E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ I forgot that your husband was connected with his company.”
“You two are not friends?”
“We are bitter enemies,” Wingate confessed, “and shall be till one of us goes down. In more primitive days we should have gone for one another's throats. One would have lived and the other died.”
Josephine shivered.
“Don't,” she implored. “You sound too much in earnest.”
“I am in earnest about that man,” he replied gravely. “I beg you, Lady Dredlinton, as I hope to call myself your friend, not to trust him.” ”

“ I shall hate Peter Phipps as long as I live for the sake of the girl he ruined, and he will hate me because of the thrashing I gave him. Ever noticed the scar on his right cheek, Kendrick?”
“Often,” the stockbroker replied. “He told me that it was done in a saloon fight out in the Far West.”
“I did it in the Far East,” Wingate declared grimly, “as far east, at least, as the drawing-room of his Fifth Avenue house. He'll never lose that scar. He'll never lose his hatred of the man who gave it to him. So he wants me to sell him wheat!” ”

“ His closly trimmed sandy mustache was streaked with gray; his eyes were a little bloodshot; he had the shrinking manner of one who suffers from habitual nervousness. Josephine, after her first start of surprise, watched him with coldly questioning eyes.
“I hope you have dined, Henry,” she said. “A waiter rang up from somewhere to say you would not be home.”
“A message which I do not doubt left you inconsolable,” he observed, with a little curl of his lips. “Do not distress yourself, I pray. I have dined at the club, and I have only come home to change. I am on my way to a party. ”

“ Wingate, who had succeeded in opening the windows, came over and shook hands.
“How are you, Andrew?” he said. “What on earth's got you that you choose to live in an atmosphere like this?”
Slate, who had recovered from his surprise, slipped dejectedly back into his place. Wingate had established himself upon the only remaining chair.
“I've had lung-trouble over here,” Slate explained. “This heavy atmosphere plays the devil with one's breathing. I guess you're right about the windows, though. How did you find me out?”
“Telephone directory, aided by my natural intelligence,” Wingate replied. ”

“ Kendrick pronounced. “Why she married Dredlinton is one of the mysteries of the world. He is rotten to the core. He's such a wrong 'un, to tell you the truth, that I'm surprised Phipps put him on the board. His name is long past doing anyone any good.”
“Lady Dredlinton did not strike me as having altogether the air of an unhappy woman,” Wingate observed tentatively.
Kendrick shrugged his shoulders.
“No fundamentally good woman is ever unhappy,” he said or, rather, never shows it. But the people who know her best never cease to feel sorry for her.” ”

“ Maurice White asked, with interest.
“Yes; his name?” Sarah demanded. “I love American millionaires who do things in Wall Street and fight with billions. If he's really nice, he may take me off your hands, Jimmy.”
“I'd like to see him try,” that young man growled, with unexpected fierceness.
“Well, his name is John Philip Wingate,” Kendrick told them. “He started life, I believe, as a journalist. Then he inherited a fortune and made another one on Wall Street, where I imagine he came across Dreadnought Phipps. ”

“ It was a moment which no one, perhaps, except those two themselves realized.
“It is a great pleasure to meet Lady Dredlinton,” Wingate said. “I hope that Miss Baldwin's remark will not prejudice me in your opinion. I am really not such a frivolous person.”
“Even if you were,” she rejoined, sinking into the chair which had been brought for her, “a little frivolity from men nowadays is rather in order, isn't it?”
“It's all very well for those who can afford to indulge in it,” Kendrick grumbled. “We can't earn our bread and butter now on the Stock Exchange.” ”

“ Your servant—admirable fellow, that—absolutely forced them upon us—wouldn't take 'no.' And, indeed, why should we refuse? We have come to offer you rivers of champagne, cigars of abnormal length, and the lips of the fairest houris in London. In other words, Sir Frederick Houstley, steel magnate of Sheffield, is giving a supper-party to the world, and our instructions are to convey you there by force or persuasion, drunk or sober.”
“I accept your cordial invitation,” Wingate said, mixing himself a whisky and soda. “At what time does the fight begin?” ”

“ Wingate asked. “There's nothing except your name on the board down-stairs.”
Slate nodded.
“I'm the only one in the building,” he said, “who isn't either a theatrical agent or a bookmaker. I've got just a small connection among the riffraff as a man who can be trusted to collect the necessary evidence in a divorce case, especially if there's a little collusion, or find a few false witnesses to help a thief with an alibi. Once or twice, I have even gone so far as to introduce a receiver to a thief.”
“Hm,” Wingate observed. “You see all sorts of life.” ”

“ Peter Phipps was a man whose life had been spent in facing and overcoming difficulties, but, as he took the chair to which Josephine had somewhat ungraciously pointed, he was compelled to admit to himself that he was confronted with a task which might well tax his astuteness to the utmost. ”

“ Josephine, who had been standing up for the last few moments, touched the bell.
“You will keep your rivalry for the City, I trust,” she said.
It was just then that Phipps surprised a little glance flashed from Josephine to Wingate. He seemed suddenly to increase in size, to become more menacing, portentous. There was thunder upon his forehead. At that moment, the butler opened the door and Josephine held out her hand.
“It was very kind of you to call, Mr. Phipps. I will think over all that you have said, and discuss it—with my husband.” ”

“ I hope things are better in your country, Mr. Wingate, but our young people go on anyhow now. Here's my niece drives a taxi-cab and is proud of it; my own daughter designs under-clothes and sells them at a shop in Sloane Street to anyone who comes along, and my boy, who ought to go into the Guards, prefers to go into Roger Kendrick's office. ”

“ Peter Phipps, who knew men through and through, and had also a profound acquaintance with women of a certain class, was face to face, for once, with a type of which he knew little. The woman who could refuse his millions, offered in such a manner, could have no real existence for him. ”

“ Mr. Wingate's taste in women is of a very—superior order. Doesn't care about your sort at all. He likes saints. That's right, isn't it, Wingate?”
“You seem to know,” was the cool reply.
“Not 't tall sure.” Dredlinton went on, balancing himself with difficulty, “that your new conquest would altogether approve of this, you know, Wingate. Let me tell you that Flossie is a very dangerous young lady—not your sort at all, Wingate. We know your sort, don't we, eh?”
Wingate remained contemptuously silent. Kendrick rose from his place and laid his hand on Dredlinton's shoulder. ”

“ Roger Kendrick nodded. Everyone on the Stock Exchange was interested in B. & I.'s, and he settled himself down comfortably to hear what his companion had to say on the matter.
“There's old Dreadnought Phipps,” White continued; “Peter Phipps, to give him his right name. Well, has ever a man who aspires to be considered a financial giant had such a career? He was broken on the New York Exchange, went to Montreal and made a million or so, back to New York, where he got in with the copper lot, and no doubt made real money. Then he went for that wheat corner in Chicago. ”

“ Wingate, that you have been away from London quite a long time. You are not in the least in touch with us. On the Stock Exchange they do little nowadays, I am told, but invent stories which the members can only tell to other men's wives, and up in the West we do little else except talk finance. The money we used to lose at auction bridge now all goes to our brokers. We worry the lives of our men friends by continually craving for tips. ”

“ Kendrick inquired.
“Well, there's young Stanley Rees, Phipps' nephew, who came in for three hundred thousand pounds a few years ago,” Maurice White answered; “old Skinflint Martin, who may be worth half a million, but certainly not more, and Dredlinton. Dredlinton's a rabbit, of course. He hasn't got a bob. There's money enough among the rest for any ordinary business undertaking, if only one could understand what the mischief they were up to. They can't corner wheat in this country.” ”

“ I was brought into Étaples. It wasn't much of a wound, but it was painful. I remember seeing you in that white-stone hall, in your cool Sister's dress. After the dust and horror of battle, there seemed to be nothing in that wonderful hospital of yours but sunlight and white walls and soft voices. ”

“ Josephine, Countess of Dredlinton
“My attitude toward the company in question is certainly an unfriendly one,” Wingate admitted. “I hate all speculations the basis of which is utterly selfish. Dealing in foodstuffs is one of them. But, Miss Baldwin,” he went on, turning toward her, “why do we talk finance on such a wonderful afternoon? I really came over from the States to get an occasional cocktail, order some new clothes, and see some plays. ”

“ Kendrick shook his head.
“You stick to the tips your clients slip into your hand, my dear young lady,” he advised, “and don't dabble in what you don't understand. The Stock Exchange is a den of thieves.”
Miss Sarah Baldwin made a little grimace.
“My clients are such a mean lot,” she complained. “Now that they have got over the novelty of being driven in a taxi-cab by a woman, they are positively stingy. What is it that you're going to advise your clients to leave alone, please, Mr. White?” ”

“ Dredlinton replied, shaking himself free from Kendrick's grasp. “Want to keep my head clear. Big deal, this! May reestablish the fortunes of a fallen family. Gad, it's a night for all you outsiders to remember, this!” he went on, glancing insolently round the table. “Don't often have the chance of seeing a nobleman selling his household treasures. Come on, Wingate; Phipps is shy about starting. Let's have your bid. What about ten thou, eh?”
Wingate came slowly round the table. Dredlinton watched him drawing nearer and nearer. ”

“ Maurice White exclaimed.
“Dog yourself!” was the prompt retort. “Opportunity is a fine thing. Sometimes I have a gruesome fear that Sarah does not altogether trust me.”
Kendrick, who had been straightening his tie before the glass, now swung round.
“This way to the lift, boys,” he said. “Time we put in an appearance.”
The reception-room of the Arcadian suite was already fairly well crowded. Wingate shook hands with his host, a cheery, theatrical-loving soul, and was presented to many other people. ”

“ Kendrick announced. “We sally forth from here to the Arcadian Rooms, situated in this building. Afterward, we make merry. John, my boy,” he went on, “you have the air of a man who has drunk deep already to-night of the waters of happiness. Exactly where did you dine?”
“In Utopia,” Wingate answered. “According to you, I am to sup in fairy-land.”
“But breakfast,” the Honourable Jimmy put in. “A man ought to be dashed careful where he breakfasts. A man is known by his breakfast companions—what?”
“Young fellow,” Wingate asked, “where is Sarah?” ”

“ I'll give you a check for fifty thousand pounds. Don't ring me up unless you want more margin.”
The stockbroker's eves glistened as he looked through the list.
“You're a good judge, Wingate,” he said. “You'll make money on most of these.”
“I expect I shall,” Wingate acknowledged. “Anyhow, it will keep you people busy and serve as a sort of visiting-card here for me until——”
“Until what?” Kendrick asked, breaking a short pause.
“Until I can make up my mind how to deal with those fellows. On paper, it still looks a good thing to sell them wheat, you know. ”

“ I am a very hard-hearted woman, I suppose, but I don't believe I should lift up my little finger to save Henry from prison. Besides, I hate the British & Imperial Granaries.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I hate the principle of gambling in commodities that are necessary for the poor,” she answered,
“Tell me,” he asked, a little abruptly, “if I started a crusade against the British & Imperial outside the Stock Exchange altogether, if I embarked in a crude and illegal scheme to break it up, would you help me?” ”

“ Jimmy won't be ready for hours yet, and I want to get home.”
Wingate rose at once, made his adieus, and accompanied Sarah to the door, followed by a reproachful glance from Flossie. The former took his arm and held it tightly
“I think that you are the dearest man I ever knew, Mr. Wingate,” she said, “just as I think that Josephine is the dearest woman, and I hope more than anything in the world—well, you know what I hope.”
“I think I do,” Wingate replied. “Thank you.”
No living author tells a story in better and more lively fashion than does Mr. Oppenheim. ”

“ Peter Phipps has something up his sleeve for me, though. I've got to try and find out what it is.”
“You'll excuse me for a moment?” Kendrick begged. “I'm only a human being, and I can't hold a couple of million pounds' worth of business in my hand and not set it going. I'll be back directly.”
“Don't hurry on my account,” Wingate replied. “I'm going to use your telephone, if I may.”
“Of course! You have a private line there. The others will be all buzzing away in a minute. What about lunch?”
“To-morrow, one o'clock, at the Milan,” Wingate appointed. “I'm busy to-day.” ”

“ Wingate explained: “I've got a job for you. You can't do it like that. Walk to the door, will you?”
“I know you're going to look at my boots,” Slate declared, as he rose unwillingly and obeyed.
“You've got it in one,” Wingate acquiesced. “You're a smart fellow still, Slate, I see. Now, listen: You can't do my job like that. Here's twenty pounds on account. I'm going to stroll round to the Milan grill-room. I shall expect you there in half an hour for luncheon.”
Slate took the money and reached for his hat.
“Come along, then. You take the lift down. I'll go by the stairs. ”