in my position to cultivate a
taste for that which is so far beyond his means. I am glad to be able to
say to you, sir, that my tastes are simple and my wants few. I have
never been on board a yacht, nor have I ever ridden behind what you call
a trotter."

"Then you've missed a deal of sport," declared Kendale. "But that isn't
what I sent for you to discuss. What I meant to say is that there's a
fellow from Newport gone all to smash. His fine yacht, the _Daisy Bell_,
is to be sold at auction to-day, likewise the contents of his stables.
There are two of his animals that are flyers--the Lady Albia and
Sterling. Why, the Lady has a record better than 2.05 1-2, open gaited,
warranted sound, both of 'em, and no end of traps, tea carts, and
buggies. I tell you what, Wright, I must have that yacht and that team.
You must go and bid them in for me--get 'em at any price, if you have to
run it up to a hundred thousand, and you can even do a little better
than that rather than see some other lucky fellow get 'em."

Mr. Wright was staring at him as though he quite believed his employer
had gone suddenly out of his mind.

"Well," said the bogus Mr. Lester Armstrong, coolly, "you heard my
command to you, didn't you?"

Without another word the general manager turned and with slow, unsteady
steps quitted his new employer's presence.

"Heaven help me, that I should live to see this hour," he groaned; "a
hundred thousand dollars--ten fortunes to a poor man like
myself--frittered away on a yacht and a pair of horses! Mr. Marsh would
pitch him out if he could but know and come back long enough to do it.
It spoils the best of 'em to have money thrown at them--to come into a
fortune that they haven't worked for. A yacht and a pair of horses! What
will people say to see me, a business man of supposed sense and
judgment, bidding at a public auction mart for anything like this?
Heaven help me, I can see the finish of the time-honored dry goods house
of Marsh & Co., in which I have taken such a world of pride. But I
suppose I must do as he has ordered, no matter how galling it is to me."

Mr. Wright had no sooner reached the auction mart than a telegram was
handed him. It was from his employer, and read as follows:

"There are also a pair of seal-brown pacers to be sold. Secure these in
addition to the others. Price must not stand in the way."

David Wright crushed the telegram in his hands, and the first oath he
had ever uttered in a