Making Haste to Be Rich! CHAPTER 10.
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Enough can he gathered from the last chapter, to give the reader an idea of where our young adventurer's steps were tending, and how completely the god of this world had blinded his eyes. The legitimate results of a well-conducted business appeared, now, of little account in his estimation, for a shorter road to wealth was before him. Through the advantages which his connection with moneyed institutions gave him, he had been able to command a good deal of capital, but nothing to what he now saw would flow into his hands, if the Eagleton Bank scheme could be fully realized.
There was a time when he thought that fifty thousand dollars was a fortune. But now he felt that nothing short of hundreds of thousands, would satisfy him. One thing, involved in his money schemes, gave him at times uneasiness. In stepping beyond the proper sphere of a merchant, and coming into association with men whose business transactions were with money itself, he found it impossible not to get his own interests involved with theirs. There were so many wheels within wheels, interchanges, and appliances at points near and remote, to be made, in order to deceive, that he hardly knew how he stood, or exactly how far he was so connected with others as to be in danger, were any tripping to take place. Shrewd as he was — and Riddell was shrewd — he was playing a game with men who understood quite as well as he did, if not better, what they were about; and knew how to use him much more than they allowed him to use them. But he thought that he knew what he was about, and deemed himself wide enough awake to see that no one got ahead of him. And yet there were times when he sincerely wished that he had never striven to push his business beyond a prudent limit, nor had had anything to do with banks or borrowed capital — when he had a clear appreciation of the dangerous position he occupied, and how an adverse breath might dash him to the earth!
How this was so, may be inferred from the fact, that he always had discounts and accommodations varying from sixty to eighty thousand dollars, obtained, in many cases, through the favor of others, for which favors he had generally to give a like return. Partridge would sometimes exchange notes with him, generally for pretty heavy amounts; but always did it in a way to make it appear simply as a favor to Riddell, although this was not, by any means, generally the case. And there were other friends of his, between whom and himself endorsements and note exchanges passed rather freely. In fact, he found it impossible to get as much money as he wanted, without the aid of friends whose credit he could use, and for this he had to give a like return.
When Riddell first started in business, it was with the wise resolution never to give nor ask an endorser. To be responsible for no one; and to ask no one to be responsible for him. And in the articles of co-partnership between Alexander and himself, it had been specially provided, that the credit of the firm was in no case to be loaned. If, after he had virtually ejected his partner, Riddell had been content with a safe and steady accumulation of money, he never would have been tempted to depart from the prudent course at first adopted. But the mania of getting rich fast took deeper hold of him. The capital upon which he was operating, cramped within such small bounds his ambitious spirit, that he grew restless and impatient. As a natural consequence, he drove his business so hard — that it soon began to drive him; and the necessity for larger means drove him into a moneyed institution as a director, in the hope of being able to get more capital through the facilities his new position would give him. After this there was no stopping — no looking back.
One step opened the way for another; and new allurements were presented with every new advancement. His ruling love was fired with increasing ardor, and his avarice was tempted by promises of gain beyond anything yet realized. But, amid it all, he did not neglect his business; still looking upon that as the surest way to independence, and throwing into it all the energy his larger command of means gave him. Still, his operations in trade were not marked by the shrewdness that once characterized them, for the reason that his command of money facilities made him bolder, and inspired him with more of the "nothing ventured — nothing gained" spirit than he had before possessed.
Every inordinate love, when permitted to come into full activity, blinds the intellect; and this is particularly the case with the inordinate love of gain. It is for this reason that so many men, after having secured large fortunes, run into the maddest schemes in their eager desire for greater wealth, and make shipwreck of everything — not excepting a good name and a good conscience.
A few more conferences with Partridge, and one or two others admitted into their counsels, determined the matter in regard to the Eagleton Bank. Immediate measures were taken to get possession of the stock, which was accomplished by means not necessary to detail here, and the broken concern galvanized into the appearance of new and healthy life. Certain brokers were employed to advertise for Eagleton Bank paper at seventy-five percent discount, while others loaned it at short dates and received par funds in return. None but those immediately interested, knew of Riddell's connection with the bank, yet some wondered that he had so much of its paper on hand. If a neighbor, on a money-hunting errand, stepped in, and said —
"Have you anything over today, Riddell?"
His usual reply was —
"I have a few hundred in Eagleton Bank notes, which you can have for a week, if that will do you any good."
Or, if a bill was to be paid, the Eagleton Bank notes were pushed off, provided they would be received.
The other partners in this high handed fraud upon the public, were equally active in converting their share of the bills obtained from the bank into something that looked in their eyes, more like money or property. The parties in this great scheme were in number four, and their first act, after getting the bank afloat, was to make each, a stock note, and borrow thereon from the bank, thirty thousand dollars a piece of its paper, which they were to put into circulation as best they could. Of the proceeds of this, five thousand dollars were to be converted by each into specie, or par funds, making twenty thousand dollars in all, and the same transmitted to Eagleton, as a basis for the bank to rest upon. This, with what would come directly into the institution through the agencies established by the officers of the bank, in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, it was believed would keep it safe, as it lay far off, in a quiet valley, remote from business, and difficult of access.
The next thing was for Partridge, Riddell & Co. to borrow equal amounts from the bank, on their individual notes. These notes, when they fell due, were merely renewed. Even the formality of taking them up, was not observed.
Things went on smoothly. The first surprise and doubt that passed over the public mind, died away. Confidence in the resuscitated bank gradually took hold of the mass, and in less than a twelve month, the bills were regarded with as little suspicion, as if the people could look into the vaults of the bank and see them filled with gold. During this time, Riddell had so managed affairs, as to induce the directors of the "Mutual Savings Fund" to apply to the President and Directors of the Eagleton Bank, for a special issue of bills, payable at their counter, for which they offered ample security, and a handsome percentage. The President and Directors were, of course, all prepared for this; and of course they granted the request. This new issue, "payable at the Office of the Mutual Savings Fund" amounted to one hundred thousand dollars.
It must not be supposed that the security obtained from the "Mutual Savings Fund" was a dead letter to our bankers. Very far from it. It was something that, while it remained nominally in possession of the "fund," could be hypothecated. And it was hypothecated, and from sixty to eighty thousand dollars borrowed thereon.
In the meantime, Riddell had commenced building on a scale far more elegant and costly, than had at first been contemplated. When he mentioned to his wife what he designed doing, she begged him, earnestly, to be contented with their present lifestyle.
"We do not enjoy what we already possess," she said. "Only give me more of your society, and let me see your face brighten when you come home, as it used to brighten — and I will be content with far less than we now have. Here is elegance, dear husband, beyond what my heart desires; elegance that your eyes do not seem to see nor care for. Why, then, seek for anything beyond? It will bring care — but no enjoyment."
"There is an end in view, Blanche; an end beyond what is personal to ourselves, in the splendid residence I shall build."
"There can be only one right end, dear, for which a man should build himself a costly house; and in that end, is involved nothing which does not appertain to domestic comfort and hospitality."
Mrs. Riddell spoke earnestly, while her eyes were fixed tenderly, yet with a serious expression, upon her husband's face.
"You are a woman, Blanche," returned Riddell, half lightly, half chidingly, "and cannot see how, in our struggles with the world, we have to do a hundred things only for the sake of appearances. Domestic comfort and hospitality are not involved in my purposes in regard to building, and the assumption of a more imposing style of living. Heaven knows, as you say, that I don't enjoy what I already have!"
"My husband," said Blanche, more seriously than before, "it is a truth, and one which we ought to ponder well, that only what is done from a right end — brings the desired result. To build an elegant house, and assume an imposing style of living, merely for the sake of appearances — must result in disappointment."
"It is not for mere appearances, Blanche," returned Riddell, who did not understand his wife half so well as the few words he had uttered enabled her to understand him. "No; far from it. As to the mere appearance of possessing great wealth — I care nothing for that. But, it, is necessary, in order to impress the minds of the public with my substantiality, that I assume the appearance of a man of large property. Men judge from appearances. Fifty thousand dollars, well laid out, will give me the command of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. You understand now, do you not, Blanche."
Mrs. Riddell looked surprised and bewildered.
"In other words, Blanche," resumed her husband, "I must deceive the public by the appearance of being really a richer man than I am; this will so enlarge my credit, that I can gain what I at first only seem to possess. This has been the case all along. I was not really justified by the state of my business in assuming, when we did, our present style of living, but the result has been what I expected. My credit instantly became better, and I was soon in a condition to support a far more costly style. This is a strange world, Blanche; and while we are in it we must do as it does. If people will be humbugged, why we must only humbug them; that's all."
A self-complacent smile wreathed about the face of Riddell; but it was met by no answering smile from the sweet lips of his wife, whose heart was chilled by so strange and unexpected an avowal on tie part of her husband. Never before had he openly declared the principles upon which he was acting, and her love for him, had prevented her from seeing them herself.
"Why do you look so grave, dear?" Riddell asked, after looking for some moments on the sober, downcast face of his wife.
The eyes of Blanche were instantly raised to his, and rested upon him with a steady expression that he did not comprehend, but which disturbed him.
"Surely my husband cannot be in earnest," she said.
"In what, Blanche?"
"In a deliberate purpose to deceive."
"Nonsense, dear! You are too serious. I do not mean, by deceiving the public, to wrong anyone. Every man has, to a certain extent, to assume false appearances. It is the onlyroad to success in the world. I have found it necessary to do so from the first."
"You?"
The tone and look with which this single word was uttered, warned Riddell that he had said too much.
"We won't talk any more about this, Blanche," he replied quickly; "I see that I am not fully understood. Far be it from me to meditate wrong to anyone."
The expression of his voice, in the last sentence, indicated that he was hurt by the covert rebuke of his wife. This she was quick to perceive. Without replying, she leaned her head against him, and endeavored to conceal the tears that came springing to her eyes. But he felt the deep heaving of her bosom, and knew that she was painfully disturbed.
"Blanche," he said in a serious voice, "you must be willing to think that I will do right. The fellowship of the drawing-room and the fellowship of the business world, are far different. In the former, there is little or nothing at stake, and we may afford to be frank, open, and deferential to others; but, in the business world, everything is at stake, and the code of the drawing-room will not do. Men cease, in fact, to be gentlemen here. One defers not to another, nor speaks the real purpose of his mind. Were he to do so, he would be driven to the wall in a day, for every man would see his cards, and beat him in the first game. Why, if I were to publish from the house-top the exact state of my business, and let the public know precisely what I was worth, I wouldn't be able to keep my head above water for a month!"
Riddell did not know how the heart of his wife trembled to its very center, as he made the declaration. She took his words far more literally than he had intended her to take them; and, from that hour, lived in the daily fear of some impending evil. Her husband's avowal of his purposes had taken a veil from her eyes, and, in one whom she had so tenderly loved for years, she saw something from which her better heart turned shrinkingly away.
It was not a fear of the loss of wealth which chilled the heart of Mrs. Riddell. It was a dim fear of the loss of something else — of honor and a good name. By the side of her husband, she felt that she could stand up bravely in any reverse, and bear with him any trials, so that no finger could point to a blot upon his integrity, and no busy tongue proclaim his dishonor. But, with the instinct of an upright mind, she saw that the path he was treading was not only beset with many temptations, but that he was in imminent danger of being drawn aside by their false allurements.
With what a feeling of anxiety she saw her husband commence the erection of his elegant mansion, and noted its progress, may well be conceived. In spite of all her efforts to drive the impression from her mind, she never looked upon the beautiful edifice, as its imposing front gradually lifted itself up, and stood forth to the admiring eyes of thousands, without feeling that it was to be a monument to their shame and disgrace. And when, at last, she took possession of the princely dwelling, it was with hidden tears, not with open exultation. And yet she had her part to play, and could not turn from its assumption. Grand entertainments were given, and she could do no less than call light and smiles to her face, and pass amid the mirthful company which assembled in her splendid drawing-rooms, wearing a happy face. There were hundreds to envy her — hundreds who never thought of looking below the surface, to pronounce her favored above the common lot. But, if they could have seen into her heart — if they could have looked upon her alone in her chamber, themselves unseen, an hour before she appeared the smiling hostess — they would have thought and felt far differently.
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