The Strange Schemes of Randolph Mason by Melville Davisson Post

The following afternoon, Gordon Montcure stepped from the train at Lynn. An hour before, _en route_, he had received a telegram from Mason saying that the deal had been made and that his brother was in possession of the property, and authorizing him to proceed according to instructions. He was a man of business methods and began at once to play his part. Calling a carriage, he went to the court-house and ascertained that the deed had been properly recorded. Then he drove to the hotel of Barton Woodlas and demanded to see that gentleman at once. He was shown into a private parlor and in a few minutes the shoe capitalist came down. He was a short, nervous, fat man with a pompous strut.

"Mr. Woodlas, I presume," said Gordon Mont-cure.