1937-05-08 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 8, 1937.

THE

"KING OF SAPS"

Man Who "Bought" the Trajan Column

FORTUNE Wise of humour. One notice that Joel quoted the middle homeless in it and talked importantly in Italian with

MORTUNE is a lady with a very He had been quick enough to homeless cats in which it stands Municipal Offices next morning,

doesn't, unfortunately, appreciate figures, leaving the outside units pened to know that they were hard various officials, and came out with it properly unless the joke happens out of account. And he seemed up for cash. It will look fine on a sheaf of documents (most of to be at the other fellow's expense. quite pleased with his quickness in the headland beyond my house.” them were probably demands for But I have been lucky in that way, solving the code! Then he made Gardner was impressed. He or overdue taxes!), one of which he for, in the course of my adventures his choice.

dered another round of drinks s and handed to Mr. Gardner. as a treasure hunter in the world "I'll have this-and this-and edged his chair closer to this It was an impudent fake on muni- of art, I have been privileged to that one," he decided. "Please magnificent being. The finest cipal notepaper purporting to trans- look on at some of her richest jests. have them sent round at once. My wines flowed like water, and fer the sale of Trajan's · Column One of them occurred in London equerry will give you the address." shortly after midnight Gardner from Signor Kopp to Mr. Gardner, just a few days before the wedding ment and Uncle Joel was plainly

I nearly jumped with astonish- could control himself no longer. of New York.

"See here," he said. "About this of King George V and Queen Mary

in a quandary. He had charged Trajan's Column. I'll buy it at lowing morning such few citizens then the Duke of York and Prin-

four times his usual figure, yet dare your own figure. I'm cess Mary of Teck. The city was not confess to the Tsarevitch that having it that you need only name hold

so set on as lounged in the Foro Traiano be-

workmen overflowing with foreigners of every he had thought him a dealer's tout. your own price." -

plače hoardings round it, while a crazy American description.

The Tsarevitch and his com- Kopp did not seem to be at all directed operations from the sun- panion left and within a few min- keen on the deal. He explained ken bed of the Forum itself, much utes in came Lord Farquhar, the that all his friends knew of the to the disgust of the cats who have

I was talking to Joel, of a pro- posed trip to the Continent, when the awing-doors were flung back, and in came two obvious foreigners.

“Germans!” he whispered to me. He had an uncanny flair for spot- ting rivals. "And dealers, too!"

.

By James Duveen

"The Gullible American

for their own ends, he himself laughter. showed them up to the first floor. He winked at me to come. We all looked at the many showcases which contained the collection, and at last the younger one of the two visitors came to the point.

his

And so it happened that the fol

made their homes there ever since another eccentric foreigner set up a trust which supplied them with a daily ration of cat's meat.

And at fast, inevitably, police arrived on the scene.

the At

Being very sure that the strang- great banker. Hastily my uncle purchase and his plan to erect the first they thought the contractor's ers were bent on finding out his explained the position whereat the column on his Normandy estate. If men must be municipal workers prices and using that information Scottish banker bellowed with he suddenly changed his plans he and Gardner merely a mad archae- would look a bit of a fool. Gard ologist. When at last they under- ner argued for half an hour. Fin

stood him to say that he had ally he made a promise,

bought Trajan's Column, they sim- ply hurried him away to the near- That same week I met one of the

If you'll let me have it," he said est police station en route to some most amazing men in Europe, an

with solemn eagerness, not a soul convenient asylum. extraordinary fellow who by

shall hear of the deal for twelves Gardner flourished his worthless charm of manner and knowledge

months! I'm building a little place document and went almost of the world put up a bluff over an of my own back in America, and, apoplectic in his excitement and American that must still be a re- if you like, I'll store the column indignation. He was at last cord...

somewhere in Europe and not take rescued by an official from. My uncle glanced at the ticket Hotel life in the Eternal City it over until later,

the American Embassy, who con- Kopp had hooked his fish. The trived, not with pains, to explain and saw the figure "948009" which appealed to them, and at the "Con-

the true position: was the rather childish secret sign tinental" an American millionare, psychological moment had come.

Then and there he agreed to sell for £1,200-a quarter of the sum name Gardner, met a very charm-

It took days to persuade the cosmopolitan formed by the figures, "4800" leav- ing

Trajan's Column, one of Rome's furious millionaire that court pro- called

most famous monuments, to Mr. ceedings would simply make him, ing out the outer units at either Kopp. end.

He Gardner for £4,0001 What is more, and all his countrymen, the laugh-

he took the American round to the ing stock of Europe.

"How much is that?" he asked, pointing to one of the finest snuff- boxes.

young

:

a

He was determined not to Kopp had money to burn. let these fellows know his real lived in slap-up style, knew every- price, and so, without bothering to one worth knowing, spoke half "think of a number and double it," dozen languages with fluency and he just quoted these middle figures, was, besides, a very Beau Brum- or four times the price he was pre- mell of a fellow. pared to take.

In spite of many magnificent coups, he was always hard up. It "The price is £4,800!" said he was a case of "easy come, easy go,” calmly.

and at the call of bright eyes and "And this one?" said the young soft arms, his purse-strings were It is on record man, picking up another master always loosened. piece of the Louis XVth period. that he made £16,000 out of the sale of the Hainauer collection, Making an excuse

I slipped which he was instrumental in ob- downstairs and went to the door to taining for Henry Duveen at the see if a carriage was waiting for figure of £250,000. them. Instead, I noticed two un- He was "on the rocks," or there- mistakable detectives waiting out- abouts, when Fate, chuckling in side. With a horrid sinking feel- advance, sent Gardner to him in ing, I went oût and buttonholed an hotel lounge. The American one of them.

was doing Rome" conscientiously, and that very morning he had been to see Trajan's Column in the Foro Traiano."

"Who were the gentlemen who just came in here?" I asked.

"Say!" he exclaimed to “Kopp, "The Dealer's Tout!"

"Did you ever see a finer monu- "The Tsarevitch and one of his ment? I'll say it's marvellous!” gentlemen!” replied the detective Kopp leaned back drank up his impressively.

brandy and smiled. Here was an obviously.

of "full money.” He decided to lead hîm few up the garden path.

I felt the perspiration start out American on my forehead.

Frantically I scribbled words of warning in Dutch on a “Yes,” he smiled, "it certainly is. scrap of paper, flew upstairs and And it's curious you should men- handed it to him with casual air tion it, because I've just bought as though it was merely a matter that column, and am thinking of of routine:

having it put up on my estate in

•

To give my uncle his due, he did Normandy!?! not betray the slightest surprise "You don't say?" he exclaimed. and merely observed: "I'll attend "That's tremendous. Do you really to her later on.""

mean to say that they have sold

"Ah!" said the young man, who you that monument?”

was, in fact, the late Tsar, picking

up another snuff-box.. price of this is $1,600.”

sea

"Yes, replied Kopp calmly. "The the Municipality of Rome wants to change the dirty, unsightly pit for

.

Cook

by

Gas