Show Copyright J Clod but I await the destiny of the helpless old grandmother" He reached out his arm moved some papers on the library table uncovering a legal document In Its blue stiff wrapper “I have got to sign this for him" he went on “and then blow on my The lingers to warm them I suppose place here is deeded to Emily and this property is all I have left” He took up the paper and handed I read It carefully if over to me through It was a first mortgage on certain coal lands and mines of the in vein what la known as Pittsburg the Fairmont region securing a issue of bonds It was made by the Cruger Coal company to the Exlngton Trust company as trustee “You see Courtlandt” the old gentleman went on by way of explanation "I am the Cruger Coal company — president and all with a few friendly dummies to make the corporation I owe this wolf two hundred valid thousand dollars He agrees to take the bond Issue for the debt He might as well take a deed for the property It Is worth perhaps forty thousand dollars more than that but he will get it In the end for the debt A deed direct to him would be a little bold JuBt now a bit like exacting smart money punitive damages for the loss of Emily” He leaned over got a little flaming twig from the fire and relighted his burned-ou- t cigar with it Then he went on “There is a fragment of unbelleve-ablhistory about that debt Courtlandt manufactured with the greatest care by this wolf Three years ago when I knew only the exterior of the man he came to me and said that the Midland and Tidewater railroad wished to borrow about half a million dollars and that he was exceedingly anxious to assist it to obtain the that the banks in New York money were short because of the recent January payment of dividends but he was advised that the Granite Mountain Insurance Company at Montpelier had a He was not aclot of Idle money quainted with the officers of this company but some one had told him that I was born in Montpelier and that my cousin Senator Lapman was president of the edmpany Perhaps I would I give him a letter of Introduction gave him a letter saying that he was known to me and that be was a man of large financial relations in fact a rather friendly letter “Business in New England is on a rather higher plane than one finds it here One's word goes further When one’s father and grandfather are known the value of what one says is also known Well this wolf took his railroad man up there presented his letter and got the loan for him pledging his word for the soundness of the securities and by strong Inference The insurance pledging my word too company paid out four hundred thousand dollars and took the bonds of the of dolrailroad for one lars “Three months later the railroad went into tho hands of a receiver was sold brought merely the value of the receiver’s certificates which the court had issued to cover its operating expenses and the bonds were of course worthless “Senator Lapman came to me and I went at once to the wolf I told him that the Granite mountain officials had relied on his word and mine that he had guaranteed the security in person before the board and it must now He replied that I was be made good quite right he would make It wholly gcod but that he would have to borrow the money as he had not so much to his credit He asked me to wait while he went across the street to his bank In a few moments he returned said the bank would loan him the money on his personal note hut that to keep within Its rules the note would require two names on 11 He could put his office boy on he said but if I would iridorse It the transaction would appear rather better “I knew that he was perfectly good for that sum as good as the and I at once said that I would comply with his request “We went together to the bank an officer made out a note he signed It and passed it to hie I noticed that It was In the form of a Joint note but I remembered that banks often preferred obligations In that form and I did not hesitate to sign it Then at his request the bank delivered the money to me and I went at once to and adjusted the matter Montpelier I forgot with the insurance company the Incident then but remembered how honorable the wolf was” The old general’s Jaw tightened on the bitter word He broke the cigar in his fingers and threw the pieces Into the fire “One morning after Emily's cards were out I got a letter from the hank calling my attention to this note and I was dumbsaying it must be paid founded I had supposed that the wolf I went Inhad paid It long before In York New He office stantly to his met me with a face as cold as a stone said that he had paid Individually the by EUwunl When the invitations to Emily Cm ger’s wedding at her father's country place on the Hudson arrived every one knew what was going to happen— and It did happen: Horses were unharnessed motor cars were ordered back Into their garages and we went up In the day coaches of a railroad special with a flurry of snow driving against the windows We were met at the little station shed by a row of closed carriages Jolted off to a village church and packed Into tight little pews There if one were really an old and dear friend of the family and had known the bride since she was a tow headed little girl in fluffy frocks he berated old General Cruger as though he were a pickpocket vilified Emily and damned the Institution of marriage Then we were carwhisked away in the But riages to Cllffcourt and luncheon first we piled our rubbers in an anteroom by the passed in kissed review before the old general the tips of Emily's gloved fingers quoted to the groom the appropriate remark of Solomon and then girded our loins to fight for a place by the General's fleshpots Fortune sat me down at luncheon opposite a man at whom I was very glad to have a look Vague whisperings had linked his name with Emily Cruger’s for many a long day He bad proceeded wltte his plans to win her with tbs deliberation of a Japanese leld marshal But women are not to be taken with i chain of forts The man was carrying on his face a courteous unconcern hut the enamel f it was set over savage lines Gossip had it that his plans for the housing of this wife were already carried out the land for a mile farther up the Hudson had become the splendid formal gardens of a French estate the rising walls of the chateau loomed a line of gray on the bluff The great Oriental above the river was making ready while he waited I had no opportunity to speak with him Mrs Ckenley Gaynor with a niece on the block had him at her right The practical old dowager was n every Any mother would have feared so a man but not so Mrs dangerous This freebooter was Chenley Gaynor the richest on the seas he had sacks of doubloons packed to the gunwale of his brig What mattered it if the dearest Illusion of a maid walked the plank with two gold pieces bound tight over Its eyelids provided one got a country estate a town house and perhaps a yacht? Mammon was the only god who was never sleeping or on a Journey The man hovered a bit about the debutante praising her charms but he did not want her He nursed a hurt that was clear with his hand on his cutlass I was glad that the old general was and the man Emily CruIndependent ger had chosen well enough to do This brown wolf would be a fearful beast prowling at one’s door We depleted the larder to Its last pate got into our rubbers and proceeded to embark In our covered carriages We trod upon one another’s toes Jammed our elbows into our and apologized sweetly for neighbors It but underneath I fear we were ravening wolves The tragedy of a counin a May blizzard twenty wedding try miles from New Yorkl The women all had been carted away and I was entering a carriage after the last man when a servant ran out and said the general greatly wished md to remain The rervant took me to a guest chamber where I found a glass of whisky a hot bath and a dinner Jacket Meanwhile night descended and I Joined We the old general below stairs dined In rather desolate splendor under the lamps after that we smoked fire the in little a twig smoldering by library overlooking the river Then It was that I discovered why he wished me to remain “Courtlandt" he began “you sat opperson today at posite a curio: What do you think of luncheon bim?” “Well" I said “If one were lacking names I think he might be safely called a wolf” He took my answrer with a slow nodding of the head then he walked over to the window and stood looking out at the snow driving up the dim river "Emily loves this place" he said “I am glad I saved it to her but it was like tho story In the Russian fairy hook I tossed the wolf everything else for It” Then he came back to the fire and sat down In his leather chair with his feet stretched out to the fender "I will keep your name 'wolf' Courtlandt " he said "I like it better than the one his father gave him I am glad Emily is well out of his way God bless her I used to shudder when I saw the beast at her heels It does not matter so much when a man Is he takes that chance in the devoured forest but the nursery tale of little Red Riding Hood is full of heartused to see in fancy this I aches wolf in my smoking Jacket by the fire I have barred him In til's chair here cut from my little Red Riding Hood He answered me with a listless unInterest on our note for several years that he bad UBed bis good offices with concern still looking after the dethe bank to get all the time for me parting Pietro “It Is not to be avoidhe said “Let the man sign It ed” bank could to be the that refused that carry the paper any longer and we and pay his debt to the bank” I caught helplessly at the last straw must arrange to pay it In the greatest surprise I recalled the occurrence floating out from my disastrous shipto his memory in minute detail He wreck “What then?” I said “What then?” he repeated with the replied composedly that I was quite mistaken he was no more responsible same Indolent indifference “Why to the insurance company than I then there will be another day tomorneither of us bad been legally bound row” but both had felt morally obliged to And he went out of the room and make good the loss and so a Joint up to hisNbedchamber where the sinote bad been executed and the money lent Pietro made ready for hls eccenpaid to me I surely remembered tric master I had a long talk that night with that "I turned around without another Pietro He had a cousin In Pollan-na village about a league from GeHe word and went to my solicitor examined the note at the bank ques- noa where the Mediterranean makes tioned the cashier and advised me a little sunny pocket The place he that the bank would certainly sue on thought ran with General Cruger’s the note and that I should have to dream of the Riviera the bay was back of f pay my half of it I was horribly dis- paved with topaz the as in the days of turbed I did not know where to get the Bea two hundred thousand dollara Every- Homer the air soft as down — only the natives to were be not I desired would They possessed hardly bring thing that sum under the hammer besides were picturesque enough for a theatric I wanted to give this place to Emily eye but they were very dirty very In this dilemma the bank again noti- stout liars and all sons of the forty fied me that the note would be reduced thieves Hls cousin Guido was no to Judgment If not paid within thirty better than the worst of them but he days but added that if I would exe- kept a very comfortable inn if the Hls wife cute a mortgage on my coal property fleas In It were only dead of which it seems to have had an ex- Gabrlella had once been in the service act statement It could place the bonds of the old Marquis Ferretti at Genoa and how knew to serve a note and as the gentleman for my share of the Pietro would write to this cousin wolf stood ready to pay his share in cash the matter could be settled I and drive a bargain for every detail agreed to this plan because it left of General Cruger’s needs There was no comfort to he had me free to convey this place to Emily for her marriage portion I have since from waiting so I picked up a map learned that this wolf Myron Gates a Baedecker some current fiction on mortItaly and taking the takes these bonds” The old man paused a moment re- gage in my pocket went to Cllffcourt moved hla eyeglasses and laid them the next evening GenI saw cried when almost I on the table then he went on “I have also learned that the whole thing from eral Cruger hls face was so greatly He looked white and feeble Its' inception was a plan of Gates to troubled an old man in two days get me into his power He in fact He tried to make a little genial owned the worthless securities which were transferred to the Granite Moun- talk at dinner and get back Into hls tain Insurance company He It was old cheery self But it was an effort who got the four hundred thousand be gave up presently with a rather dollars he It was who directed the bitter smile “Mr Parks" he said when we were bank to make out a Joint note while I waited for him in hls office the de- again In the library “Victor Hugo once said bad fortune always grew livery of the cash to me was a part worse that and pretended it a quotation of the scheme that the officers of the bank could testify that the loan was from the Sybllline books He believed when it seized a man that Destiny for me He got the two hundred thousand dollars which I must pay back always hurried him from one disaster to another until It flung him finally to the bank” He arose and began to walk up and Into the grave The first blow was not down the library “There was a time” always the one to be wept over It "when one could call was the second the third that he he continued out such a creature and make him feared Well here is the second” He took up a letter from the mantel stand up before a pistol for an act like this The custom had its value and drew out the sheets as though be which we forget now When blood- would read It to me then he sat down letting was the penalty sneaking cads In hls chair still bolding the sheets kept their tongues tucked hack of in hls fingers their teeth and their fingers out of “I got this letter yesterday from other men’s pockets The law has Emily It was written from the St disarihed the gentlemen but left the Louis as she went out to sea and viper hls fangs You are wondering brought In by the pilot" He stopped a moment and sat starnow Courtlandt why this man was but ing Into the fire as If caught by some here at the wedding luncheon vagrant memory Then he read the Emily knows nothing of all this” “Now my dear wedding guest” he letter said smiling over the whisky “I am It was a happy letter charmingly up to the point where ’the ship went put full of tenderness for the old fadown like lead’ and am come to ther In hls lonely house carrying litof your marooning the explanation tle directions to him little messages I have no source of income now but which he should deliver little duties an inadequate little pension I can- he must perform not live on It anywhere in America He folded the letter and laid It on without my poverty being7 patent to the table Then he spoke with the disEmily and her friends I must get tinctness of one going firmly to hls out of the country I have thought ruin Italy was now out of the quesabout some little village in Southern tion be must remain and get employFrance where one could have at slight ment somewhere But first this busicost the necessities of life a servant ness with the bank must be concludI remembered and sunshine that ed He would go up to the city with you had been over there for some time me In the morning execute the mortwith Randolph Mason and would know gage and take up the note He did about It” not ask me about my conference with “General Cruger” I said "before we Randolph Mason and so I was spared discuss exile let us see If Myron Gates the recital of that failure When the cannot be got at in some way The candles burned down I slept agaif wolf might be forced to disgorge this In the above the a find could we way brary hut no aid came through the money perhaps to scorch him somewhere with a fire- gate of dreams Hope had abandoned brand It seems to me a duty of a this derelict to the seas rather superior sort to pour a pot of We went Into the wolf's bank at ten pitch on the bead of such a devil’s o’clock the next morning General CruImp” and a noger executed the mortgage He shook hls head somewhat hope- tary of the bank filled in the prepared below his signature lessly at that "Do not get a wrong acknowledgment he The bonds were delivered to the secimpression of me Courtlandt” said "I should like to pack coals un- retary of Myron Gates the money der the boast if I could I do not fear paid by him to General Cruger who him I have no refinements of false delivered the cash to the bank and got conscience against meeting his treachthe note stamped “Paid” Then when ery with steel traps set In the leaves the transaction was concluded we bad of his den but even the discussion of luncheon at a club and I returned to such a thing Is idle I have gone lower Broadway after having promised over It more than once with the best General Cruger to meet him for dinner attorneys In the city and they saw at the Holland no hope in a suit It would he my When I entered the house Randolph word against hls but to support hls Mason was coming down the stairway word would be my letter of Introduc- He Inquired what business had taken tion the Joint note the evidence of up the morning and I told him as bitthe bank officers that the money was terly as I could the sequel to my othpaid to me personally— these things er Btory General Cruger was now' s would convince a Jury of penniless Myron Gates had boarded One firm of law- his galleon and sailed away with its and the like yers on upper Nassau thought I was cargo without a shot at his black flag to them it” even about the or hack of a cutlass on hls gunlying "But General” I said "Randolph wales He was over the horizon with Mason is not the usual practitioner of hls loot the thing was ended New York Permit me to talk the “Nothing is ended” said Mason “unSomething matter over with him til It arrives at its adjustment” "Then” I said "this is a case for may come of it” His manner did not conceal how the Court of Final Equity if it ever lacking he thought the result would sits” be but he was courteously obliged “It Is a case for me” he said I looked at him In wonder "Certainly Courtlandt” he replied "I “You “A case for you?” I echoed shall be greatly In your debt for thinkand let the ing of the matter but I fear we shall said 'Execute the mortgage come back In the end to a counting man pay the bank ” “I did” he replied “You have folof centimes and the problem of a cheap little Inn with a roast fowl lowed that direction I believe" now and then and wine of the couI did not understand “We followed the Inevitable” I anntry" I had no opportunity to consult with swered him "It was the only thing Randolph Mason until the evening of to do You recognized that yourself” "It was the right thing to do" he the following day I went Into the room and sitting said "but not the only thing” down In the chair before the table “Why Mr Mason” I said “I asked made my excuses for interrupting hls you 'What then?’ and you said there coffee and told General Cruger’a story would he another day tomorrow” “Each is "It Is here” he answered “Mr Mason” I Bald “this a great Injury to a very helpless man How day to Its own events The fool confuses hls assistant with a multitude of Is this mortgage to be avoided?” directions This Is to be done now: You will at once hold a meeting of the Cruger Coal company under a call signed by all the members of the comPrepany and:as provided by law pare the rpcord of the company in proper form authorize a mortgage on all the property of the company to the London Trust company of this city as trustee to secure a loan of two hundollars dred and twenty thousand I discover are easily These mines worth that Bum Including the earnings for one year Some foreign clients of the banking house of Hurst & will pay in cash two hundred thousand dollars for these bonds upon the execution of the mortgage Let General Cruger take that sum and bide it somewhere in Europe under hls daughter's apron Bring me the mortgage when It is ready to be signed” In the face of all my experience of Randolph Mason I hazarded an objec- and I take It that he has sent yon to see if we ourselves understand K” Then he pulled out the drawer of the table and laid before me the mortgage a copy of the one executed for Myron Gates a report of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and a copy of the Acts of Its Legislature Each volume was marked with a slip of paper The banker opened first the volume of Acts "You will observe" he said "that for the old form of acknowledgment corporations was changed by this act and a new form given ia which the must cerpresident of the corporation tify under oath that he Is such officer and authorized to execute each a paNow the scrivener who drew per the Gates mortgage used the old form as be found it la of acknowledgment the form hooks while our ssortgage you will notice Is executed under the new form of acknowledgment” tion “Well” I said "what Important ef“But” I said “the first mortgage Is fect can that have? The Gates mortDo you mean that this propexecuted is in proper form there ie only gage to anothsecure erty la worth enough a mistake in the certificate of acknower mortgage?" That does not invalidate “No" he answered "I have Just ledgment mortgage nor affect the validity said that these mines are worth two the of the bonds” hundred and twenty thousand doFor answer the hanker opened the llars" and passed it across “Then" I said “you mean this loss volume of reports the table to me hls finger marking to fall on Hurst & Solmeyer?” “No” he said “Hurst & Solmeyer the page It was a decision of the will make twenty thousand dollars" in the "Surely” I said "you do not mean Court of Last Resort to date this mortgage before the other state where the mortgaged propNo notary could be got erty was situated holding that such one do you? a mortgage certified under the old to certify an Incorrect date” could not be form of acknowledgment He looked at me a moment “Parks” he said “I fear that you are admitted to record so as to create a an beginning to be a foci” Then he came lien on the property that such was void and that down the steps and went Into hls prispreading such a mortgage so acvate office did records on the knowledged county This light breaking suddenly on a darkness con- not make It a recorded lien hopeless supposedly The The matter was now clear fused me or else I had not put useless questions to Randolph Mason I Gates mortgage was not a lien Gates should have known better Mason's was only a general creditor The first words were never idle nor were hls and only lien on these coal properties was this last mortgage which was plans visionary and barren whether he bid one do a little or a great thing properly acknowledged and eonld be The story of Naaman and the Prophet admitted to record The estate pledged the was convincing precedent I did not was worth merely the amount offoreunderstand these new instructions and last mortgage When it was could not point out tbelr Intent to Gen- closed as It doubtless would be Hurst foreral Cruger but I knew that a pit was & Solmeyer’s clients the Innocent secured and eign holders of the really being digged for Myron Gates bonds would be paid in full Myron that was light enough Gates would come in after them as a I explained all this frankly to the creditor but there would be no old man that evening alter dinner at general which to pay hls debt His I urged him with the assets with the Holland were therefore worthless hls If Ran- bonds logic of the Syrian’s servants debt worthless The bank bad been dolph Mason had bid us build a great paid in cash the note liquidated thus looming trap for the wolf we should Hurst A the bank was not affected have done it How much rather then would make twenty thousand Solmeyer this easy thing which he suggested! dollars Myron Gates was the only I did not comprehend any more than one upon whom the loss would fall he how it could result as Mason said He he out two hundred thouIt would It would take in my opin- sand would dollars ion words and passes charmed amuI understood now why Randolph of lets and the laying on hands to had merely Bald “Let the man exduce any bankers to advance money ecute this mortgage and pay ths on a second mortgage when the propbank” When he had looked at the erty involved was worth scarcely the legal paper he bud Instantly seen the value of the first Still Randolph Maand knew of acknowledgment son said the bankers would pay over old formwas void Myron Gate’s draftsit I would that the money and he knew man had worked his undoing It was pledge my life on that I was aware to get the money from too that Solmeyer believed In Mason necessary only Gates and pay the note at the bank as the Maid of Israel did In Elisha so this valid debt would be liquidand that the firm had made ‘a fortune atedthat with cash and the bank eliminatof six figures through that faith' ed from the problem then create a I had my way about It in the end proper lien to a second creditor and The meeting of the Cruger Coal comleave Gates tp whistle for hls money pany was held the record correctly The case was simple eminently pracmade the bonds authorized and the ticable Myron impossible of failure mortgage prepared In every detail as Gates had set bis own trap digged his the law required it I took it to Ran- own His trap had crushed him pit bad the Mason when scrivener dolph hls pit received him the score was setHe examined It carefully finished tled with him to the last cent called In a notary dictated tho cerMason I saw also why tificate had the signatures properly wished to keep the Randolph explanation conaffixed and sent me with it to the fined to the fewest possible persons It with took bankers They the bonds He did not wish Gates to discover the and handed General Cruger a draft on defect In his mortgage until he at the Rothschilds In Paris for two huntempted to foreclose it after the first dred thousand dollars I walked up- default in the payment of the interest town with the bewildered old man to on hls bonds one year after the exe of He was silent for a block hls club cutlon of the mortgage It would then the way dazed by this incredible for- be too late for any proceedings in Intune Finally be put bis hand on my solvency to affect the second mortgage arm So he had left the solution a mystery “My dear friend" he said “I seem even to me and enjoined Hurst & Solto be quite awake and yet this event meyer to secrecy Myron Gates would 13 after the manner of dreams or the rest easy until he began to foreclose Illusion of some Oriental drug” some months perhaps after the end He went on slowly a little farther of the year Then he would awake to as Then he stopped up Broadway find hls mortgage smoke under him though taken with a sudden resolu- hla bonds rags hls debt vanished tion I found General Cruger waiting for Ma“Mr Parks” he said “Randolph me on the deck of the Baltic when 1 son directed mo to go to Europe and Good fortune had restored arrived hide this money in my daughter’s hls middle age hls step was springy I will go tomorrow on the Balapron tbs the muscles of bis face firm tic Come down to the ship at eleven old llghe- - rekindled In hls again eyes He and explain this miracle to me I will put his arm around my shoulder and now for the luggage” run up home we walked to the bow of the steamer Then he took a car to hls train and The old man was thrilling like a boy I returned to the banking house of over He would his anticipated plan I also wished an Hurst & Solmeyer join Emily In Paris they would spin I walked explanation straight through through the great Alps to the Italian of the building to the private office lakes and return along the Riviera to the elder banker and sat down be- Marseilles but they should live a fore him at hls table week not a day less than a whole “Solmeyer” I said “were you sure week with Guldk at Pollanno In the which that the brick you have Just teeth of the fleas and he would make bought is gold?” no bargain with Guido the Italian The old man smiled and stroked his should rob him like a brigand of the long patriarchal beard In three years they would first order "Yes Mr Parks” he said "this one return Is gold Gates got the brass one” I made one of the cheering crowd on "Impossible” I replied "Myron as the ship went out to sea Gates got a mortgage prepared by his the pier at her heels own scrivener for the full value of this with the tugs barking His security is prior to property yours How could his brick be brass?” The old man’s black eyes twinkled In their deep sockets “Mr Parks” he said “you do not know the Prophets Is it not written ‘Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way shall fall himself Into hls own pit?’" "The quotation Is hopeful” I said "but Into what pit did Myron Gates fall?” The old banker looked me searching-lin the face Mason said that we were "Randolph not to tell this thing to any one” (to avoid a charge of notice under the case cited) "but you are hls secretary For the Inlegal principle In this story see Sec 3 Abney et at v Ohio and Mining Company “A certificate of 45 W Va 446 of a deed conacknowledgment estate by a corporareal veying tion which falls to show that tho officer or agent executing It was ewom and deposed to the facts contained In the certificate as required by section 5 chapter 73 Code Is fatally defective and does not entitle such deed to be recorded” volved syllabus Lumber |