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See the New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford in Motion Pictures
i
?‘:‘ Continued from Preceding Page.
,f mustache and even clinging to his eye
o ws, was bent over a much-soiled bullding
~ ' "“I'm in no hurty, Mr. Bessmer,” said Walling
; !'ord cheerily. “When you're not so busy,
"1 take up with you the matter of the pur
‘thase of that stock.”
* Mr. Bessmer seemed somewhat embarrassed.
?I'm very sorry to say you're too late,” he re
durned, his conscience smiting him that he had
shelped to trick this friendly big stranger out
®f a possibly profitable deal.”
'+ "You don’t mean to say you've sold it!"
protested Wallingford.
In spite of his compunctions, a gleam of
4atisfaction lit Mr. Bessmer's eyes.
“Well,” he stated apologetically, “the spot
eash was offered me, and now I'm building my
extensions.
“1 bet 1 know who bought it,” declared
Wallingford, with a trace of annoyance.
| “Your friend Mr. Daw,” admitted Bessmer,
flushing slightly. “I'm afraid that he played
& rather questionable trick on you, and that
1 made myself a party to it.”
“I can't blame you” pardoned Wallingford,
hurt, but generous. “Does Mr. Daw now own
all your surplus stock?”
“Bvery share of it.”
“Where would | find Mr. Daw?”
Bessmer suddenly laughed. “He is probably
out oiling the engine, or trimming castings at
one of the emery-wheels to see the sparks, o~
_ ridlng on the warehouse elevator. Shall I sena
for him?”
“No, thanks,” replied Wallingford with care
ful gravity. “If you dom’t mind my gong
through your factory unattended I'll hunt him
T
With a fair certainty of what he would find,
Wallingford walked back through the grind
ing-shop and out the side door. Across the
yard, on one of the little narrow-gauge tracks
which ran everywhere, came a black casting
car, rattling and bumping at top speed, and
standing on the buffers was a tall, lank figure
fn new vivid blue overalls and blouse and
wearing a workman’'s cap tilted rakishly up
over ope corner of his forehead.
1 “Can’'t stop, Jim!” he yelled as he flew past.
. “They're waiting for this car.”
Wallingford, finding no place clean enough
1o sit down, stood where he was for ten mortal
~ minutes, untll Blackie came back with a fsce
E“lch. though well grimed, was perfectly
~ “] thought you were supposed to stick
- around the town, in a silk hat, and Inspire
- confidence,”. complained Wallingford by way
A d_rm
‘on know, Jim, sometimed | think yon're a
~ dub, after all,” reproached Blackie. “You
will get the finer points of stagecraft
1 had myself made assistant manager, and I'm
ring so much confidence that this morning
Bessmer lock my own money in his safe
. téar I'd trust myself too far.”
~ “Assistant manager,” chuckled Wallingford,
ahl the born Mmstinct for mechanics of
. Blackie had no trace. “What do you
~ manage, principally ™
~ “The ollcan, till the engineer hid it” Blackle
. fl.l't-:.:l- with regret.
s you've t of that
observed wmw mm
s ' .
. "I'm s 0 discouraged.” asserted Blackle. I
r credit for anything. Here's your
" and have lunch with us, Jim "
. “Lunch!” pustied Wallingford. “Why, you're
Eg,.t over four blocks from your bhotel”
~ "True,” assented Blackie; “but am 1 one to
:
:_h-ndndnrfl-flumpym in-
F workmen® 1| treat them as fellow
beings. You see, | Intend to run for
% favor of my suburb on the reform ticket this
_ Fall, 50 | bring my lunch with me, in a little
- flumhvur‘”flub.&:n
7 . improved a in
o “&J—bfi-llmwuuflwhr
" = & ™ -:‘::'n-.' declared Wal
- - slay from my hotel until
- Invitation. to inspect the plans for the
g Tve dreamed for ten years." stated
Bess bappily. “Did you secure any stock ™
_ “Not a share,” answered 'num much
fina “Mr. Daw won't x 4
| the extensions we're 1 balleve we
,flau-um.duhlum
Suring m This stock will be worth
"1 Dbelleve 1" -Ll.d Wallingford. “1
flont mind confessing now that | wished 1o
By 1t for another corporation ™ .
_ Mr. Bessmer looked up st him with sharp
e “The monopoly, eh ™
SL)" WILKS." read Wallingford from
& Blackie's list. “the leading sport of
the village, and might bet as high as
AW dollars. Wears & gray pulf Ue on Sun
" u: the other twe on week days. Pro
- father's shoestore and almost
- Ten l::.m' .
B 0 trouble in pleking out Petey 1o Wilks's
1 understand L'l ve some stock in the
™ m_co-my."
Y's been telling.” was the gifh re
" you nt.."h sell u™
- anything my wife: dat | aln't mar
S sy ot Wailingtord compl
-t “Y' ‘What will you take for your
_ Potay Wilks bad the ehin of an Mot asd (he
iie of & fool, but he had the eyes of & miser
Rt reckon | want 1o sell 1L he instandly
“The papers are full of how Wil
o i» mm“-:mwm. .
, e the coldly
Walliagford, smiling he colay
Bessmer aint & breaker” argued the
. 'fl.‘th‘nbmunfl‘m
S IBAklng any money, but he don't owe any.
- yYour
nated ‘”w respecting Peigy s
e Tm » 10 say thm it's worth
L iille more. My Srm will pay you sinty dob
L The ayen of Petey narvowed will
&' s your t:." he aaked ——
T United Siates Malleabie Merger Com
BY. ssmounced Wallingford, creating that
EBEY corporation with ne effort whatsoever.
WL after all. you're not desling with them
DTS dealing with spot cash” and he Sl
BRI & bia red pockethosk s bulged wih
ase pint of biood tncreased 1o & whis
7 be steared perfectly straight
"'.'m.: reen ™ he demanded
0 o B rann y sad_puiting down the lower
e 4 ekt eye know what # means
S & monapsis's after anyihing Yout! have
b e seventy Ave dollare & share *
“It's bought,” accepted Wallingford, and
counted out four bills, a five hundred, two one
hundred and a fifty, so promptly that it looked
like the throw-off of a printing press. “Where
is your stock?”
“I said. eighty-five,” corrected Petey quickly,
glaring accusingly at Wallingford.
“I misunderstood you,” and Wallingford,
hastily gathering up the money, made as if
to start for the door.
"Wait a minute!” called, Petey, experiencing
pangs a 8 he saw all those warmly tinted en
gravings disappearing. “I might seil for
elghty.”
“l sald seventy-five,” insisted Wallingford
coldly, but with his pocketbook still in his
hand.
Petey, whose spider-like legs interfered with
each other when he was in a hurry, single
footed back to the safe, produced his certifi
cate, assigned it to Wallingford, and took the
pay without the waste of a single avoidable
motion,
“Anyhow,” he exulted, as he clamped the
meney carefully in his fingers, “1 make fifty
per cent on an investment | thought was dead.
I had it five years, anll that's ten per cent a
year.” .
“That’s good business,” approved Walling
ford. “I wonder where I could get some more
of this? I understand that Mr. B. F. Croats
has a tenshare certificate. Do you suppose
he would sell t?"
“Binky Croats?’ smiled Petey. “Binky
would sell his girl's photograph. He needs
the money.”
“Thanks for the information,” replied Wal
lingford, and left the store.
He had scarcely passed through the door
when a quite natural idea assailed Petey. *“1
must put Binky wise,” he observed, as he hur-
Tled to the 'phone. “He's too pinched just
now to hold out for a good price.”
By the time Petey secured his numbar, how
ever, the faculty which lay behind his miserly
eyes had evolved another course of action
“You sald, last night, you wanted some money,
didn’t you, Bink?" he began.
’rhoot.hmlnt.bowunslumeoun
hear the sound of Binky's oager voloe, like the
blast of a trumpet, throughout the room.
“Why don't you sell your Bessmer stock ™
suggested Petey. “Oh, yes, somebody ought
to buy it. Bessmer's stirring around down
there and it ought to be worth pretty near
what you pald for it before long.”™
“Ah, shucks! Why, I'll buy it myself, on
speculation. Of course | won't give you quite
what it cost you, but I'm willing to gamble
four hundred and ffty dollars on your tem
shares. Don't mention it, old horse. Bring 1t
right down, and get your money. and say,
Binky, come the back way, will you?™
Petey Wilks loved that little deal. He could
buy his friend Binky's stock, to replace his
own, out of Wallingford's money, and have
three hundred left!
He need not have hurried, for Wallingford
intended to give him at least twenty-four hours
to think up the brilllant scheme to buying
Binky's stock. Instead, Wallingford went
straight to Thaddeus Putman.
Old Thaddeus looked with stern disapproval
on Wallingford's offensively clean shirt, and
Mmmuyntm‘muulh&u"mk
AL any price,
Wallingford, delighted to find Bim so obdu
rate, offered him seventyfive, a hundred, and
finally & hundred and ten. Mlhulvnh
paused, for fear Thaddeus might wsell; but
Thaddeus did not invite wore urging.
"N.:.' sir'” be hoarsely wheezed. “1 never
go'k on Judgment. | bought my steck
from young ::m- Bessmer because | thought
he was & coming man: and he is coming ')
never sell my stock till he proves that | was
right; and he's proving it."
“Very well” nl:.m.hbu W‘:lm with
A wvigh, and now ning his campalgn on
Ell Spooger, whose name Hlackie had marked
with three stars. “Apparently you wen't sl
but at least you will not advise your friends
to hold on, will you?™
“I'll make no promises of the kind.” wheegad
Thaddeus, to whom such an idea had not oc
curred. mfim.n‘ I always ad
vise my to follow it; if they don't, they
can't blame me.”
After this, Wallingford went bhome, well
satisfind with his day's work: but he had not
finished ft, for Just before dinner Petey Wilks
came .l: him, and jubllantly sold .h.r. Binky
ilO meling iy oo
the morhing W, want to see the
next ten-share man on the report. “Spraddies
Martin,® Bisckie had lsted him. “Keeps books
iln the plowfactory, and walks Hke a one
legxed turtle. Human Billiken, and | lfke him ™
mh-muonnnnhhh‘y.
ud-muuumuumnm
right place. His mind was well located and
gracefully active, however
"My Bessmer stock™ he remarked. poking
ups'loth.:lhhnm,'m'uhnw
wuit or the purpose than his right one. *1
Ruess you must be the man Petey Wilks wants
o sell #lo Nolflatohyhm-ohfl
numu.ulmmm-hm»um.
:::t " N:y.. - imu.
Was w to cighty two
My.nmwflhnm-f'l‘nuun
ummmm.mmh.mu,..
mmmunnrw.nunauu
m»mummuumm;
but he sobered as Wallingford rromptly dealt
him out eleven hundred dollars
“T'm afraid | dMn't charge you mough.” he
worried
"hbmhm-b-uuymbnv
firm.” admitted Wallingford reckiossly
“Anybow, I've got it all over Petey Wilke
Hpraddies philosophically consoled himeelf as
ha produced the stosk. “Are you willing to
u,.numuammndmm
can r?‘*
“IT give you & hundred and ten dollars for
fvery share you can bring me to the Ragle
Hotel. Just inquire for Mr. Wallingford ~
“1 wouln't need your name at the Kagle”
docinred w “I could describe you o
well that ¥ Washburn would turs uc;."'
16 see If you wasn't standing riaht there.
You pay & hundred and ffieen*™
"I wmiah o dickered wih me hard
enough bm
“You'll get some of the hardest dickoring
Ihat was ever done (o you." promised Spraddies,
reaching an avhward arm for his contl. “I'm
foing out and buy stock. | can get 16 where
1 is quicker than you can ™
"1 guess 20" sighed Wallingford with (he
Alr of an abused person. “Pat promise me one
Ihing; whelher you secure any stock or ot
nns 16 me ol the hotel this evening. won't
con
CAIL PN agreed Spraddies. and »l-n
out of 2: :-. I sarsest hasts ::n.
waiting altingford 1o y
Ferfoctly contented. I‘"M“ te
his hotel and walted Spraddies. as be had
sapecied hunted him up ol three o chock Instend
of half past Bve
*'uon-mm.*hn
nounced, with hie haped arin. “Petey
wflubncnnl.mmhllh\‘
any Youd (hink Bessmer stork wae damonds
and oM ¥ Bponger wanted 15 have me aetre.
nnu. becanse | only offered S & hundred
and Ben”
Wallingford felt sweet peace surging through
him. El Spooger was planted, and ripe! He
hurried away from that topic.
“Did you try buying any at the factory?”’
he asked, eager for news of Blackie.
.Spraddles exhibited such alarming manifes-.
tations of amusement that Wallingford was on
the point of calling a doctor,
“Bessmer's got a new partner,” the Billiken
said, when the worst of the symptoms had
pasgsed. “He's a long, skinny fellow, and was
playing the sailor's hoedown on a horn like a
big gourd pipe when | was down ghere this
noon; and Sandy McClintock was patting a big
hole in the cinders with both feet.”
CHAPTER V.
LI BPOOGER looked over his giasses at
E Wallingford with a benevolent smile, and
rubbed his bony old knees very, very
gently, “Yes, 1 am Mr. Spooger,” he ac
knowledged to Wallingford's query, and his
volce was full of human kindness; “and you
are Mr. Wallingford, 1 am sure.”
Wallingford smiled with fuily as much
benevolence as Mr. Spooger had exhibited. “I
seem to have been accurately described,” he
returned, and ceased to study Mr. Spooger
with any degree of curiosity. .
“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Spooger. Any
gentleman endeavoring to buy control in a
local concern for the benefit of a trust is sure
. o
- N "
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«
—
“You're Dealing With Spot Cash,” Said Wallingford Displaying a
Big Red Pocketbook That Bulged With Important Bills.
From the Drawing by C. E. CHAMBERS, the Famous Artist, Whose Wonderful |ilustration
Have Made '..umw Types of the Charactars in the Wallingford Stories
0 be much discussed
“It's the sad truth.” admitted Walingford,
very visibly annoyed by the fact. “The public
works & doubleswivel spotlight on anyone con
nected with a big concern such as | am sup
posed to represent. Personally, | shrink from
:M.n-hulm‘l.-mbmm
the Bessmear stock ™
"'omn-ua:-.“mlr, Hpooger
much gratified had been 20 sager as to
be almost impatient. “1 have ten shares of
my own, and tweniyfive shares which | yes
mmmm«mnwg
-flm-fihmnm
“Thinty “ fgured Wallingford in
& disappoinied tone. “Is that all ™
“M:.flb&om"%&
mitted Mr. Stcoger. “The price .
hundred and twenty five "
“Murder!™ exclaimed Wallinglord, pleased.
and yet shocked. that his plans had worked
o 0 antremely wall. “Why you are trying to
uhnmu,a:d-wmmnh
my necessity’
Mr. Spooger was not indignant . merely hurt
5 his tenderest feslings “You are most un
L™ he complained. “1 am only correctly
SAglng the market valus of the stock to your
monepoly. 1 have labored 1o secure them for
you, and the laborer is worthy of his hire™
- l:‘ln‘ and wnum'hfl aborere
preft robbery ” protested Wallingtord
snen o emens S T
“You
offered my friend Putman as high a 8 & bus
4red and ten: and young Mr. Martin, who was
SRtions to buy my Mock 1o soll 1o you ot &
profit. offered me & bundred and five The
M%VW--OWHC
twanty Temtat on am really
conserving & bepefi upon you
“ 1 eonceded Wallingterd dry
y mnmmmom
and twenty fve ™
“Four ihousand three hundred and seventy
on
:wt::ummn:&.mm
.hich e pesees Beiote hie eree
Mw:*m
and the mild eyes of Mr. Spooger took on the
passing expression of twin needles.
“Of course they will not sell stock to you at
the factory,” he conjectured, watching hungrily
as Wallingford counted out the money, and
naticing. thirstingly that the subtraction of. this.
amount made scarcely any impression upon the
sum total.
“Not a share,” laughed Wallingford. “They
know who I am, and what I want; moreover,
I don’t imagine the new assistant manager
would sell to anyone who would sell to me.”
“Possibly not,” mused Mr. Spooger. “I have
heard that Mr. Daw is a very curious person.”
He paused, now, as his fingers touched the
money, and nothing more was breathed by
either gentleman until he had counted it thMe
times, and felt each bill, and held it to the
light.
“If T should secure some of his stock, 1
suppose you would be in the immediate market
for 1t?” he suggested, after he had deposited
the money in his safg and twirled the knob
about nine times. .
“At the present moment,” declared Mr. Wall
ingtord, with a trace of vindictiveness, “there
is nothing I desire so much as to have every
share of the Bessmer stock taken away from
Mr, Daw.”
“I have understood that there was a de
plorable personal feeling in this matter,” com
mented Mr. Spooger, grieving over the selfish
passions of men. “Jim Hodders, who has the
m.-nrmmuuml--«mu
told me that you were bitter business rivals.”
“We are even more than that” stated Wall
ingford. with every appearance of truthfulpess
CHAPTER V 1
LACKIE DAW, who had in perfection
ann-nutnwmm.m
extracting, with & huge magnet, an iron
;-.mochm:‘..:dh'mvb:
| Spooger called, positively refused
talk business in the emorgency hospital, which
he had stied up in the neglected pattern room
back of his desk. The workman came out with
mum».wmmm
“Mr. Spooger's still wait 10 see you,
Mackie” observed Bessmer. -%nm ta
li,_'c‘h.n-.."
“ts enactly Ihe place for Mr Spooger.” and
Bassmer, thinking he uwnderstood the joke.
gave it fall acknowledgment .
“lmumtflllmrm~
by our two seives.” begaa rlo-:-m
kind playfulaess, drawing Blackie into »
rorner
solemnly leading another corper
which was 8o particle more secretive. “Now,
what can we do for each other ™
“You might enable me 1o increase my little
nna-nl‘: uuumm.»."uh.n
rou made ok nough
md.m.::‘u.mmnrdmu
a favor.
"1 Baven't much so soll” Biackie told him.
decidedly uncomfortable. 1 couldn™t
m'fl"rdnflnumm‘“
mer's cont .Nlon..m
My Spooger was shocked Be shogid even
fonceive such an Mea. “No one, | am sure,
would wish 1o injure Mr. Bessmer, who s &
honest. hard working business man. Mo
unommmmdmu
tite commuanity incioding mysel! If you chope
n-uuydmmmmmn
want for 0™
“Par” sanounced Blackie afably
"My dear young man'” expostulaied Me
Spooger in stern but kindly tones. “The stock
has never been worth more than fifty per cent,
and I'l guarantee that you paid even less than
that for it.”
“Par ig the price,” Blackie patiently ex
plained. “I have always said that if I ever
owned stock in anything I wouldn’t sell it for
anything but par, I like the sound of the
word.”
“It doesn’t sound half as well as, say, sev
enty-five dollars, cash,” insinuated Mr, Spooger,
laughing like one giving away groceries. :
“Par,” repeated Blackie, gently but firmly,
and lit a cigarette. "At that, I'll only sell you
fifty shares. 1 understand that Jim Walling
ford’s buying up this stock, and 1 wouldn't run
the risk of much of it falling into his hands.
He'd put my friend Bessmer right out of his
own shop and turn it over to the trust.”
“l am not an agent or emmissary for any
one,” stated Mr. Spooger, much outraged. *“I
am investing, or speculating if you wish to call
it 80, for my own benefit entirely.”
Blackie had particular reasons of his own for
doubting that, but he did not think it wise to
say so,
“Fifty shares or nothing, and at par,” he as
serted stoutly. “If I sell more than that, I'll
sell all. If I have to weaken my majority of
stock, 1 want to be out entirely.”
Mr. Spooger stilled the pea-like thumping of
his heart. “Would you seriously contemplate
selling all?” he asked quietly,
“Well, you see,” hesitated Blackie, looking
mournfally about the shop, and over at Bess
mer’'s office; “I like this business, and Bess
mer, and the men, but I'm a poor person, and
to sell out at par would mean a big profit on
my investment. I wouldn't sell to Jim Wall
ingford, though I don’t think he'd even come
to me to buy it.”
This being thé strict truth, Blackie had a
perfectly clean conscience when he said it
“I'll take those fifty share, at par,” Nr.
Spooger llO‘l{ observed, after thinking a long,
long time. “If 1 were you, I would not say any
thing to Mr. Bessmer about it just now. Sup
pase 1 come over to-night, and see you at your
hotel.” .
“Make it tomorrow morning at ten o'clock,”
amended Blackie. "I am not coming to the
shop to-morrow forenoon.”
Mr. §pooger was busy wrltm him out a
check. “Here is five thousand lars for your
fifty shares,” he stated, holding it with both
hands for impressiveness. “Just think how
little those fifty shares eost you, and how much
profit 1 am giving you! Multiply that by the
balance of your stock, and think it over!”
“l don’t like to leave this place,” mourned
Blackie. “I'm teaching two of the boys, over
in the shipping room, to dance the double clog.”
Mr. Spgoger returned to Wallingford’s hotel
trinmphantly. |
- e.w you fifty shares of that stc~%.” he
announ delighted to give Wallingford so
much pleasure; “but you'll have to raise the
price to a hundred and thirty-five dollars.”
Wallingford eyed him with a secret sorrow
that he was doing the man no harm. “It's ex
tortion'” he protested.
“1 ean’t get it for you for less,” declared Mr,
Spooger, seemingly sad that such was the caso
“l don't belleve | want it at all,” suddenly
decided Wallingford.
“Why not?™ demanded Spooger, In breathless
fright.
“Because you have only fifty shares of it
My instructions are to secure control, and am
beginning to be discouraged about iL”
“You buy these fAfty shares at the price
named, and I'll tell you some good news”
promised Ell with exultant playfulnesa.
“Do you mean that you can secure all of It*™
asked Wallingford eagerly.
“l belleve that | can” jubliated Bl and
rubbed his hands over and over sach othen
“Then I'll pay you s hundred and thirty.
five for these fifty with pleasure” and Wal
lngford jerked out his pocketbhook.
Mr. Bpooger «as sorry he had sald that he
could merely secure the fifty shares, for he
had the certificate in his pocket. However,
be had made It an early motto that If he could
not entirely avold evil he would aveld all ap
pearance of evil
“T'll be back In ten minutesn.” he stated.
“You'll be right bere, won't you® and he
eyed Wallingford's .m«hu anxiously.
“Right here,” W ord ashured him.
Mr. Spooger was back in nine minutes and
s half. “If | can secure the remainder of that
stock 1 don't think it will be necessary to ralse
the price above a hundred and thirty five” he
suggested, belng ;flb cortaln that this was
the Hmit which w would pay.
“1 should say you pot ralse the priee'™
retorted Wallingford. “I may be careless, but
1 don't mean any harm to myself”
“Will you pay s hundred and thirtyfive™
Spooger wanisd 1o be assured
“1 will pay a hundred and thirtyfive dollars
8 share for every share of Bessmer stock that
vou sell me from now on” Wallingford truth
fully answered.
CHAPTER VIL
N English gentieman, with broadchecked
A clothes, monocle, flowing yellow mus
tache, and two young and besutiful
ladies, one browneyed and one blue, dropped
into town that evening, and asked numerous
questions about the Bessmer plant —-its relia
blity, s capacity, ita expansion and every
other leading fact. After having asked thess
questions in the places where thay would most
rapidly circulate, he called on Mr. Walllne
ford and held a Jong. long secret conference
That settled it—the Baglish rflc-u was 4
lord - certainly not less —and was negotiat
ing for munitions of war to be made at the
Pessmer plant
In the privacy of Walingford's room. had
the public but known it, the lord's name was
piain Onion Jones, and nothing more serious
than & bottle of wine was discussed. In pud.
Hle, howaver, when Violet and Fasnte Warden
took dinner with Onlon and J. Rufus, with
Blackie Daw looking on enviously from the
other corner of the big dintmgroom, Osnlon
was more like & lord than any lord. In the
morning be went away with hie ladies, but the
wymhfldvfl‘mubfllu-fi
Hondollar munitions contract which was to 3o
to the Malleable Trust, not 1o the Bessmer
Plant, a 8 &t fret reporied’
A lover coucting the minutes wntil he coal
n-lhlvhnfl“mhnmd*
cidity compared lflg walting for
hie appointment with Wackie w, He went
down to the factory in the afternoen, bot was
W 1o snter the yard, where,
" , Mr. Daw was feverishly sngaged on
some Importast preparations for & sert of
workmen's eolebration on the
He ealled ot Mr. Daw's hote! m
was toM that Mr. Daw was taking bl sase
phone practios and could not be disturbed
And the clork was pleasant about 1t ten,
Taking the hint from thess rebufls. My
Spooger walted antll sharp ton oclock the
feßt moraing, ehen he was ashered inte M»
Dan's roome. He found that gentioman frosh
Iy shaven and compietely dressed svrept for
Mis olik hat, and sitting behind & wable, stadl
m 6Yer & Bandbeok on the At of
rasting
There ensued a most wily conversation, in
which Mr. Spooger pointed out to the young
man that.he must not fly in the face of Provi
dence by refusing the handsome fortune that
lay at his door. And Mr. Spooger was elated
by one fact. Mr. Daw seemingly had not heard
of the lord! /
On his part, Mr. Daw had conscientious
scruples about allowing the controlling stock
to pass into any ownership which might be
inimical to the interests of Mr. Bessmer; but
in the end he fell! He stified his conscience
and sold to Mr. Spooger, at one hundred dol
lars a share, his entire interest in the Bessmer
Malleable Process Company.
“But I didn’t know you had so much stock,”
protested Mr. Spooger. “Bessmer only had
twelve hundred and fifty shares to dispose of
in the first place. I bought fifty of those from
you, and here you are offering me thirteen
hundred and fifteen.” :
“l acquiréd a few mord,” explained Blackie.
“The certificates are all here, new issues made
out to me last night, and duly signed by the
president and secretary.”
“The more the better,” granted Spooger,
after a little thought, and added twice more
to make sure the total shares represented by
the certificates. He produced his checkbook.
“You'll have to come across with genuine
money,” observed Blackie before the purchaser
started to write. “I had to be identified to
cash that other check of yours, and I don't
like to have bankers look at me as If they
think me a suspicious character.”
“You don’t want cash for this amount!” pro
tested Mr. Spooger. “It's entirely irregular.
Why, man, it's a hundred and thirty-one thou
sand, five hundred dollars!”
“l can carry that much,” Blackie boasttully
assured him. “Feel my muscle.”
“Well, I'll see if I can get them to honor the
checks,” reluctantly granted Mr. Spooger; “but
we may have to go to all three banks.”
“As many as you like,” consented Blackle,
most amiably. “I'll assign you these certifi
cates before we go.”
“I don't know about that,” hesitated Mr.
Spooger, but Blackie was already writing the
assignments upon the backs of the certificates
as carelessly as if he were inscribing his room
number on a bar check.
Blackie took them out of a little wooden box,
anfl Mr. Spooger leafed through them to see
that they were all there. They bulged his in
side coat-pocket frightfully, but he did not
mind.
He went with Blackie to the three banks, and
persuaded the much pained gentlemen in
charge to relinquish, collectively, one hundred
and thirtyone thousand, five hundred dollars,
in genuine United States currency; then he
and Mr. Daw parted.
The latter gentleman dashed into the ex
press office, next to his hotel, and Inquired how
soon they would put packages in a car headed
for New York.
Meanwhile, Mr. Spooger, with an ashen face,
was belng informed that Mr. Walllngford had
left the city. Mr. Spooger's first thought was
swift, direct, and natural to his mind. “The
swindler!™ he gasped.
“Who sald s 0?" demanded Curly Washburn
“I'l tell him that when he comes back.”
“Is he-—is he coming back” begged Spooger
breathing with renewesd hope.
“Of course, he 1,” stated Curly indignantly
“He has a trunkful of clothes here that | wisk
he'd leave behind, and there's so much of his
money in that safe | dodge every time | pass it
He only took a handbag with him. Did he
swindie you out of anything?™
“Well, no.” admitted Mr. Spooger reluctantly
“Then don't go around saying 1" ordered
Curly, and walked away In silent contempt.
CHAPTER VIIL
HE merriment iln the festively lightes
yard of the Bessmer Malleable Process
Company was at its helght when B!
Spooger, learning that Wallingford had gone
straight there from the nine o'clock train, re
paired to the scene of the festivities.
A big table, built In the form of a hollow
square, spread with a snowy cloth, and deco
rated with chrnations, champagne palls ane
whole roast pigs, to say nothing of chickens
and such minor articles of inner comfort, filled
the yard; and, at the centre of the head table
flanked by Wallingford on one side, and Bess
mer on the other, stood Blackie Daw, in his
blackest Prince Albert, making & farewsl!
speech to his many friends, in and out of the
factory, and inviting them, one and all, to move
1o Tarryville, 8o that they could vote for hin
for mayor, on the reform ticket, in the com
ing Pail
Laughter Interrupted his every sentence
cheers followed his every pause, and in the
very air there was a thrill which told that he
conld march the entire concourse, at that very
moment. right out into the jaws of anything
and come back with the teeth’
It was all very reassuring to the only mas
in Oak Center who could command over a
hundred thousand. cash, and when the fSnal
applause had subsided, the threestarred one
bent, with an ingratiating smile, over the bark
of Wallingford's chalr,
“I have that stock for you.” he happily con
fded; “right here” and he tapped his ting
breast pocket 1
“Oh, yes, the stoek.” returned Walliseford
pleasantly. “Why, Mr. Spooger, my firm has
decided not to bother with the Bessmer Com
pany.” He pansed placidly 1o wateh Mr
Spooger clutching at his Adam's appley “se,
m night, before | went away. 1 soldgdihat |
ERM—I. from you and from -
Mr. Daw ™
Mr. Spooger gripped his euffs hotn
hands and pulled them out arm's “And
you sold ft to me!™ he hotly 'ackle.
“You never said & word about buyl cuira
shares from Walllngford®™
“Tot, Wt!” remonstrated Wiackie Windly
“You diat tell me you intended to P to
Wallingford ~
“You fooled me!™ frothed BN, terning #
representative of the trost. “1 don't way 8
stoch *
“Throw it away, then” advised Wa )
“I'd suggest (hat you keep i, thoush. .
resolution adontad eimost snasimosel
Bleht, Mr. Besamer has the right. st as T
mu’-mmcn:«gumil
par. and | think be's golag to mak "ome
money.”
“That stock's worth all it cost you, Meraly
doclared Ressmer. who 414 not yet o *and
how N had alt lzp-‘ ard mevey *Ouig
It may not pay dividends for fve WP W
come, but 11l bring it to par valee thow,*
"Gl et Do "D
mer ™ Rprung et »
bot for you! Remember, | hold a "
Hock'™
“You ean help vote to repaper i ™ien. o
th adept mflm bt that's et el
Mr. Besamer s ot -m"
r. rOMPpAnY atmended #
ar stochholdore’ mesting last night "8 o
ouned no stork, Eives him the B ™Y
the Management and Jirertios of 11790 ers
for the sext ton yeamn ™
THE EnD.