A STRANGE GENTLEMAN.
Angeline had just recovered from her grief, and was setting strawberries
and cream before her visitors, when a loud knock was heard at the door,
which Hanz proceeded to open; when a tall, well-dressed man, with dark,
well kept hair, piercing black eyes, features of great regularity, and
having the manners of a gentleman, entered and introduced himself as Mr.
Luke Topman, just from New York. "I am a stranger to you all here," he
said, in a deep, clear voice, "and I owe you an apology for calling at
this seemingly late hour. I said I was a stranger," he repeated, "but
the business I am on may make us acquaintances." The stranger stood for
a moment, with his eyes fixed on Chapman. Still no recognition passed,
and their manner was that of strangers who had never met before.
The figures here grouped together were of the most opposite kind, and
presented a picture at once striking and effective. A table stood in the
centre of the little room, and on it burned a candle, casting a pale and
shadowy light over and giving clearer outline to each figure. There was
the old loom, with its harnesses, its reed, and its shuttles; the
flax-wheel and the distaff, forming a quaint setting, but representing a
past age and the primitive habits of the people who used them.
There was Hanz and Angeline on one side. Time was writing its record in
deep lines on their faces, and whitening their gray hairs. Frank,
simple-minded, honest, and contented, they had enough to carry them
through life comfortably; and why should they, Hanz said, trouble
themselves about anything more? They represented an age and a people
perfectly happy with what it had pleased God to give them. On the other
side there was Chapman and Mrs. Chapman, exact types of the people they
represented. Ambitious of making a show in the world, grasping,
restless, selfish, intriguing, seeking always for means to advance
themselves, studying the future for their own advancement, and ready to
use even religion as an assistant to gaining their objects. Such was the
contrast presented in the picture before us.
Again apologizing for calling at what seemed a late hour, the stranger
proceeded. "I am in great haste, madam. I came all the way from New York
to-day. Crossed the ferry only an hour ago, and am somewhat fatigued. My
business is of great importance, and with Mr. Toodleburg. I was directed
here, and am glad to find him so comfortably situated."
"Very well, very well," rejoined Hanz, his face lighted up with a smile,
and his white hair flowing; "dat's me, mine friend. You be's welcome to
my little home. Yees, mine friend, you shall be so welcome as I can make
you." Hanz shook him heartily by the hand, and invited him to sit down.
"You be's had no shupper, eh?" he resumed. "Der's no man what comes nor
goes hungry to my house."
The stranger bowed and said, "Thank you--you are very kind; but I supped
on the other side of the sea, and have no need for any more."
"Mine gracious!" exclaimed Hanz. "You comes all de way from New York to
she me. You eats anoder shupper, shure."
The stranger persisted that he would eat no more that night. The
appearance of the man at so late an hour excited serious apprehensions
in the mind of Angeline lest he should bring news of some disaster to
the good ship Pacific.
Then turning to Mrs. Chapman, he said, "I hope, madam, I have not
intruded on your privacy here to-night?"
That lady, having dropped him one of her best bows, assured him there
was nothing private so far as she was concerned. "We are friends and
neighbors of these good people," she replied with a forced smile and an
air of condescension. "We like to be neighborly, and just dropped in to
make a friendly call. That's all, sir."
"I am very glad to meet Mr. Toodleburg. Very glad to find him such an
excellent person," the stranger repeated, turning to Hanz, and again
taking him by the hand. "Topman, I said my name was; Luke Topman, senior
partner of the enterprising house of Topman and Gusher, doing a large
miscellaneous business in Pearl, near Wall street. You are, doubtless,
well acquainted with the reputation of the firm." Here Mr. Topman
compressed his lips, brushed his fingers through his hair, and addressed
himself to Chapman, who up to this time had maintained an air of
indifference to what was going on.
"Perfectly well," replied Chapman, with an air of surprise. "Highly
respectable and equally responsible house, that. Why, sir, it is
somewhat curious that we should meet here. A relative of mine did
business with that house a long time. Highly satisfactory--highly."
"We endeavor to make everything satisfactory with our customers,"
resumed Mr. Topman. "Happy to have met a gentleman so familiar with the
reputation of our house. Pray, may I enquire to the name?"
"Chapman--Bigelow Chapman. My wife, Mr. Topman; my enlarged and better
half. Mr. Topman, my dear, of the firm of Topman and Gusher. Doing a
large miscellaneous business, and highly respectable."
"What a strange meeting this is. You used to know each other? How
curious!" interposed Mrs. Chapman, rising from her seat and dropping Mr.
Topman one of her most stately bows.
"By reputation. Perhaps I should have said general reputation, my dear,"
returned Chapman. During all this time Hanz was kept in ignorance of the
object of the stranger's visit. Yet the whole scene was such as could
not fail to excite his curiosity to the very highest pitch.
"And now," said the stranger, "as the night is warm, and ladies never
care to hear anything about business, I propose, Mr. Toodleburg, that we
retire to the porch. You can enjoy your pipe, there; and, if you will
permit me, I will enjoy a cigar. Our friend, here--he will permit me to
call him so--will join us."
The three now proceeded to the porch; where, when they had become
seated, the stranger discovered the object of his visit. "I have been
informed on good authority," said Mr. Topman, "that you possess the
secret of where Kidd's treasure is buried--"
"Vel, vel, vel!" exclaimed Hanz, raising his hands in astonishment; "if
dat ish'nt so pig a lie as ever vas told. No, mine friend, I knows
nothin' apout dis Mr. Kidd, nor his money. Dis one big lie de peoples
pout here gits up, as has nothin' petter to do."
"It's somewhat singular," said Chapman, fixing his keen black eyes on
the stranger, "it was that that brought me here to-night. Mr.
Toodleburg may be innocent of all knowledge of Mr. Kidd, as he says. But
the people sincerely believe that he does, and that he possesses the
secret of where his treasure is buried. The belief is just as good as
the reality, and may be made equally profitable."
"Exactly," interposed Mr. Topman, "exactly! Just what I was going to
suggest." Here Mr. Topman put his thumbs in the arms of his waistcoat,
and drummed on the front with his fingers. "If these honest people
believe Mr. Toodleburg knows where the money is buried, why, sir,
there's your solid basis for a grand joint stock company, dividends
twenty per cent., payable quarterly. That's what takes. God bless me,
Mr. Toodleburg, here's a fortune in your fingers. Capable heads, sir,
and capable hands. There's all, sir, that is required to give the thing
popularity and insure its success." Mr. Topman paused for a moment,
threw himself back in his chair, and cast a patronizing glance at Hanz.
"Progressive idea, sir. Grand Kidd Discovery Company. Capital one
hundred thousand dollars, all paid in. The man fortunate enough to get
twenty shares is sure to make a fortune."
"Den if he pe so grand, why you don't make all de fortune, and keep him
yourshelf?" said Hanz, rubbing his head and dropping his pipe.
"Having the secret," resumed Mr. Topman, blandly, "of course you are
indispensable to the success of the enterprise. Think of it, sleep over
it, and I am sure, sir, you will wake up in the morning resolved to
place yourself in the hands of Topman and Gusher." Mr. Topman made
another pause, and threw his hands over his head. "No matter whether you
have the secret or not. Stick to it that you have; and refer your men
to Topman and Gusher."
Again Hanz shook his head, and smoked his pipe thoughtfully. The whole
thing was new and strange to him. Never in his life before had anything
taken him by such surprise. He had enough to carry him through the world
comfortably, and something to give his poor neighbors when they stood in
need. Why should he trouble his head about Mr. Kidd. He did not know
where a dollar of his money was buried.
"Mine friends," said Hanz, "I likes you poth. And I thanks you, and ish
much opliged to you for dis offer to makes my fortune. But, what I do
mit sho much moneys, eh? My neighbors all say 'Hanz Toodleburg steals
him,' Maybe I gits prout mit him. Den everypody says Hanz Toodleburg
gits apove his pisness. Mit a fortune perhaps t'tivel gits into mine
head. Der ish nopody now put me und mine Angeline--"
"There's your son, Mr. Toodleburg," interposed Chapman, who until now
had remained almost passive. "You ought to regard him above everything
else, you ought. I feel a deep interest in that young man, you know. If
you could have a fortune for him when he comes home--well, that would be
the making of him."
"Shure enough, dere ish mine poor poy, Tite. He ish such a goot poy. It
most preaks his muder's heart to have him go dis long voyages," said
Hanz, taking the pipe from his lips, as his eyes filled with tears. "If
I only could have a fortune und de little farm for mine poor Tite when
he gits home."
"Give us your hand, sir," said Mr. Topman. "You talk now like a man, and
a father. I'm a father, sir, and know how to feel for you. Had a son at
sea four years. Gave him a fortune when he came home. A most
enterprising and highly respected merchant now. Has ships at sea, rides
in his carriage, and a balance in his bank." The thought of providing a
future for Tite was more than Hanz could resist, and his unsuspecting
nature yielded to the temptation.
"And now," said Mr. Topman, rising from his chair, "if Mr. Toodleburg
will sign these papers--they merely set forth that he possesses and will
confide to the house of Topman and Gusher, their heirs or assigns, the
secret of where Kidd's treasure is buried, and that he shall have a
tenth interest in all the profits. A sure gain and no risk, you know."
The three gentlemen now returned to the little room. Topman handed
Chapman the paper, and requested that he would read it, which that
gentleman affected to do.
"Perfectly straightforward and correct," said Chapman; "perfectly! I am
sure you are very kind to these people, and I wish the great Kidd
Discovery Company every success."
Angeline brought the little old ink-bottle, and Hanz, with feelings of
hesitation, it must be confessed, signed the papers, when the visitors
retired for the night.