or his bunch of gas
papers. The emissary returned bringing the fur overcoat with which
Addicks always envelops himself in chilly weather. Addicks searched the
pockets, and, apparently to his surprise, discovered that they did not
contain the required documents, but where they should have been he found
a small bale of 1,000-dollar government bonds, containing, one of the
party said afterward, at least one hundred certificates. "How careless
of my secretary!" said Addicks, nonchalantly replacing the packet in the
pocket and motioning the waiter to take the overcoat away again.

It was, of course, due to the admirable work of his advance agent that
these Monte Cristo effects impressed the cultured little set who would
have laughed to scorn such a display on the part of one of their own
kind. In Addicks it was the dazzling eccentricity of the wonder-worker,
and so excusable; and the free, flash, careless exhibit of wealth made
the man's conversation and subsequent demands seem natural. Next
morning, in discussing the work of the previous evening with his
lieutenant, Addicks delivered himself of the wise remark: "Finance, my
boy, like theatricals, is dependent for success on the staging, more
even than on the actor. My experience has shown me that men the world
over are alike--if you properly surround them, they will hiss at hissing
time and clap at applauding time; yes, upon the way you stage your
finance plays depends their success." The fact is that by no other
method could this scenic artist of finance have set his plans moving so
rapidly. The man had calculated to a nicety on the romantic cupidity he
aroused.

After dinner, Addicks at once "got down to business": "Gentlemen, my
project is as simple as it is feasible and conservative, for I will
touch nothing but conservative enterprises. Gentlemen, you have three
great gas companies supplying this great city with light, the Boston,
Roxbury, and South Boston. They are worth at the present time about five
million dollars. I am going to buy them and spend three or four millions
more on a new company; then I shall consolidate the four and turn them
from coal into water-gas companies, which will sell gas to your people
at less than they now pay, and at the same time make a lot of money for
you and for myself. What do you say?"

This was certainly quick action. Boston's best was breathless for a
minute. Then some one suggested that in so weighty a matter it would be
necess