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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1904)
Jtily 24. 1004. THE ILLUSTRATED BEE.. 13 a thing he could not understand Pay after day ha tried to voire the problem, and llttlo by little he formed the conclu sion that O'Keefe had been overrated and that be had been a spendthrift. Gold dust from the Klondike trail is alluring; In the minds of the populace each grata become magnified Into a nugget Thin, doubtless. Is the way It wo with Billing ton O'Keefe. lie bad made a respectable strike: he had come. back; the people had bowed down before him, and he wit compelled to keep up a reputation made In such a dazsllng manner. All hla life he had been without money, and now that he had made a strike, doubtless he had not realised the value of It; it had run through Ms fingers' like -rater and now it was all gone, per ha pa before he realised It. It la but the way of the world In cracking open thla safe and In e arch ing through It, Constitutional Bra 1th had done two things, each of which seemed at first of trivial importance. The first was that be had, In hts excite ment, Jabbed bis Index finger with the drift and caused a slight wound, which bled. He bound It up with bis handkerchief. It Taa while he was examining the signatures of Blllington O'Keefe, with a view of raw ing checks and signing documents cf vari ous kinds, that It suddenly occurred to h'm that this small hurt was a dispensation of ( Providence. Allowances axe made by banks and other concerns for the signature of a man who bad hurt hla hand. And. though Smith concluded that he could make a dab at the bold, plain signature of Blllington O'Keefe notwithstanding the fact that a bold, plain signature is the hardest kind to copy he calculated that a teller, seeing the rag upon his finger and noting the slight difference In the signature, would attribute It to natural and reasonable causes rather than to the actual and existing cause. This was satisfactory; and if one wears a rag about one's finger, it Is Just as well to have a wound behind to show In case of neces sity. Smith had one. The other thing that ho had done was to discover among the private papers of Mr. Blllington O'Keefe the pnotograph of a young and very beautiful girl. It was ap parently a recent photograph, and bore the name of a Monroe photographer. On the back of It, In a hand which seemed to be old and tremulous rather than young and girlish, was written In black ink the name of "Margaret Robeson." Few women's faces had ever appealed to Constitutional Smith; few women, fortu nately for him, had ever appealed to him. He was not a woman's man, although he could be If he chose. But there was something in the face of thla young girl that -gave him pause; he gased at It for some time. .' "By George, said Constitutional Smith to himself, "that's the face of a Queen amongst women. I wonder what the old vuc.k, O'Keefe, Is doln' with this picture; I wonder now." The next day Constitutional Smith started in In dead earnest. He was no longer Constitutional Smith. Ue became Blllington O'Keefe. There were two things that aided Him immensely. One, as has been said was the fact that he had made extensive and exhaustive preparation. The other was that he was completely at his ease. He understood one thing perfectly. He knew he was bound to make mistakes, hut he knew, also, that to people whose suspicions are not aroused even huge discrepancies seem immaterial. They are unnoticed He knew that " as Blllington O'Keefe, the reputed millionaire, but little that he did would be questioned, and mistakes would bo set down to eccentricity or forgetful ness. One thing he had to do, and It was the only thing that worried him, though ho assumed that lie could raise the money for the purpose. He owed I1.UU0 cold hard cash to the two young toughs who had done his dirty work. He had less than tl.OOO to pay them with. And if be didn't ;u- them thai was a situation for which he was somewhat unprepared But he -a--s satisfied that in the end he could ar range It to his satisfaction and to theirs. ;ia discharged his servants, one by one. He did this at once. He knew that la doing it at any early date be would be unquestioned and he made some excuse to each of them. They went. It mattered little to thera; they were sure of good positions elsewhere. He employed new servants, but only half as many. He folt he must economize. In due time he went to the bank, drew a check in the sight of the teller after six hours' study In the den and preseutad It for payment. The teller merely glanced at it. "Li; tie shaky this morning, Mr. O'Keefe," be milled. Vot answer Smith held up bis maimed flnrer. "I see." said the teller, "and too bad at that. Tture you are, rlr." He received the money, then spent soma time about town, rhaltad with suveral fanil'.-r acquaintances and returned to his hc.m-. Cove " J letters awaited blra mostly bills, for it was around tha first of the minth. There was cr.e chck a very small divi dend upon a railroad stock. In addition to theie there was another letter, addressed In a feminine hand ITe tore this tetter cpea and read its con tents. They were as follows: "My Dear Mr. O'Keefe: Tou are such a very active man and seem to enjny doing favors bo very much that I am going to ask you to stop In at the library and fcrrng to me the next time you happen out this way the new book. The Chilled Soul. Peggy, who usually does these little favors for me. Is not very well. She asks me, by the way, my dear Mr. O'Keefe, to beg your pardon for her rudeness of the other night. The poor, dear child is not altogether well, and her head was splitting. I think yon understand her, and understand that she has a deep, very deep, regard for you, and that she meant nothing by an outburst caused only by a slight indisposition. Both she and I, my dear Mr. O'Keefe, wel come your visits and anticipate them with pleasure. I shall post this with my own hand In the box at the corner. I remain, my dear Mr. 0Kofe, very sincerely yours, "PATRICIA JELLIFFE ROBESON. The letter contained at Its head an enam elled crest a family coat of arms and was addressed from 17 Souther ton avenue. Mon roe. Smith folded the letter and put It In his pocket. "Great Scott!" he exclaimed to himself, "now I am getting Into It for fair and with the women, too. And worse luck, I s'poee It's a summons. I spoee rtl have to go. Gee, but this man O'Keefe is tangled up." Now It must not be Imagined that Con stitutional Smith Invariably used this un conventional language. It has been said that he was a consummate swindler. He was, and he was a consummate actor. He was a gentleman among gentlemen, a man's man among all men, a woman's man among women. And he played well the psrt that he assumed. On thla particular day Mr. Smith becamcS hopelessly involved and yet not unprofit ably or unpleasantly either. Not half an hour later than his perusal of the missive from Patricia J. Robeson he was blessed with a feminine caller. She was ushered Into the drawing room below ' and her presence was Immediately an nounced She was Mr. Charles J. Hallo welt Smith warily descended the stairs and entered the room. He was nearly taken off his feet A plump, medlum-aised woman, with dimples In her cheeks, rushed for him end held out her hand. 'you man!" she exclaimed vivaciously, "you were to come to see me last night about those bonds. And you never, never came. To think too that you would dis appoint me so." Constitutional Smith had some difficulty In maintaining his equilibrium. But he did it. He motioned his visitor to a seat near the window. Then he warily seated himself at a prudent distance. . "I'll tell you," he began easily, "I couldn't come around to see you and for a good reason. I was laid up." His visitor assumed an expression of deep concern. "Laid up," she said in a commiserating tone; "you poor man. Too bad Was it serious?" she added. "It was not serious," returned Smith, "but very painful. It was my finger. I smashed it, as you see." He held up the bandaged member. "I was compelled to sit up until an early hour this morning," he continued, truthfully; "finally, however, I sank Into a peaceful slumber. It feels much better now." Mrs. Charles . J. Hallowell was effusive and. effective. She took Constitutional Smith by storm, and much against his will. "And now," she said Anally, "about those bonds. I brought a check around Tou know I rely entirely upon your advice. Tou are sure they are good bonds T" Constitutional shook bis head Impres sively. VI don't know of any better,'.' he assured her. She drew a long sigh. "Dear me," she aid looking down at the floor, "I must rely upon some one. It Is so hard for me. I was always used to relying upon Hal lowell. His advioe was so good when I had him to advise me. Constitutional for an Instant had forgot ten the name of his fair visitor. He was a Lit flustered "Hallowell!" he exclaimed "I should think so. His advioe Is always good he never makes a mistake.' "But but," returned his visitor, "you you never knew him." Smith waved his hand " Of course not," he replied " but I knew hint well from from what you say alxr.t him. And I know that his advioe is good" "Ever since his death." said she, "I have missed him so much. I have no one to ad visa me to to " Smith realised now that he was talking to a widow a widow who had retained her husband's name upon her cards. A widow who would prefer, apparetftsy, to change her status. "These bonds, though," he hastily ob served, "I think even Hallowell himself would have recommended." Mrs. Hallowell, however, would not let him off so easily. She plunged Into the discussion of a host of personal matter, related all the scandal that she knew, looked Into the eyes of Mr. Smith as occa sion required, laid a plumx arm upon the table to the best advantage whenever it was neewnsary, and did every other act, matter and thing necerary In the prem ises. Constitutional Smith trembled Finally, however, she looked at fhe deck. Then she sprang to her feot. "Dear me, dear me," she exclaimed con tritely, "I have kept you too long. These business matters do take up such a long time. I must go, really." She held out a small gloved hand. Con stitutional held out his. She squeeied It gently. "Oood-bye," she repeated "I must go." Constitutional sti'l held her hand. She blushed as she recognised the fact. But he had an ulterior motive. "You you" spoke about a a check," he suggested politely. "Dear me, how forgetful," she protected. She hastily opened a small letter bag and took from It a long crisp piece of paper. She handed it to Constitutional Smith. He seized It gently, but firmly. "I'm so forgetful," she concluded once more ho!d!ng out her hand to be squeesed. But he did not squeeze It this time. There was no necessity. He had the check. "Shall I send the bonds to your ha asked. "Tou keep them," she answered. "Tou have a safe and you can keep them for ma That will be best" She smiled sweetly and lingerlngly upon him and dis appeared. Constitutional Smith stood la the doorway until she had gone. Then he went back Into the room and looked at the check. Then ho threw himself Into a chair and kicked up his heels for very Joy. "Saved!" he cried. "Saved, and in the nick of time." The check was a check upon the Monroe National bank, to the order of Blllington O'Keefe, signed by Alice Hallowell. It was for the sum of fi.000. It was intended for the purchase of bonds. Mr. Smith ' was, to some extent, held in bondage. There were bonds about him. These were held by No. 399 and No. 400. These bonds It was highly Important , that he should purchase. "I don't know of any better Investment." he continued to himself, "there's none bet ter In the world. Nor safer either," he added, sotto voce. , Forthwith he puld four thousand of the five to the two young toughs. There still remained a thousand. "Every broker,"1 commented Mr. Smith, "Is entitled to his earned commission. I am no exception to the rule." , The other thousand, therefore, he appro priated to himself. "A widow," said Con stitutional Smith, "Is sometimes a blamed good thing to have around." He whistled to himself for a short space Of time. Then he sadly shook his head. "I rather Imagine," he remarked, sol emnly, "Judging from the picture and the letter, and the widow, that our mutual friend Blllington O'Keefe is somewhat mat rimonially inclined" CHAPTER V. John Lorlmer, the Chemist. In the city of Monroe, on Main street, between Fifth and SUth, there stood a little one-story building with a peaked roof a sort of superannuated affair set in the midst of much taller structures. Over -the door of this building there hung a sign on which appeared the words; "John Lorlmer, Consulting Chemist" It seemed to be a quaint, old-fashioned place. In the small window that faced the street ranged rows of Jars, filled and half filled with liquids, solids and amorphous substances, as a port ,of evidence of good faith. That shop is there no longer. It was there so long only for the reason that it was a part of an entailed estate. The life tenant Is now dead and the remainderman, keeping march with the time, has built a substantial building upon the site. Rut John Lorlmer, consult ing chemist, did not wait for the little building to be torn down; he moved from there some time before the Happening of that event He Is, nevertheless, still in the land of the living. A consulting chemist Is one who is con sulted; he la one who gives advice. Any chemist whose training has been of the best, whose knowledge Is large and gen eral, is a consulting chemist Consulting chemists, however, In this country usually occupy offices In some huge skyscraper; they assume the appearances, as far as their surroundings go, of lawyers, brokers and other business men. The consulting chemist does not keep a shop; the druggist does that for him. But John Lorlmer did keep a shop, for all that he was a consulting chemist. And for all that he kept a shop, he was, never theless. In sooth, a consulting chemist. He had been consulted, now and then. Just enough to keep him going. And he under stood his business, too. And his chemicals were good, and he had them In variety. He did not do ft drug store business, but he was patronized by a few who appreciate the quality of his warea And when the physicians of the town desired to mix some important and elaborate prescription they went to Lorlmer for their drugs, or told their druggists to. The Inside of the shop half office and half salesroom It was was quite as quaint and old-fashioned as was the outside. There was evidence of up-to-date business mefh ods, combined with an ah of comfort. One entering this shop, Judging from its exterior and interior, would expect to find in the chemist an old, shriveled specimen of mankind, and sharp eyes peerlnj over the rims of green or clouded spectaoleaj .There was no such chemlft there. John Ijorlmnr, Consulting Chemist, was S young and buslneavllke individual of some 25 years. He woro no spectacles. Ills eyea were Jnt-t sharp and shrewd enough to make him Interesting without spoiling his at tractiveness. Ills nose was prominent and hla'chln was good. He had plenty of back, to his head. He had the rlr.r eye and the healthy complexion neither white nor pin' of a young man who takes care of him self. There was a charm about him that was due to the fact that he was Just a bit different from the ordinary run of men. He parted his hair far down upon one side, and it fell over far down upon the other side, diagonally across Ms forehead. Tli!s made him look something like the dnguer rotypes of long ago. And he did carry out to some extent In his manner and appen:' ance the qualntness of his shop. He wits well built as young men go, and he wore a smooth face. Lorlmer was a chemist for many rea sons. The chiefest of these, was heredif. His father and grandfather before !.! ti had been chemists, and he had been born and brought up In an atmosphere of chert -istry. Ills grandfather. In an age vvh- n the drug store was unknown, . had mnl- money; his father, who has lived upon his father's money, kept up the old li n -Itess after a fashion, but had not puahod At his death Lorlmer found out that the money was all gone, while tho business Mas practically nil. Fortunately for Lorl mer or unfortunately. It was hard to tell which during his father's life he had been well instructed in, not one, but two, of the completest courses of chemistry In tha world. He wus a chemist through and through. But what of It, after all. To be a good chemist Is one thing. To get patronage and business in this world Is quite an other. In all professions, nil trades, thera is but one ability, it seems at times, that counts that in the ability to get the bust, neas. If a man can get business and con trol business he can hire experts a-pleaty to transact it' for. him experts who cannot get business of themselves. (To be continued.) CR0S8 4 Full (Juate IV HIS KEY 83.09 Express charges prepaid. 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