Show - I — III " —iMina The Corrector of Destinies A Copyright Vt V by Xdward On the evening of the of December I was one of a party at at the residence of Baron bridge Adolph von Hubert on street The baron was the American agent of the Berlin banking bouse of Welssell & Co The little party on this evening consisted of Madame von Hubert the baron Winfield Gerry and myself Young Gerry who went everywhere among people of leisure was taken to be rich His brother Marcus enormously was certainly one of the Gerry wealthiest men in New York He was the largest stofckholder and financial National dictator of the bank Winfield Gerry was under thirty a courtly young fellow almost as He was extravahahdsome as a girl gant daring it was said and reckless He had been brought up from boyhood on the continent I think and was colored with the Latin temperament I do not remember ever to have been so fortunate at cards as on this When we arose from the evening table I had won $700 of which sum the baron lost two hundred The remainder was the Iobb of Winfield I was glad of this distribution Gerry of the loss Young Gerry was reputed an Idle young yellow with millions at his finger tips The baron keeping his money like a Teuton in gold handed me ten Mr Gerry said that he would give me a check at the club and asked me to ride down town with him in his carriage We were scarcely seated before he turned to me and said in a Quiet even voice as though be were announcing a score: “I can’t pay you Mr Parks” I turned in astonishment to see if he was jesting The electric light in the carriage showed me a face distressingly drawn and tired There was no pleasantry behind that countenance The solution came to me instantly This man posing as a gentleman was in fact a cad he was about to question the regularity of the game the regularity of a friendly sitat bridge In the house of such ting people as the von Huberts I bristled with indignation “And may I inquire” I answered frigidly "why is it that you cannot pay me Mr Gerry?” The man did not at once reply He took a cigarette from his pocket lighted It and leaned back on the cushions of the carriage “For the best reason in the world Mr Parks” he answered "I have at this moment to be entirely accurate dolt just two hundred and cents” lars and seventy-fivI waB greatly relieved “My dear sir” I laughed "I do not expect you to carry about a cash drawer I knew an Englishman once whose Income was something like a hundred thousand sterling and who did not have a shilling In his pocket from one year’s end to the other I should be glad of your check I should be glad of any “You are alone there” he said simply returned I detest My annoyancepassages at banter “I trust” I said “that you will permit me to under- J Ckxio friends were In abundance I mentioned bfs brother Marcus Gerry He said the name over slowly after me "Marcus Gerry" Then his lips set evenly along his fine sensitive mouth But only for a moment He gave me a swift glance and began to laugh “My brother Is all right you know but he Is a commercial factor His financial A rotten sense Is sound ship la a rotten ship The captain of Let it cannot matter a him step down and off and the hull Pension the capgo to Davy Jones tain perhaps but cut loose from the derelict That’s Marcus Gerry That’s the sane view" We were down town now The carriage was turning into Fifth avenue The young man touched the driver’s button “This is your club Mr Parks I believe” he said “I am obliged by your kindness Won’t you let me give you the gewgaws?" “By no means” I answered getting out of the cab “Please do me the to forget our game of courtesy bridge" “Oh I shall He laughed pleasantly foi'get it thank you Seafaring folk at Bremen say the cable ought always to read ‘Der Kapitan glng mit seinem Schiffe unter' " Then heN spoke to the driver and closed the carriage door I went Into the club and got a pony of brandy a cigar and a chair by the I was greatly sorry for young fire He was an exceedingly pleasGerry ant fellow Still I could do nothing I had thought the matter over fully I could of course bring him to Randolph Mason but of what use was that? There was no balance of A reckjustice to be squared up here come to the less young spendthrift Mason was all end of his tether would have that fact out in a twinkle It was and close the door In his face out of the question to fool him He would pick a man like a vulture at a I bone till he got to the marrow Anythrew the cigar into the fire way Marcus Gerry would doubtless rotten of the ship the pension captain At the worst he would probably be Then belter off than the most of us I recalled the German sentence “Heinrich' I said to the club steward “what Is ‘Der Kapitan glng mit seinem Schiffe unter?”’ “Der Captain vent down mit his ship” replied thevman I went A great light came to me over to the table and write on my card “Come to Randolph Mason toThe morrow at eleven old Field mansion off Broadway below Wall street" Then I sent it to his address ‘That would at least by messenger gain time and perhaps the boy would Then I give up the idea of suicide and took another pony of brandy walked to my lodgings I was a little late in ’arriving on Broadway the morning after the game of bridge As I stopped to open the Mason’s old iron gate to Randolph house Winfield Gerry came across from Wall street and Joined me He and wholesome looked stand you" We entered the house and crossed “It would be better I have no drawingdoubt” he said looking me evenly in the wide hall to the an for room now office' As I used the face “I have not intended to be The pum threw back the mahogany door I obeither obscure or facetious served Randolph Mason leaning over which I have Just mentioned represents all the money that I have In the the table in the middle of the room cast a steady world My reputation for wealth Is He straightened up thou- searching glance at young Gerry that a mere shell I owe sand dollars exclusive of this little ran swiftly over him to his feet then debt to you Stable and tailor bills turned abruptly and walked into the various club dues run fifteen hundred adjoining room closing the behind him more I owe twelve hundred in overWe entered and young Gerry took a drafts It Is near a hundred thousand you see Against this I have chair by the window "Was that RanMason?” he said perhaps five thousand dollars of per- dolph I answered that it was sonal effects horses worth “Until I saw his face” he continued hundred and a bundle of worthless ' “I could atrocioushave sworn that it was stocks I am beastly poor the greatest surgeon in Europe ly poor you see Mr Parks” He has Llebach’s hands too But the I listened in astonishment “You will doubtless put me down a resemblance vanished when he looked procad” he went on “to join a game of up This man’s lean sinewy He a menace almost is bridge when I had not the money to truding jaw In fact I did not In- is not as gray as Liebach either and pay my losses tend to play I called' Intending to besides that Liebach has once in a make my excuses to the baroness and while something gentle in his face the ‘Wolf’ in Mudepart I found this politely impos- if they do call himface looks metallic sible and I sat down to the table nich This man’s that two hundred dollars as though It might ring if you struck hoping it” would cover my proportion of probable I laughed tossed him the morning loss” He paused and made a depre“It was no Idle fancy paper and begged him to excuse me cating gesture of the ancients to picture fortune a while I ran over the morplng mail I was scarcely seated before Pietro apI might have known" woman Then he stopped stripped off his peared saying that Mr Mason wished to see me I arose and went into the removed took out his purse gloves room his from unhooked a adjoining Jewel two rings Randolph Mason sat at his table tie and before I realized what he and his was doing handed them all to me I his elbow on the writing-paput back his hand He thrust the ar- chin propped in the hollow of his ticles into his waistcoat pocket and hand Before him was a BqUare sheet files his on his from knee He his memoranda hand began dropped “I thank you for the courtesy" he to volley questions in a voice that said “but you would much better take snapped like the click of a them They will presently be listed into its block One “Is Wilder acquitted?” by the referee in bankruptcytwo and a half “a per curiam "Yes” I answered Brazilian diamond rarats valued at three hundred dol- opinion yesterday The mandate will One imitation ruby valued at come down from the United States larscircuit court of appeals Monday” One baroque pearl valfifty dollars The very “The Atlantic Canadian Securities?” dollars ued at “Returned out of court coupons Jewelry Is mostly sham I am a rather Mr Parks" paid up costs assumed by the syndicomplete pretense There was little to say and I said cate” "Andre Dessausure?” It with the best grace J could gather "Dead” I replied — the usual platitudes Something At the word Mason turned over the would turn up in the morning wealthy - memorandum sheet on’ the table folded his arms and stared vacantly at the rows of bookcases lining the wall This was the enemybeyoad him The state department waited a day too long The little Frenchman had taken to his brazier of charcoal like an impulsive son of the Quartler Latin and I seized this oppoMason had failed rtune mood to get an audience for young Gerry "Mr Mason” I said “in the next room is another man booked to the ’I came came in here fact with no such plan merely to put in "I" q with his house that you are about to “I believe” said Mr Stratton “that draw a series of checks ou the the National bank held morning" National bank of New York no deposit upon which these checks There was something sinister in the which you wish him to cash and for could be drawn” way he spoke of the morning— like a which you will him the usual comA pay of came into Egan cunning light convicted prisoner coming up to be mercial discount Bedford’s face “I knqw that” he sentenced at the afternoon sitting of “Also tell him that you have no de- said “but the hank is better than any court posit in the National man’s account I made the bank stand “Wliere is this man Egan Bedford?" bank subject to check but that this good for the checks” said Randolph Mason bank will arrange with him about “How?” said Stratton and I thought Winfield Gerry lifted his face in meeting the checks and to take the there was the faintest shadow of a “You surely surprise know Egan matter up with it at once You will smile fitting about the corners of his Bedford” he said “he is the richest say nothing more and leave the bank eyes same broker in Boston Bedford & Egan “On the next day begin to Bedford’s broad face lighted with present He turned sharply in his chair Co is the firm name but there is no your checks He thrust his hand into the payable to yourself and victory firm and no company it’s all Egan “Bring him in” he said drawn on the National bosom of his coat took out a letter I opened the door and requested the Bedford He posed a few years as a bank New of York These checks will and a telegram and spread on the young man to come into this private financial unfortunate then he gradout for amounts respective- table “There” he said “is the bank’s office althpugh I had little hope that ually brought out the covered funds be made in your statement of debts With guaranty in black and white and yelRandolph Mason would even hear his Today he is one of the largest private ly as the from low” money you receive Then he added with a sneer to of the end I had no hope bankers in Massachusetts” Then he history each check you will at once pay that "I guess your bank’s not broke is it?” his added wearily “The scheme of hia assistance for young Gerry things creditor in This full The lawyer moved some papers unyou will concase had none of the elements of un- seems to require a hell Matters must tinue until all the creditors are paid til he found a printed statement “The corrected injustice bringing it within be adjusted somewhere” It ought not to require longer than a bank” he sald''nbas assets valued at Mason’s zone of interest I expected “This one will be adjusted here” millions of dollars its liafortnight” to see Mason search him mercilessly said Mason Mason arose as though to dismiss bilities are some ten millions That for a moment and then drop him as a Young Gerry smiled somewhat bitmil- then would be 1 believe twenty-fiv“Snch a thing is impossible” the audience with young Gerry prospector would a spurious nugget terly he added “You will remember to do lions above insolvency" Young Gerry entered and remained he said “quite impossible” "Then” said Bedford “I want mf exactly as I say do you understand Randolph Mason ignored the words standing by one of the bookcases near money” the table Mason looked at him care- Ills face lost its gleaming vitality as that?" "I understand" replied the young "Doubtless” replied Stratton fully for a moment then he said though a curtain were lowered behind Bedford exploded with anger “I am “But the thing is “How much do you owe?" ' it shutting out the light The effect man in amazement The National tired of this confounded nonsense!” impossible Winfield Gerry glanced quizzically on Winfield Gerry waB instantly noat me I reassured him with a nod ticeable The atmosphere of stress hank will never shoulder such a loss he shouted “If the bank won’t pay These debts aggregate 1300000” these checks I will sue it” and he answered “In round numbers was lifted He stretched out his limbs “The "Then you will lose" replied the National bank of one hundred thousand dollars” and looked curiously about him at the New York” said Mason “will not lose lawyer quietly “For what?” said Mason rows of bookcases along the wall the “Borrowed money” replied GSrry “Lose!” cried Bedford oriental rug on the floor the scattered a dollar” “The bank “Then” cried Gerry now utterly in- guaranteed “For what?" Mason repeated volumes on the table quite as if Ranthese checks I tell you The young man hesitated then he dolph Mason had walked out of the credulous “I do not know how under There is the guaranty don’t you see heaven “I It?” am be reckand can Bedford room Then he turned as if to go into said rather be got to he pushed the papers across Egan thought to the table with his fat hand matters are con- the outer office He was half facing cash the checks!” less "I see It” said the lawyer “but it “It is sufficient that I know” said cerned Horses that are not fast the door when Mason’s chin went up Mason Tuen he got up abruptly and is not worth filing room” “What?” shouted Bedford walked out of the room “This guaranty of the I was not present at the conference Stratton’ of Marcus Gerry with Randolph Ma- National bank" continued "is utterly void" son He came on Tuesday evening Bedford plunged back on his heels' when I was at the Cloverdale Hunt like a struck man German from Mason By request violently in the He waived his fat arm at Coleman Stratton Mr Gerry’s counsel breast and that of the National his counsel whom he hitherto had igbank accompanied him I have it nored “Judge” he gurgled “judge from Pietro that the conference ran do you hear that?” Judge Hacker whose knowledge of up to midnight and that halt the books In the private office were on the floor the law is said to equal that of any in New York arose and At twelve o’clock practitioner In the morning Marcus Gerry sent a telegram to his came over to the table He nodded to brother saying to go ahead as Mason us then he spoke quietly to his conhad directed Pietro took this tele- frere in the law "Stratton” he said “give me accu- gram to the Western Union office on When he returned he rately your position in this matter" Broadway Coleman Stratton touched an elecpassed Marcus Gerry’s carriage leavtric button scribbled a memorandum ing the house So the Gideon sign arrived in Bos- on a scrap of paper and handed it to ton before it was required I know the office boy who entered Then he turned to Judge Hacker On Monday accurately what followed "This contract of the morning Winfield Gerry went to the banking house of Egan Bedford & Co National bank with Egan Bedford & and explained to Mr Bedford what he Co is one purely of guaranty and is 'wished to do as Randolph Mason had ultra vires on the part of the bank directed Bedford requested Gerry to The Revised Statutes of the United return the next morning He then States give a national bank no authorNational ity to guarantee the debts of another called up the bank by telephone and inquired about A national bank as you are aware checks bank The replied that cannot exercise powers in excess of the Winfield Gerry had no deposit there those conferred upon it by statute but that it would guarantee the pay- Egan Bedford & Co and for that all ment of his checks up to $300000 and persons equally with the bank are to send it all the checks together by bound to take notice of the statute Adams express at the close of banking The guaranty is void and the bank is not liable” Bedford replied hours on Saturday that this arrangement was satisfacJudge Hacker listened attentively tory but he required it sent to him "Have you the Revised Statutes?” he by cipher telegram and also by let- said ter which was accordingly done The "YeB” replied Stratton handing next morning young Gerry presented him the volume "Section 6136” his checks which were cashed This Judge Hacker opened the book on Mason 'waited witBouf apparent interest he continued to do until on Thursday the table and began to read it careevening he had drawn out $297000 and fully In a moment hs looked up “Do enough women that are too fast Instantly he fell into an attitude of had paid all the creditors of his fa- you know of an authority construing ther’s old firm of Gerry & Bedford this statute?” he said usually an explanation la required to attention “Are you related to Marcus Gerry?” including the two hundred thousand go no further” Mr Stratton touched his bell and 1 could readily see that he was hopsaid Mason of debts which he had personally as- the office boy came in with a copy of On Friday he closed his of- the “Federal ing to evade this query The young man crossed the floor sumed Stratton Reporter” “What is the truth about it?” said and sat down in a chair “He is my fice In Boston and came to New York handed the book to Judge Hacker Mason brother” he replied the most puzzled man who ever en- “Page 825” he said “Then” said Mason “this thing is tered the Borough of Manhattan Young Gerry shifted his feet un'Judge Hacker took the volume to “Well” he began weakly child’s play” the window and went carefully over Saturday evening the banking house easily "won’t that do for an explanation? The old listless cloud settled again of Egan Bedford & Co sent the bundle the case Egan Bedford followed him How can it matter anyway? The over Winfield Gerry’s face “Mr M- of checks to the National peeping now over and now under his ason” he said “there is no hope in hank of New York This bank refused arm as though the lawyer were exam- money is gone” to that quarter Mason continued monotonously infernal My brother Marcus to pay the checks and returned them lning some incomprehensible The young man Gerry is not a sentimentalist as I am Mr Bedford came at once to New machine His face was tense repeat his question He could not understand this When one York seemed to go through that period of He is a practical person The whole plan of Randolph Mason of common and the the to a to refusal from Marcus was to bank checks now hesitation dollar he Plain pay even laid open Gerry gets uncertainty the court witness who finds himself leaves two in unquestioned securities but he was not alarmeij he held the young Winfield Gerry He slipped his forced by the examiner either to make until he comes back with the loan guaranty of the bank in writing It hand into mine and wrung it a clean breast of his story or stub- His instincts are those of a hanker was one of the wealthiest financial InPresently Judge Hacker closed the bornly refuse to answer anything at human until it comes to the money stitutions in America it was as sol- volume and returned it to the table all He chewed his lips nervously sacks Do not misunderstand me My vent as the government Some misunThen he spoke to Stratton “You seem was on his brother would promptly knock down derstanding of a clerk doubtless to be right about this" he said “This fumbled with the buttons waistcoat and stroked gently the the man who assailed my name in his the explanation — at any rate he was decision of the United States circuit He would go up to the door safe presence angle of his Jaw Mason waited withcourt of appeals appears conclusive of state’s prison to crush my enemy out apparent interest Mr Bedford went to the bank upon The National bank did He would grind every moral precept his arrival but got no explanation not receive this money and conseFinally he arrived at his conclusion into pulp to pull me out of a hole but from any one of the clerical force quently it cannot be taken to be in the He dropped his hand as with a geshe would not pay out a hundred thou- An explicit direction to refuse payture of resignation position of obtaining a benefit by Its “Very well” he said “this is the sand dollars nor a hundred dollars ment on the checks was all they knew void act This money was paid to nor one dollar to wipe out thi£ debt about it An qffort to secure an inter- Winfield Gerry and not to the bank” whole truth: My father and Egan I which I assumed Gerhave with Marcus the One Bedford were financial partners have gone view Then he turned to Egan Bedford “You president over this matter more than once with ry brought only an appointment for will have to look to Mr Winfield Gerday Bedford borrowed all the money ha could get in Wall street on the him He is lying In wait for Egan Bed- Mr Bedford with the general counsel ry for the payment of these checks” firm’s credit and apparently used It ford He has gone to great pains to of the bank at the office of Coleman Bedford raised his arms above his in an unsuccessful effort to hold up a cultivate amicable relations with him Stratton on Broadway at four o’clock head and dropped them with a hopewhile In fact Bedford & Co has become the Boston line of rotten securities I was present at this conference at less gesture “Sue him sue that felNaA little later correspondent of the he secreted the money the office of Mr Stratton at the invi- low!’7 he cried “He is not worth a tional bank which belongs to my tation of ’Winfield Gerry who called tinker’s dam Bedford cleared himthe firm failed He hasn’t a dollar!” self of the wreck In bankruptcy My brother Marcus Gerry will repay Bed- for me at a quarter before four We Young Gerry took out his purse father paid up the losses out of his ford in his own good time when the walked over to the building Young stripped off his rings unhooked his hour ws comes” could he as finally was the far amazed at incredible pearl pin from the tie and handed Gerry private fortune “It has come” said Mason When he died I assumed the remainIt was unbelievable all the them to Bedford “You are mistaken” Then situation he leaned forward in his chair and way through' One dreamed of such he said “here Is quite an estate” der of the loss about two hundred thousand dollars I have paid half c? looked Winfield Gerry steadily in the things on occasion ' But this affair Egan Bedford struck his hand scat' face as one does with a child when he had gone on in daylight It belonged It but I can go no further” tering the articles over the floor Then He dropped his hand limply on his wishes to impress upon him the im- in Bagdad yet here It was on a Monseized his hat and bolted out of the he beknee as be had done the evening portance of some direction day In January in New York! He room Hacker followed but fore in his carriage was under an almost breaking strain paused aJudge “Young man” he said “attend accuAgain I was moment at the door to offer astonished at the contradiction which rately to what I am about to say to see the close of it We were taken an apology for the violence of his cliI studied You will at once make a careful and at once to Mr Stratton’s private office Winfield Gerry presented ent and to bid us good evening his face It was drawn and tired as correct estimate of the amounts owed Egan Bedford and his counsel Judge I looked around me Young Gerry I had been by the estate of your father and yourit had been last night Hacker had already arrived and were was gathering his up his possessions This conversing in low tones in a corner hands wrong about him wrong about his self by reason of Egan Bedford trembling but his face like the In a moment Mr sun The character his habits and the causes statement must be correct Not a cent by the window attorney standing by the of his unfortunate situation This hoy more not a cent less than the exact Stratton Joined us He was a clean-c- table spoke the only word of comwas breaking at the knees under the sum You will at once dispose of any gray man radiating vitality ment “Mr Parks” he Baid “will you I underburden of another’s wrong “Gentlemen” he' said "can we not property you have In New York and my compliments to Randolph The air of recklessstood him now ou next Monday go to Boston and waive conventions and get at once to present Mason?" ness was assumed to explain these open an office as a broker Before the thitf matter?” debts Ho was playing the loose end of the week you will receive a two men at the window turned The spendthrift while he strove to clear telegram from Marcus Gerry authoriz- around in their chairs Egan Bedford InFor the legal principle hia father’s name and to return what ing you to follow my directions On arose cams over to the table and put volved in this story see the Bedford had stolen receipt of it go at once to the bank- down a pack of checks “I do not see leading case of Bowen v Neehimself to- ing house of Egan Bedford & Co and why the bank sends me to a law ofYoung Gerry pulled dles Nat Bank et al 94 Fed “I hardly realize why ! have say to Mr Bedford that you wish to fice” he said “I want the money on gether 925 laid this matter open" he continued establish a temporary line of credit these checks” a Jt ' ' i 7 in I the — IV i r r i r |