The Wedge of Gold

  CHAPTER XV.

  SINISTER SUCCESSES.

  When the old men, Jenvie and Hamlin, reached their homes that evening andlearned what had transpired during the day, they were dumfounded. Hardlytasting any dinner, Hamlin arose from the table and sought the house ofJenvie. He met Jenvie at the door who was just going out to find Hamlin.They went at once to Jenvie's library, and when Jenvie motioned Hamlin toa seat and took another himself, it was a long time before either spoke.

  At last Hamlin said: "A bad business, Jenvie."

  "I do not see how it could be worse," was the reply.

  "I am too confused to think," said Hamlin.

  "We got Jack's money from him, and yet he and Rose are married, and itseems with Rose's mother's full consent," said Jenvie.

  "And a stranger of whom we know almost nothing has married Grace and lefther at the church door, and it was with her mother's full consent, also,"said Hamlin.

  "And neither you nor myself is in a position to complain; I have not thecourage to even storm about it," said Jenvie.

  "Nor have I," responded Hamlin. "I did not intend to keep Jack's money. Iwanted to break off his engagement, and then offer him a little fortuneif he would marry Grace."

  "I was determined that he should not marry Rose, even if I had to rob himto prevent it. Curses on him! He knocked me senseless while he was yet amere boy. And now he has given me a harder blow. He has stolen Rose fromunder my spectacles, married her, pauper that he is, and gone tohousekeeping."

  "What shall we do?" asked Hamlin.

  "Look here," said Jenvie, "this move is that American's who has marriedyour daughter. He is more subtle than Jack. He has engineered thisbusiness. But I cannot fathom it. Why should he have left his brideat the church door and gone off to America?"

  "I think I can understand that," said Hamlin. "While Jack has made hisL100,000, Sedgwick made a little more than L20,000. He left that with hisfather to buy a farm in the States, and came with Jack merely as a lark.

  "I think he has gone for as much of that as may be left, and that beforea month he will return, and will back Jack in a suit to recover from usJack's money."

  "Why, what can they hope to recover by a suit?" asked Jenvie. "If miningstocks are offered to a man and he buys them, and they do not turn outwell, whose loss ought it to be? Then we sold nothing. It was Stetson whodid the business."

  "But," said Hamlin, "if a man is induced by false representations to buywild-cat shares, and he seeks recourse through our English courts, willhe not recover?"

  "I made no special representations," said Jenvie.

  "That will not answer," said Hamlin. "You made enough representations;so did I. It was a direct swindle, and I did my part intending to makerestitution. This business has practically destroyed the peace of our ownhomes. My wife never gave me a look of thorough contempt until to-day."

  "Neither did mine," said Jenvie. Then there was a long silence.

  At last Jenvie said: "Hamlin, there is but one thing to do. We must goto Jack to-morrow, good-naturedly chide him and Rose for being marriedwithout our knowledge, each carry a present, and as soon as possiblesettle with Jack, and get his receipt in full, before the return of thatAmerican devil that tumbles bulls, and might trip two old John Bulls likeyou and me."

  "I agree to that," Hamlin responded. "We can tell him that bad news fromthe mine has decided us not to go on with the mill building; that we willhelp bear the loss of the first investment, and tender him back L25,000.He will not only be glad to settle with us for that, but will feelgrateful to us."

  So it was agreed that they should go at noon of the succeeding day.

  They each next morning purchased a valuable present, and repaired toJack's house.

  They were shown in, and their cards sent to Browning.

  The servant returned in a moment and said: "Mr. Browning is engaged, anddeclines seeing the gentlemen."

  They went out incensed, but with such a mixed feeling of anger, chagrin,self-abasement, and apprehension as they had never experienced before.

  A day or two later Hamlin met Mrs. Browning face to face on the street.He rushed up to her with a joyful cry of "O Rose!" whereupon she drew herskirts around her so that they would not touch him, and walked by.

  Not long after, Jenvie met Browning and addressed him joyously. Jacklooked him steadily in the face for a moment and then walked on.

  These were unhappy days for the old men. Something had fallen on theirhomes worse than a funeral, and in their souls the fear of the coming ofSedgwick became a perpetual haunting specter before their eyes. Stetsonjoined in their apprehensions, and then he realized besides that if hehad ruined Jack, still Jack had married Rose.

  But as the days grew into weeks, they began to have hope. They made twoor three investments that gave them quick returns and large profits.Success begets confidence. The men on change began to look upon them asrising bankers; deposits increased heavily, and so many enterprises wereoffered them to promote, that, without using a dollar of their own means,their commissions began to be enormous.

  "We are on the rising tide," said Jenvie.

  "Indeed we are," said Hamlin. "If the suit comes now, we can settlewithout any business or domestic scandal."

  "It is nothing to make money when a man oncegets a start," said Jenvie, "but I would be glad to befully reconciled with my wife and child."