VERY SMART INDEED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2164, 17 February 1875, Page 3

VERY SMART INDEED

(From All the Year Hound.) At the close of ono of those financial hurricanes which periodically afflict tho United States, I deemed it will to adopt a custom prevailing in thitt grout country. The custom I alludo to is known an " going Wo>t," People arc very fend of going west, and undertake tho journoy from various and often mixed motives. My own motives were very mixed indeed. Iv tho first place, I had received from my friend Wnsh t-purkington — beat of friends aud most intrepid of speculators, the coolest hand at poker, and tho neatest organiser of a " corner " I ever met— a fow " points " concerning tba rising young township known as SampvilU>, through which a railroad was shortly to bo driven, for tho purpose of developing iho resources of tho country nnd enriching thoso speculators who had got tho "point" cnrly. In the second place, it was very hot in New York, and my physician had recommended a change of air. Thirdly, I had just broken off an engagement to marry Misa Nettle Fish, whoso "pn," originally a ferryman, had recently " struck ik-," and was bumptious accordingly. Fouithly, a "pool" to sell certain stocks "short," in which I was heavily engaged, had not proved a success, As fparldngton observed, tho bottom had fallen out of the spec. Fifthly, things had gono generally wiong with me, and it was necessary to change the venue in order to avoid unpleasant; consequences. Under these circuma ances, I concluded to try Sampville, and endeavour to recuperate by buying up iho land through which tlie projected railway was to pass. A farewell dinner at Delmonico'a was given in my honour by " tho boya." AH tho usual formalities were observe), and as tho news w.aß industrioualy circulated among tho golden youth present that I was going to Europe to negotiate tho sale of my family property, an offlgy, in ico cream, of the good ship Barataria, in which I was su»[O9od to bo about to cross the Atlantic ferry, occupied the ccntro of the tab'o, Mum in 'a extra dry mid tho finest (hambortiu circulated freoly ; aud I flatter myself that, considering tho awkward posture of my affaire, I made a reasonably brilliunt and effective farewell oration. Forty-eight hours later I was in Sampvillo, nnd was at otn:o impressed by the evidences of prosperity visible in that flourishing location. Tho Urst duy of m«n hid been fulfilled by tho construction of an cuormous hotel, where indigestion could bo acquired on tho most exorbitant terms. There was no lack of excellent food, vdlainonsly cowked, and the loss of- the ficshpots of Delmonico weight d heavy on my sou). Still there was compensation. Sitting opposite to me at table was a western belle, eating green corn after the primevul fashion, that is to say, by seizlug a convcob— plentifully anointed with butter— at either end, and gnawing the juicy morsel without regard t > appenrancis. On making inquiries concerning the land on sale at Sampville, my spirits were slightly dashed. Somebody had evidently got tho " point " bef oro me. Looking carefully over tho lots through which Iho railroad must necessarily pass, I found that they had been bought up within a short time by a Mngle speouliitor— ono of the origin 1 settlers in Snmpville. His name, Van Klauwenhoek, indicated his descent front a fine old Knickerbocker family, and I marvelled much to find tho representative of an ancient race vegcgating in the West. Of course I hated hl-.n. He had clearly forestalled my little speculation, and, if to be bought off at all, would not part with his purchase except at n largo profit. Much depressed aud fatigued by my stroll, I drifted into the Ketchum Houso, the big hotel aforesaid,

Bringing up nt last against tho bar, my ear wus attacked by a strident voico exclaiming, " I guoss, l'll tako mine straight," and turning shnrply round, I encountered my old friend Hezekiah Dodgo, who, from high legal anil politii al position, had step by step taken the down track, till he had sunk into a lonfor round a bar out West,

It was tho old story, plenty of go, but no ballast. Hcz would—in iho beginningwork for weeks liko n man, and then go " on ft bust," till liis best friends were soured

at his appearance, and would then pull up all at once, and become a decent citizen till further notice. His garb indicated that he had visibly declined in the world since we had lust met, and a certain glossiness of the eye told that tale which is revealed at once by tho light blue iris, but long concealed by the lich brown eye so frequently met with in the States. Hia hand did not shake, of course— -tho potations of tho day had steadied it ; but Ilez was a little unsteady on the high heels of a pair of dainty boots, which contrasted strongly enough with bis generally rough appearance. Gradually edging Hez out of the crowd, I lured him away to a quiet nobbier aud cigar, when ho became at once coherent, and delivered many sarcastic remarks on that ono-horsc place Sampville. Now, thought I, is my time to -get posted on this seci ion of the country, and lat once opened out on real estate, inquiring by the way who and what Mr Vau Klauweuhock might be. 11 Look at here," said Hez, " I am as fond of Klauwenhoek pa I am of Injuna. He refused to loan me a ten- dollar bill a few days ago — tho mean cujs ; and let me tell jon he owns a-most the hull of tho township. Fust of nil he started in dry goods, then he went into grain, and lager beer, and lumber, and now is president of the bauk. He is a smart man, yess, sir I And they don't know much of his antecedents round these parts, and they don't inquire. No sir, in this section of the country it ain't well to nsk too many questions. So long as a man has the stamps, we don't inquire how he got them. We take it for granted that our citizens have all busted up somewhere or other before they came to this last pi »cc that was ever made, and we don't ask where they did it."

This was getting unpleasant, so I reminded Hez that I should like to know more of Vau Klauwenhoek.

" Oh," said ho, looking wistfully at his empty tumbltr, which was immediately refilled at my request, " I could tell you about the prettiest story you over heard about the high boss of S niipviilc. I knew him yrnrs ago down to Pergamus in the State of New York. Ho wns always a straight-backed cu?s, and committed all sorts of villainy, without getting any enjoyment out of it, except the pleasure of doing wrnug, for wroug'a sake. He was not culled Kinuwcnhook thon. When a man goes West to change tho air he may ns well change his name at the same time. Wall, he was just the greatest man and the stiff st Christian in Pergtmus. I guess ho built a chapel of his own, and Inid on a minister of his own particular stripe to preach there. He was an uncommon just man— according to his lights— and measured out the world cleverly, a cording to his gallon can. His family was superb. Tho haughtiest wife - Boston bred -and the primmest daughters you ever set eyes on. Tha hull lot looked as if they could not help doing what's right, mechanically, and had no mercy on people as wero built on different principles. Wall, one day, Van, who was manager of the city bank, goes to his lawyer in an awful fright. The bank was a good genuine old tmchi' c, not like (hem wild cat concerns -nil bunkum nnd ahinplusters — j that are running out hero West, but a squaretoed legitimate business. Van had enough to make him look scared, and wanted no end of encouragement from his own private and confidential lawyer before he could tell his i tile. At list the murder came out. The \ The cuss had been .'peculating on his own account with the money of tho buik, and losing nil his own, and was short a triilc of two hundred thousand dollars, nnd the quarterly meeting of directora coming on. What «as to bo done ? It wob an ugly fix. Tho j lawyer Buid ho guessed it was a hard nut to crack, but that it might be done if his client had full and complete confidence in him. Van swore by nil that is holy that his lawyer wns tho last plank ho had got to cling to, and that without him he should cavo in at once. " « Wai, then,' aaid the lawyer, * yon answer me one question. Havo you full control of the finances now at this present moment ?' " ♦ Yes, sir,' said Van ; • I am boss till board mooting.' " • That's well. Now, how much more do

you think you could steal between now and tho fatal day ?'

" • I don't know,' answered Van, * perhaps two hundred thousand more.'

" « That'll fix things elegantly. Now you just go, and we'll call it " withdraw " from circulation 200,0r.0 dollars, change the money, and bring it right here, and I guess we shall put things through.'

"•I don't quite see how that will help mo.'

" ' Jast now, neighbour, you ain't wanted to see ; you go this " bind " or not at all.' Very little mor« persuasion was wanted to induce a man who was elbow deep in other folks' money to po in up to the shoulder. Before board-day arrived the money was abstracted from the Bank and safely "lodged in the hands of the 1 iwyer, who took it very coolly, nnd toll Van to look in for final advice the night before the meeting. Van arrived fidgetty, and said ho • did not quite see his way.' [To bo continued.!