift the tiwrryinpr xt:. I'm Uio fond of my Hberly. llesidt»s, I sJionld have no earrhry chnnvp nf winning Aileen's lore, and 1 wauldn't hike her on any other term*. Max. t«yi years have passed: women urr very forpi\-ing. VThy don't yon try your luckY" Ixifran ru-r. and ihrew away hu; "I'iii reallfifl.-. Comp for a sharp «-,ilk." 11 wat; a porfept srunnwr nijrln. w-iUi a brepy.e from !ho sea. and they walkixi rilo-sriy tlirouyli the forett. There was an intimaty Iha.t alkrm'H of .-Uenoe wic'nour. a. >enw ni e.ntlKUTasenieui. but they cropped :uml at ilovvn on .t f.illen t-rep. Slmriy and meUidlicaJly their pipes were fiUed. and e=i'-.h wi« thHI ithftrc was pome Shin;; which must be sai.l: and at was itax wiho l»epan. "•l:uk. I lan't staad -this much (onper. I'm rmi<i lJir a. -word -u-ii.h her. When I saw 'ber in the <-.iiy my u> JelsU'H to ber. .but I f"a.re.rl to sre the evmiearrpt in her eye>. And ye.t I must do somoHiinf:. I ran'!, .sleep—f<xr I only l dream of her sweet faj-e. b ivoim infer-1 Tin I lurk tphvjt compelled mc to act as I i di<l. 'ITie -workl caJLs mc a fortnnate | man. T**-y envy my wealth, and! lleuTcn knOTi-s I'd strip mysrhf of every I peany 't-o ifeei her hajHl jn.(uiinfv and heaj (her «ry thai she loved me.' , "T.ou Jiad jaferna'l lurk. I clii] care, ibm. she imas nerer jnine. and I nc^ver reaJly hoped. Hut ■flriih you " "Yes. I've fcl; the «ouc3i of lipr Jirw. ami bej- ai-ufci uroorol -mc. Now I'm •mad witb lo\e aroi Inuring. 1 imagined T forget, 'birt oai:h paseing month ■only mai;es it n'or.se. Bin I'm +<Ukingr ■iikp a. smitmenta.l .s<:bool<»iri. Jf only s-inie of my <ity enemies— oirld hear mc!" lie -w«mnd up grimly. •■Sentiment is the lir«[.tii of life. You "veedn't. feel ashamed. Come along. oW o.hap. lei* frpi 'bari. ATe"]] have-an early TOAiisd in the taoririnjj." On rnarfiing the initel they went to ibwr rooms at once. ;bui Parmeter had irmly taken off -his coal -when there was a. knock at the door, and Ethel came in. "■VVeFL I hope youVe cheered hjm up," f>he began. *~Sut muo'a. I'm afraid. He cares ior sut more tian ever." "I feared he would noi. iorget. Jack 1 faro-ir I ougifart .to wlk ,to yon. like' iMs." "WcTe. broOier and eisxer—and. better ihaa thai. pals. Besides, -we're both in lip. same fcoat. and there* nothing u> be a-shamed of—in loving. But ie'e hard ]nek. Etid. Shall vrn start on a voyage, round the world? The yacht ; oonjn be sot leadv in a week. I want to see. you happy and mturied 1o some . real pood f eJiow,7 he said, witi feeling. "I don't want to po away. I would j rafher teixe Max's Iriendship •ghen the ; iive of any other man. Besides, 1 el ways "tiint Sat-Oiere'e eu-chaace. rm eehamed -bo tubst it, bnt I>e^aiwß3E

'•Tien I shall have to merry. Tbatv ■wont be mnoh difficulty." he added, ruefully, far mothers were wont to iitraw their marriageable daughters at his head. VVnen they met in <tJie illuming ait <the. breakfast-tible they were all cheerftri. and without amy Knggestion of tiieir moods of tne night before. A .pleasant drive to the links, and the two friends suartexj a round of golf, -while Ethel played watii the lady proieaoonaJ. The one pimp to make one forget all that trouble?. They were both keen, and they played one of those gTeat matches Trhich give stjc/h a zest to the game. Tboy •were level «t the la*st gTecn. which was halved. :ind they ■wfri? a>bont to play a deciding hole. "N"o, let us divide I lie honour?. - ' suggested Max. and .lack agreed promptly. Ethel was awartinjr them at the Golf Howl, and seated with her on the verandaii was a <rirl -whom she introduced to them as an old scb©ol-felk>w — Gladys Forrester. "We've been talking over old times, and sbe's lunching with us." Ethel announced. Although Gladys was not strictly beautiful, her manner was vivacious, and she possessed a lively tnnzue that kept others amused. "IVe only just gathered that yon're ibr famous Max J 'l! write you up 'for tne "Daily Wire.'" she said to Ma\, when lunch wa« over. ''Please spare mc." Tie mnrmnrei a little coldly, for he hated jonma-lists-"l"m really a novelist —but the. world ie very curious about you, and I'm always willing to satisfy its curiosity, at a price. Rut still, if yon mind "' 'Do with mc as you wieh,' , he said, 1 with a laujrh. and immediately turned to Ethe.l. "1 suppose I oujrht to feel Enobbed, bnt 1 don't." said Mise Fornseter. merrily, to Parraeter. "But I wish he'd give mc a tip for the Stock Kxchangc. Urn ■ireadfuHy hanl up.' . Jack srlarpoed significantly at her dainty co-tiime and the jeweU on her tinpe.rs. -ThafH my --t.vk in-trade." she said, -.v• t h a .pout. ; "I've read your la>t book—"Liovo in a Mist.' hr pa d, after a panee. "That's nice. It's so nice and so rare tn me.pt anyoue that's read mc. Of ion mc. people often lie when L tell them I'm a novelist, but 1 generally linri out. I always tell peopie t write. There's nothing Like keeping one's name before the ipiiblic. By the by. you migtit as well put 'Ixive in a Mist' down on your library list —and insist upon getting it. Don't be put off with an inferior substitute. Yes. Mr. Partmier. t know 1 talk a lot " "Are yon really hard up?" he asked, curiously. "[>a.-t year I made four hundred pound*. Thiit year ( dou't think it'll amount to quite co jnuuh. And I'm dreadfully extravagant. I do lou£ for pretty tWng?, and money to throw away." •'Throw away':" he repealed, with atnikiement. "Yes: there* iio fun in merely t-pend-in?. Rut I wouldn't care to be really rich, like Mr. Logan, for instance. Such a person misses all the sweetness of life, the ups and down?, the pleasure of an unexpectedly fat '.'hequc. and the spending of it." l-'or the tir.-t time for many a long month .lack Parmeter wao Interested in a woman, and when Max and Kthcl proposed a jime he tokl tlieru he preferred to otay A'here he was, aad t>u,2?ested that they sJiould have a match. <ilady.s I'orrcster did not play golL "I r«illy can't afford it." she said, frankly. "Of eoiirsp. one can play for nothing, hy Oil Hine~ <Lear friends, hut I always Tike to pay my trliai'k. If ever you a.-sk mc to dine, you'l! have to let mr pay my share. I'hat reminds mc. 1 owe. you eeven francs for the lunch." , proceeded to ernmt out the money. \v!iieh she pive to him. and he did not iifnitato to are'ept it. for lie was beginning to undrrstarul and like her. ; "If you are goin£ bark to LondoD. will ] you dine with mc on Wednesday ' on your own terms?" hr asked. | "\ e».. so long as you don't choose too expensive a place. IVe just finished a novel, and am taking a short holiday. Of course, 1 couldn't afford to stay here, but a friend who has a nunpalow invited nip lor the week-cad." "Then yon don't mind aeceptmjr hospitality from some people V"' ".She'd an old .-ehool -fellow." "Thon. if Ethel a»ke you to stay with her—she comes under the ramo description."' ' I think I'll wait till she a,«ks mc. And then Til consider it. JLet us go and meet them." They saw nothing more, of Ulady* I Forrester during their stay in \j?. T.o'uquet. until they reached " the station, where «\w was witli a friend, and did not corue into the.ir carriage. But on I their arrival at Boulogne Jack took j chorffp of baggage, and remained with her during the crossing to Dover. Max and Kthel watched them togetbej with amubement, for neither of them imagined that Jack was serious. "I am glad to eer> Jack interested in I a jrirl. I shall cultivate (Hadys." Ktbei I announced, they came alongside the jquay, and s> «-he invited her to their i engaged rarriajT. I There a little 6eJf-interast In the invitation, although the did not ae.k----nowkidn-e it to herself, for Gladys would I ina-ke. of tiieix part\" a round number, and on many owasions there might be a I division reliich -would leave her with | Max. But upon reaching Jxradon Mai drove sinugiht to the C3ty, greatly to her disappointment, for she had anticipated a pleasant evening. T!)e offioee of Max .Logan were palatial, iind occupied the wnole of one floor j of a building near the Bank of England. There were many people waiting to see liiai with schemes for which capital was required. At fin?t he had given interviews to these visitors, but most of the prapoeahs ■were iiEpos»ibfc, and a great deal of time, was wasted. Now he" had delegated that daty to seoretaries, but etill many waited in the hope that they might see the millionaire himself. Max's own room was quite plainly furnished, and one conld not t*ee a single 'document in evidence—only a large, oak table. with a telephone aad a switchboard. '•£*>. nd Jfies Lane, to mt,' , he eaid to his principal secretary. And then lie 'began' to dictate rapidly, J and when he had finished his letters lie I gave her a quick look of scrutiny "You don't look very well fc' any . thing tap matter' Perhaps you would kindly 0 "' hn ' ;diJ nW ' r h " "No: I am aU right. It's the heaL" ahe ans.we.red, hastily U •was-no lack of coloar oa her cheeto