I.

FOR my part, Sidney," said the dark man, "I don't agree with your faith

in Providence at all. For the last ten years it has kept too far afield

of our House in every matter of importance. It has never once shown its

face to us except for the purpose of interposing some fatal wrecker just

at the critical moment. Don't you remember how it helped Barton Woodlas

rob our father in that shoe trust at Lynn? And you will recall the

railroad venture of our own. Did not the cursed thing go into the hands

of a receiver the very moment we had gotten the stock cornered? And look

at the oil deal. Did not the tools stick in both test wells within fifty

feet of the sand, and all the saints could not remove them? I tell you I

have no faith in it. The same thing is going to happen again."

"There is some truth in your rant, brother," replied the light man, "but

I cling to my superstition. We have a cool million in this thing, a cool

million. If we can only break the Chicago corner the market is bound to

turn. The thing is below the cost of production now, and this western

combine is already groggy. Ten thousand would break its backbone, and

leave us in a position to force the market up to the ceiling."

"But how in Heaven's name, Sidney, are we going to get the other five

thousand? To-day at ten I put up everything that could be scraped

together, begged, or borrowed, and out of it all we have scarcely five

thousand dollars. For any good that amount will do we might as well have

none at all. We know that this combine would in all probability weather

a plunge of five thousand, while a bold plunge of ten thousand would

rout it as certainly as there is a sun in heaven, but we only have half

enough money and no means of getting another dollar. If there were ten

millions in it the case would be the same. The jig is up."

"I don't think so, Gordon. I don't give it up. We must raise the money."

"Raise the money!" put in the other, bitterly; "as well talk of raising

the soul of Samuel. Did n't I say that I had raised the last money that

human ingenuity could raise; that there was not another shining thing

left on earth to either of us, but our beauty?--And it would take genius

to raise money on that, Sidney, gigantic genius."

He stopped, and looked at his brother. The brother poured his soda into

the brandy, and said simply, "We must find it."

"You find it," said Gordon Montcure, getting up, and walking backward

and forward across the room.

For full ten minutes Sidney Montcure studied the bottom of his glass.

Then he looked up, and said, "Brother, do you remember the little

bald-headed man who stopped us on the steps of the Stock Exchange last

week?"

"Yes; you mean the old ghost with the thin, melancholy face?"

"The same. You remember he said that if we were ever in a desperate

financial position we should come to the office building on the Wall

Street corner and inquire for Randolph Mason, and that Mason would show

us a way out of the difficulty; but that under no circumstances were we

to say how we happened to come to him, except that we had heard of his

ability."

"I recall the queer old chap well," said the other. "He seemed too clean

and serious for a fakir, but I suppose that is what he was; unless he is

wrong in the head, which is more probable."

"Do you know, brother," said Sidney Montcure, thrusting his hands into

his pockets, "I have been thinking of him, and I have a great mind to go

down there in the morning just for a flyer. If there is any such man as

Randolph Mason, he is not a fakir, because I know the building, and he

could not secure an office in any such prominent place unless he was

substantial."

"That is true, although I am convinced that you will find Randolph Mason

a myth."

"At any rate, we have nothing to lose, brother; there may be something

in it. Will you go with me to-morrow morning?"

The dark man nodded assent, and proceeded to add his autograph to the

club's collection, as evidenced by its wine ticket.

Gordon and Sidney Montcure were high-caste club men of the New York

type, brokers and plungers until three p.m., immaculate gentlemen

thereafter. Both were shrewd men of the world. And as they left the

Ephmere Club that night, that same club and divers shop-men of various

guilds had heavy equitable interests in the success of their plans.

Shortly after ten the following morning, the two brothers entered the

great building in which Randolph Mason was supposed to have his office.

There, on the marble-slab directory, was indeed the name; but it bore no

indication of his business, and simply informed the stranger that he

was to be found on the second floor front. The two men stepped into the

elevator, and asked the boy to show them to Mr. Mason's office. The boy

put them off on the second floor, and directed them to enquire at

the third door to the left. They found here a frosted glass door with

"Randolph Mason, Counsellor," on an ancient silver strip fastened to the

middle panel. Sidney Montcure opened the door, and the two entered. The

office room into which they came was large and scrupulously clean.

The walls were literally covered with maps of every description. Two

rows of mammoth closed bookcases extended across the room, and there

were numerous file cases of the most improved pattern. At a big

flat-topped table, literally heaped with letters, sat their friend, the

little bald, melancholy man, writing as though his very life and soul

were at stake.

"We desire to speak with Mr. Mason, sir," said Sidney Montcure,

addressing the little man. The man arose, and went into the adjoining

room. In a moment he returned and announced that Mr. Mason would see the

gentlemen at once in his private office.

They found the private office of Randolph Mason to be in appearance much

like the private office of a corporation attorney. The walls were lined

with closed bookcases, and there were piles of plats and blue prints and

bundles of papers scattered over a round-topped mahogany table.

Randolph Mason turned round in his chair as the men entered.

"Be seated, gentlemen," he said, removing his eye-glasses. "In what

manner can I be of service?" His articulation was metallic and precise.

"We have had occasion to hear of your ability, Mr. Mason," said Gordon

Montcure, "and we have called to lay our difficulty before you, in the

hope that you may be able to suggest some remedy. It may be that our

dilemma is beyond the scope of your vocation, as it is not a legal

matter."

"Let me hear the difficulty," said Mason, bluntly.

"We are in a most unfortunate and critical position," said Gordon

Montcure. "My brother and myself are members of the Board of Trade, and,

in defiance of the usual rule, occasionally speculate for ourselves.

After making elaborate and careful investigation, we concluded that the

wheat market had reached bottom and was on the verge of a strong and

unusual advance. We based this conclusion on two safe indications: the

failure in production of the other staples, and the fact that the price

of wheat was slightly below the bare cost of production. This status of

the market we believed could not remain, and on Monday last we bought

heavily on a slight margin. The market continued to fall. We covered our

margins, and plunged, in order to bull the market. To our surprise the

decline continued; we gathered all our ready money, and plunged again.

The market wavered, but continued to decline slowly. Then it developed

that there was a Chicago combine against us. We at once set about

ascertaining the exact financial status of this combine, and discovered

that it was now very weak, and that a bold plunge of ten thousand

dollars would rout it. But unfortunately all our ready money was now

gone. After exhausting every security and resorting to every imaginable

means we have only five thousand dollars in all. This sum is utterly

useless under the circumstances, for we know well that the combine would

hold out against a plunge of this dimension and we would simply lose

everything, while a bold, sudden plunge of ten thousand would certainly

break the market and make us a vast fortune. Of course, no sane man will

lend us money under circumstances of this kind, and it is not possible

for us to raise another dollar on earth." The speaker leaned back in his

chair, like a man who has stated what he knows to be a hopeless case.

"We are consuming your time unnecessarily," he added; "our case is, of

course, remediless."

Mason did not at once reply. He turned round in his chair and looked

out of the open window. The two brothers observed him more closely.

They noticed that his clothing was evidently of the best, that he was

scrupulously neat and clean, and wore no ornament of any kind. Even the

eyeglasses were attached to a black silk guard, and had a severely plain

steel spring.

"Have you a middle name, sir?" he said, turning suddenly to Sidney

Montcure.

"Yes," replied the man addressed, "Van Guilder; I am named for my

grandfather."

"An old and wealthy family of this city, and well known in New England,"

said Mason; "that is fortunate." Then he bent forward and looking

straight into the eyes of his clients said: "Gentlemen, if you are ready

to do exactly what I direct, you will have five thousand dollars by

to-morrow night. Is that enough?"

"Ample," replied Gordon Montcure; "and we are ready to follow your

instructions to the letter in any matter that is not criminal."

"The transaction will be safely beyond the criminal statutes," said

Mason, "although it is close to the border line of the law."

"'Beyond, is as good as a mile," said Gordon Montcure; "let us hear your

plan."

"It is this," said Mason. "Down at Lynn, Massachusetts, there is

a certain retired shoe manufacturer of vast wealth, accumulated by

questionable transactions. He is now passing into the sixties, and, like

every man of his position, is restless and unsatisfied. Five years ago

he concluded to build a magnificent residence in the suburbs of Lynn. He

spared nothing to make the place palatial in every respect. The work has

been completed within the past summer. The grounds are superb, and

the place is indeed princely. As long as the palace was in process of

building, the old gentleman was interested and delighted; but no

sooner was it finished than, like all men of his type, he was at

once dissatisfied. He now thinks that he would like to travel on the

continent, but he has constructed a Frankenstein Monster, which he

imagines requires his personal care. He will not trust it to an agent,

he does not dare to rent it, and he can find no purchaser for such a

palace in such a little city. The mere fact that he cannot do exactly

as he pleases is a source of huge vexation to such a man as old Barton

Woodlas, of the Shoe Trust."

The two Montcures apparently gave no visible evidence of their mighty

surprise and interest at the mention of the man who had robbed their

father, yet Mason evidently saw something in the tail of their eyes, for

he smiled with the lower half of his face, and continued: "You, sir,"

he said, speaking directly to Sidney Montcure, "must go to Lynn and buy

this house in the morning."

"Buy the house!" answered the man, bitterly, "your irony approaches the

sublime; we have only five thousand dollars and no security. How could

we buy a house?"

"I am meeting the difficulties, if you please, sir," said Mason, "and

not yourself. At ten tomorrow you must be at Lynn. At two p.m. you will

call upon Barton Woodlas, giving your name as Sidney Van Guilder, from

New York. He knows that family, and will at once presume your wealth.

You will say to him that you desire to purchase a country place for your

grandfather, and heard of his residence. The old gentleman will at once

jump at this chance for a wealthy purchaser, and drive you out to his

grounds. You will criticise somewhat and make some objections, but will

finally conclude to purchase, if satisfactory terms can be made. Here

you will find Barton Woodlas a shrewd business dealer, and you must

follow my instructions to the very letter. He will finally agree to take

about fifty thousand dollars. You will make the purchase proposing to

pay down five thousand cash, and give a mortgage on the property for the

residue of the purchase money, making short-time notes. Five thousand in

hand and a mortgage will of course be safe, and the old gentleman will

take it. You demand immediate possession, and as he is not residing in

the house you will get it. Go with him at once to his attorney, pay the

money, have the papers signed and recorded, and be in full possession of

the property by four o'clock in the afternoon."

Mason stopped abruptly and turned to Gordon Montcure. "Sir," he said

curtly, "I must ask you to step into the other office and remain until

I have finished my instructions to your brother. I have found it best

to explain to each individual that part of the transaction which he is

expected to perform. Suggestions made in the presence of a third party

invariably lead to disaster." Gordon Montcure went into the outer room

and sat down. He was impressed by this strange interview with Mason.

Here was certainly one of the most powerful and mysterious men he had

ever met,--one whom he could not understand, who was a mighty enigma.

But the man was so clear and positive that Montcure concluded to do

exactly as he said. After all, the money they were risking was utterly

worthless as matters now stood.

In a few moments Sidney Montcure came out of the private office and

took a cab for the depot, leaving his brother in private interview with

Randolph Mason.