HANNIGAN'S HARD FALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 5

HANNIGAN'S HARD FALL.

A SHORT STORY.

BY R. C. DOUGLAS.

" I tell you, boy, P. Hannigan never got tho worst of a deal yet. I'd just like to see tho guy that could do it." Mr. Patrick Hannigan, financier, made tho above remark in a loud voice to his young partner, Mr. Cecil Wcntworlh Courlenay. The two were resting in tho cosy living room of their London flat after a spell of strenuous business activity. After pausing to refresh himself with another whisky, the eminent financier cpnlinued. " When I first struck this streak of dampness that you call Old England, I camo to the conclusion that 60 per cent, of tho population were flats. I haven't changed my opinion since then. But it takes a man like mo to work 'cm —a man with Noo York business experience."

Hannigan was expanding. He always did so in the evening when ho got settled in his easy chair and opened a bottle of Scotch and a box ol Corona Coronas. This was by way of making up for his austerity during the day. He lunched at his desk on dry biscuits and mineral water, a practice which mado a favourable impression on such persons ns retired clergymen and other innocents who called oil him. That day he had disposed of a block of worthless oil shares, so he was in extra good form. Mr. Cyril Courlcriay's graceful figure was nicely disposed on a number of silk cushions placed on a settee. He puffed at a monogrammcd cigarette as lie listened to Hannigan; at intervals a quiet smile came over his face—a smilo in which lurked a certain amount of contempt.

Hannigan's conversation mainly consisted oE boastful stories of his exploits in the underworld of finance. Sometimes lie was rather amusing; often ho was simply disgusting. Courtenay was getting tired of this sorb of tiling. Ho felt that ho would gladly sec 'the great Hatinigaii get taken down a peg or two. "I must admit your abilities as a moneygetter, iny dear Pat," said Courtenay, but all the same I think I have bcon ot sonic slight assistance to you during our short partnership, liavo 1 not.' " Of courso you have, Cy," answered the ancient minister of guile, " the way you wear your clothes and your swagger college education make you very useful in the business. What a pity you .haven't more brains, though. Look at all the hard plotting 1 have to do—all the heavy work. But never mind, you stick to me — you won't regret, it. Now. I'll have a look at the news." " Thank heaven," said Courtenay to himself, " now I'll get a rest. Putting another cushion under his head, he lazily contemplated his comfortable surroundings The room was beautifully furnished, thanks to Courtenay's taste. On the wall opposite were several paintings by artists of repute, including a fine landscape by Corot. Next to the landscape, looking grotesquely out of place, was a large framed photograph of a group of exceedingly fat men. Courtenay hated that photograph; it outraged his artistic sensibilities. Yet to-night it seemed to attract him for his eyes, continually returned to it. The hideous blot on the decorative scheme could not be removed, however, as it was greatly treasured by Hannigan who was in the group; it was a memento of his prosperous New York days. Ihc print bore the inscription: "East Side Meat Traders' Association Trip to Coney Island, July 10, 1916." All at once Courteney turned his attention from the photograph to his partner. " I say Pat, did you notice a fellow giving you a nasty look as wo _ were coming ! home from thcoffice to-day ?" he asked. ' The porenpine money-manipulator started slightly. " I did—an elderly Jewish-look-ing feller, was he?" " Yes, that's the man.- He apparently doesn't wish you any good, for the glare ho gave you was absolutely venomous. I've just" noticed his portrait in that Coney Island group of yours, and it brought back that incident to my mind." " He calls himself Solly Rothstien," explained Hannigan. "He was my chief clerk when I was in the States. A whitelivered, thick-headed old gink. You needed a hammer and chisel to get anything into his skull. He jibbed at a job I put him to so I told him to git. He sworo I owed hint some money when he went. He's still waiting for it — that's why lie gave me such a sweet look, I suppose." . " You ought to be more careful," warned Courtenay. " One never knows what those revengefnl kind will do." "Bali!" exclaimed Hannigan. "He isn't worth troubling about. I could squash him just like that!" And he hanged him fist on the table, flattening the last fly of summer in the process. Most likely he has come over here to ! sponge on his son, who is a third-rate ! actor," he concluded.

" Very interesting," murmured Courteney as lie placed his daintily slippered feet on the end of the settee in preparation for a nap. A strangely assorted pair those two. Courtenay was a young man of good family. After a public school education ho came into a large fortune, which was rapidly squandered. He was heading for the gutter when fato threw him in Hannigan's path. In the well-educated, dis-tmgifished-looking youth he saw a person likely to bo very useful to him. Courteney was engaged as secretary; later lie was taken into partnership. Hannigan—gambler, bogus company promoter, and general rogue, was old in years and in sin. Emigrating from Ireland ns a youth ho joined the New York police force. In the course of time ho roso to the rank of police captain. Then there was a scandal in connection with tho taking of bribes. Hannigan was foced to resign. Beginning afresh as a dealer in real estate ho also engaged in various other shady enterprises until things got too hot for him. Ho hnd to leave New York in a hurry, find made for England. Next he opened business in London where he made money rapidly, being very successful in stripping many people of their hardly won wealth under tho pretenco of helping them to make more.

One morning a week after ITarinigan's encounter with the evil-eyed Rothstcin, tho great man was busily engaged before the mirror in his private oflice. JIo was admiring a diamond pin which ho had just purchased. Tho gem was strikingly displayed against tho hues of his polychronmatic necktie and Hannigan was just thinking how well it looked, when tho ofiico boy interrupted his reflections. *' A gentleman to seo you, sir," said the youth, handing him a card. " Leo Andrieff Savinkoff, Metropolitan Hotel." ho read. • " What does this party want'!" he barlsed angrily. " 110 wishes to see you on important business, sir." " Show him right in," ordered the financier, seating himself at his desk and assuming an attitude of industry. Tho visitor entered, carrying a large leather handbag of heavy make. Tall, well groomed, and wearing per-fectly-fitting clothes of a peculiar cut, he was a young man of striking presence. Ilis fur-lined coat mndo s a special impression on Hannigan who was easily affected by spelt trifles. With a eharnpiig smile, Mr. Savinkoff asked permission to place his bag on ITannigan's QfTico table. " TTavo I the honour of addressing Mr, Patrick Hannigan V he asked in perfect •English. " That's me. What can Ido for you," answered Hannigan tensely. " Well, Mr. Hannigan, I believe you are grentlv interested in gems. If that is so. J think I can put a good proposition before you,"

(COPTIUpnT.)

Hannigan smiled a gratified smile. Ho liked to bo considered something of a connoisseur. Not Jong before, lie had bought a quantity of old silver plato and a small cabinet of precious stones at an auction sale. ■ ~ . ~ " Cough up your proposition, He saiu SC " Km looking for a person who loves beautiful things and who is willing to pay for them," continued Savinkoff. J , 511t let me explain matters. I am a Wussian refugee. When tho revolution broke out I fled from tho country along 'with W lifelong friend, Count Boris Orloff. H e count lost everything except some portable property. Much of that property, plate, jewels, etc., has been sold to dealers at a heavy loss, therefore, tho count decided to entrust me with the sale of tho remainder to private pcrson3.' "You speak good English lor _ a foreigner," interrupted Hannigan, giving his visitor a keen look. . ' . . ' "I was educated in England, explained Savinkoff calmly, "that is why my fnend has entrusted mo with tho disposal of his property. Hero are papers to provo my statements." Opening his bag, lie took out a bundle of papers bearing seals and heraldic crests in profusion. Tho documents wero all written in liussian; they might as well have been iu Chinese, us far as Hannigan was concerned. Ho glanced over . llicm. Ycs--um —very interesting—quite all right. JNow let's get lo business. What is it you want, to sell ?" he asked. , ' "A very fine collection of pearls, inplied Savinkoff, taking a steel case from tho bag and unlocking it. Inside the case was a carved wooden casket which ho also opened, disclosing a number of magnificent pearls on a bed of purple plush. Hannigan bent over tho casket, Jascinatcd. The pearls were large, perfectly shaped, and of exquisite colour. Hannigan examined several of them carefully. aro certainly tho goods—the real stuff, • ho said. .', „ . *'Those pearls," said Savinkoff, noticing Hannigan's symptoms of admiration with a satisfied smile, "wero collected bv the count's father who intended forming them into a necklace. There are two hundred of them, all perfect. Ihey aro valued at twenty thousand pounds. Now what is your offer, Mr. Hannigan. _ "Twenty thousand!" gasped Hannigan. looking at the pearls, then at Savinkoff, then at tho pearls again. His featuies bore a remarkable resemblance to a lat goldfish staring out of a glass globe. "It's a big wad that-suppose you leave them in my safo till I think tho mattei over," he .suggested. PI will do so on condition that you give me a definite answer byto-morrow aftciuoon," agreed Savinkoff. "Right," said Hannigan, "call to-mor-row at two and we'll settle the matter. As soon as Savinkoff had gone, Hannigan sent for Crupp, a friend of his who dealt in jewellery and antiques. "4s far as I cam see, your pearls are genuine. They are worth at least seventeen thousand," was Crupp s verdict after a minute's examination. . _„„ i. Hannigan went . homo thinking peaiLHe also discoursed on them during the evening. . . „ "Why waste your money on such tojs —better to buy a racehorse," said Court cnav, chaffing his partner unmercifully. But such remarks only made Hannigan more eager to see tho deal settled. Next afternoon Savinkoff arrived punctually "Now about those pearls, opened the financier. "You say they are worth twenty thousand, but there s quit© aof junk from Russia going begging so vou'll never get their real vahae. Now I'll make you a good offer—lll K IVC thousand." Savinkoff looked as if he were going to have a fit. "Nonsense '.-impossible! face lost its mask of geniality. A hard look came into Ins little cunning eyes. "I'll fi° one more seven thousand," he said. Savinkoff seemed to go mad at this. He rose from his chair and rushed from one side of the room to the other, gesticulating wildly. "You would rob my poor friend!" he shouted. "Give the pearls back to me—l cannot sell them at such a price." , ~ "Don't get excited, man, sit down, advised Hannigan soothingly, «ecing the coveted gems slipping from his giasp. I'll give you eight thousand and you can cash the cheque before t'no bank closes. "I must submit—poor Orloff is desperately in need of money—it is fate, moaned Savinkoff. "All right, son, we 11 call it a .leal, said Hannigan getting out his cheque book. The formalities wei'e quickly comp.cted, then Savinkoff departed looking very deJ '~That night Hannigan invited a few friends to dinner. Tho pearls were brought before the admiring guests. He vas iii his glory. " Picked em up for a nicio song," ho told the company. While the Napoleon of finance feasted with his friends, his one-time clerk sat. in a quiet restaurant in Solio. He v«is evidently awaiting someone as he scanned' each jterson who entered the dininc room. f . , . , A At last tho young man who had introduced himself to Hannigan as Savinkoft entered and seated himself at Rothstein s tabid. He was soberly dressed in a dark suit; the fur-lined coat and other marks of affluence had gone. All s well ' tl ; 1 lie said, "Hannigan fell for our Jit-tle &i "You're a marvel my boy!" exclaimed Rothstein. "Now I've paid that crook what 1 owed him at last. Did you manago to get the cash ?" "It's safe enough," was the reply. . My stage experience camo in handy." lie went on "I had to borrow some clothes and props' from tho company's wardrobe, too. But vour old enemy was completely taken in. So the result was worth all the trouble. I'm feeling-rather peckish now—let s have samething to cat then .I'll tell you all about my little comedy.

Two weeks Inter Hannigan and his paltrier wore spending an evening at home. "That pearl deal of mine has caused a bit of a sensation among the society big pots." lie remarked as ho scanned the t'ossip column- of the evening paper. ' Courtenay looked up with bored interest. "I was just thinking how useful the pearls will bo when you strike a bad patch, ho drawled, "you can borrow money 011 them." Relapsing into huffed silence at this observation, Hannigan commenced to look over his late mail. . . Suddenly a loud, choking gasp startled Courtenay. Tho sound proceeded from Hannigan; that worthy's usually runicund face had turned n ghastly greenish colour. Ho slid from his chair and flopped to the floor, clutching a letter ho had just road. After Courtenay had dragged the limp figure on to the settee and administered a restorative, ho took the crushed letter from Hannigan's podgy fist; this is whnt ho read : "Dear Pat, T _ "Just a lino to remind you that I liaven t forgotten how you treated me when 1 worked for you in New York. I swore I would pay you out for it and I have, -the pearls you "paid eight thousand for are beads. I bought them for two hunm'crJ pounds from a friend who brought them from Japan. They were produced by introducing solid heads into the slid s. o living oysters, and leaving tlipm . until they were coated with n th n inn- of pearl It is an ancient trick w" 11 i"fj„ 1"" h. East. It yon to. »» «' them cut you will find I s '- "By the time you get this I shall be a 'visa s e w' ;s " ,e old crook (M 'TiSSIjiA, „ "Solly Rothstcin. "Plucked," remarked Courtenay softly, -with an ironic sn»ilo-