The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

oe ‘THE GOLD DELUGE. slightest attempt in any direction which might lead to serious results for the government, no hesitation would be felt in adopting the most severe measures, and he—the chief of police—could therefore only advise Mr. Poulsen to be careful. It would be painful for the officers in power to be compelled to adopt such severe measures, but they must have regard for the well being of the state. That was all that the chief of police had to say to Mr. Poulsen for the present. Erik rose. ‘IT cannot understand what measures you have in mind,’’ he said, ‘‘ so long as I commit no infraction of the law.’’ ‘“QOn this point I do not wish to speak further,’’ replied the chief politely but firmly. ‘‘I can only assure you that the means adopted will surely attain the end. I bid you good afternoon.’’ Erik’s wife at once divined what it was the chief of palin had requested. ‘“ Well, my dear husband ?’’ she inquired, as she greeted him. ‘Tomorrow we leave for foreign parts.’’ She nodded approval and pressed the hand she held. ‘“But, good heavens,’’ Mrs. Lindberg interjected, ‘‘ what do you propose to do, my children? You come suddenly to the city, after giving up your good position down there, and refuse all explanation. You have the means to live in the best hotel and now you are going traveling. The gossips say that you have bought the Naesby estate and three houses in Amalia Street, but that cannot be so? How did you get all the money ?”’ ‘“ My dear people,’’ Erik replied, ‘‘ all this is in connection with certain things which for the present must remain a mystery. I can only say to you that by a great scientific discovery I have become wealthy, yes, very wealthy. That must suffice for now. We will leave here to remain away for an in- definite time ; years may pass before we return, but meantime you shall want for nothing. I give you now a packet, in which you will find papers valued >) at over a million kronen ‘* Good heavens !—a million ’? Mrs. Lindberg interrupted and sank on a chair, while Lindberg senior, the little hard working merchant who always had trouble in meeting his quarterly rent bill, trembled all over and rose, his teeth chattering. ‘Ts it true?’’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘Convince yourself,’?’ Erik answered, ‘‘ but listen to what Isay. You must not deposit the money in a bank and draw interest, but invest it in good real estate and that in some distant place. ‘The property of the Stejrbyholm family on the island Sejr can be purchased for a few hundred thousand kronen —it is, of course, on a somewhat secluded island, but that matters not. Buy this estate and live there. Summer will soon be here and you will not regret it. I will confide something to you; do you remember the financial panio during the time of Frederick VI, when the value of paper money sank down to zero? A similar crisis will recur in one of the next few years, but of much larger magnitude; in fact, it will affect the entire world, and gold coin itself will sink to almost nothing. I entrust this to you as a secret—do you under- stand? ‘Therefore my counsel is: buy real estate.’’ Eomichbooks