Edgar Wallace

“ Pinlow and his friends have got your father in a nice mess.”
“My father?” she asked in alarm.
“Your father,” he repeated grimly.
“But how?”
“Speculation,” said Brian. “He’s been investing in a pretty unholy mining share. Pinlow is in it. It wasn’t a big rig; Pinlow had a respectable parcel to unload, and he unloaded them upon your innocent parent.”
“But what does that mean?”
“It means that unless a miracle happens your father will lose more money than it is good for any man to lose. I went to him yesterday to persuade him to sell. ”

“ To the man who can hold, and afford to hold, Beitjesfonteins, they are not a bad investment, always providing one can get rid of the present board. I am willing to buy your father’s interest at the price he paid. If I go into the market to buy them, I shall probably be getting Pinlow’s and his ‘precious friends’. As the stock stands to-day, and with the information I have about your father’s holdings, I should say that he stands to lose about forty-five thousand pounds. ”

“ I am sure that man has an evil influence——”
A look of amazement on his face stopped her. For a moment she looked around to see what had caused it, then blushed scarlet as she remembered.
“You said you were engaged to Pinlow,” he said slowly.
She was a picture of pretty confusion as she stood there twisting her handkerchief in her hand.
“I—I am not exactly engaged,” she faltered. “He has asked father, and I have said I would sooner marry a—a sweep, and father was very annoyed—and I loathe Lord Pinlow——”
“I see,” said Brian wisely. “You hate Pinlow like the dickens, and you’ll never marry him ”