Newspaper Page Text
See the New Adventures of J. Rufus ‘Wallingford in Motion Pictures
E Continued from Preceding Page.
~ and mustache and even clinging to his eye
] brows, was bent over a much-soiled building
- plan.
~ “'m in no hurry, Mr. Bessmer,” said Walling-
Ehrd cheerily. “When you're not so busy,
" I'll take up with you the matter of the pur
chase of that stock.”
Mr. Bessmer seemed somewhat embarrassed.
“I'm very sorry to say you're too late,” he re
turned, his congcience smiting him that he had
helped to trick this friendly big stranger out
of a poseibly profitable deal.”
. “You don’t mean to say you've sold it!"
- protested Wallingford.
~ In spite of his compunctions, a gleam of
satisfaction lit Mr. Bessmer’'s eyes.
. “Well,” he stated apologetically, “the spot
- cash was offered me, and now I'm bullding my
~ extensions.
. “] bet I 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?
“Every share of it"”
“Where would I find Mr. Daw?”
Bessmer suddenly laughed. “He is probably
put oiling the engine, or trimming castings at
one of the emery-wheels to see the sparks, o~
© riding on the warehouse elevator. Shall I sena
- for him?”
“No, thanks,” replied Wallingford with care
. ful gravity. “If you don't mind my golng
L mguh your factory unattended I'll hunt him
...Wlth a fair certainty of what he would find,
. Walllngford walked back through the grind.
fng-shop and out the side door. Across the |
~ yard, on one of the little narrow-gauge !l'l&kl
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 one corner of his forehead.
“Can't stop, Jim'"” he yvelled 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, until Blackie came back with a face
which, though well grimed, was perfectly
“l thought you were supposed to stick
around the town, in a silk hat, and inspire
confidence,” complained Wallingford by way
of ‘notlu , :
ou know, Jim, sometimes | think you're a
- Gub, after all” reproached Blackle. “You
~ Rever will got the finer points of stagecraft.
3 x myself made assistant manager, and I'm
. so much confidence that this morning
¥2“ Bessmer lock my own money in his safe
- fear I'd trust myself too far'
“Assistant manager,” chuckled Wallingford,
~ who had the born instinct for mechanics of
~ Whic! Bbcthw:'u:l ?30 trace. “What do you
M princ y
. "The ollcan, till the engineer hid it.” Blackie
5 - “’:‘. 'uv-l though
- BaL” observed Wallingford in a half-hopeless
~ "I'm so discouraged.” asserted Blackie. “1
u- got credit for anything. Here's your
Stay and have Junch with us, Jim”
~ “Lunch!” puzzied Wallingford. “Why, you're
. Bot over four biocks from your hotel”™
. "True” assented Blackie: “but am | one to
. Assume alrs of urrbmr over my own in.
elligen: workmen® | treat them as fellow
beings. You see, | Intend to run for
Mayor of my wuburb on the reform ticket this
" 0 1 bring my lunch with me, in a Nitle
b at noonthwe. I've lmproved a lot In
My mosic, Jim. Shall | come up and play for
Jou tonight™
L !'l_"- fll“.-v«r you." declared Wal
ou stay away from bote!
e are throuh © Y
way out Wallingford stopped. at Bess
#r's fuvitation, to inspect the plans for the
B Sve dreamed of this
for ten years,” stated
Bappily. “Did you secure any stock ™
A share.” answered 'l%fi. much
disa “Mr. Daw won't »
- with you" announced the
of the extensions we're %l belleve we
have Oak Center awakened at to manufac
L R —
-1
4 mind confessing now that | wished
- buy it for another corporation ™ o
f ‘—%-‘fl-’ummm
- monopoly, eh ™
CHAPTER IV.
S ETEY WILKA" read Wallingford from
o Hiackie's list; “the leading sport of
the village, and might bet as high as
(A%S dollars. Wears & gray puff tie on Sun
o .:mflhrtuuwzm Pro-
I R e weemeee
w,
44 50 trouble 1n pleking out Peiey 1h Wilkss
Emporiam -
o] undersiand ¥& some stock in the
£ Y's been telling.” was the gifd re
' Mfi?‘bfl l?“.-
my wife; 1 sin't mar
fi?a Mr Wilks, and this time be
. oty &" Wallingford compi)
Potey Wilks had (he chin of an idiot
of & tool, bt th‘ the eyes of m‘
. reckon | want 1o sell 1" he
wowd “The papers are full & how a
R oy breas M. sugwested oo cordly
" break him the coldly
s -'-n-. " S see
"Wl Bessmer aint & breaker” argeed
L "He's been In business ten .2
W making any money. but he h{ owe any
_“You pald ANty dollars & share for your
stated 7 mw'-"r‘
st s 0 say that it's worth
TR eyen of Petey sarvowed still move
fi&hr be aeied
- S with s ofurt whatsoever
™ 4 IR et sk and Be i
. | 10l pocketbonk s buiged wih
At , the clremiation of Mitie
' .: Inereased 16 & whis
ol SOROU ”“.flm
J 2 Enow what ¥ seane
“It's bought,” accepted Wallingford, and
counted out four bills, a flve hundred, two one
hundred and a fifty, so promptly that it looked
like the throw-off of a printing press. “Where
is your stock?” '
“l said eighty-five,” corrnctc;d :etey quickly,
laring accusingly at Wallingford.
g “f ‘:nlsunderstood you,” and Wallingford,
hastily gathering up the money, made as it
to start for the door.
“Wait a minute!” called Petey, experiencing
pangs as he saw all those warmly tinted en
gravings disappearing. “I might sell for
elghty.”
“1 said 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
money carefully in his fingers, “I make fifty
per cent on an Investment | thought was dead.
I had it five years, and 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 §t7”
“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 My, 1
must put Binky wise,” he observed, as he hur
ried to the 'phone. “He's too pinched just
now to hold out for a good price.” .
By the time Petey secured his number, 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.
The others In the Wilks shoe store conld
hear the sound of Binky's eager volce, 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 1 won't give you quite
what It cost you, but I'm willing to gamble
four hundred and fifty dollars on your ten
shares. Don't mention it, old horse. Bring it
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 thiuk 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
he steadfastly refused to sell his Bessmer stock
&l any price.
Wallingford,” delighted to find him so obdu
rate, offered him seventy-five, a hundred, and
finally & hundred and ten. At that figure he
paused, for fear Thaddeus might sell; but
Thaddeus dfd not invite more urging.
“No, #ir!” he hoarsely YM; *“1 never
£0 back on my judgment bought my stock
from young Willlam Bessmer because | thought
»mtmm;auboheo-m ™
never sell my stock t' he proves that | was
right; and bhe's pio.lig " .
“Very well” relinquished Wallingford with
A sigh, and now mlm«:rm on
Ell Spooger, whose name marked
with three stars. SApparently you won't sell,
but at least you will not advise your-friends
h#mfl.fluwm?‘ of the kind," wheesed
u -
Thaddeus, to w such an idea had not oo
curred. “My judgment's safe, and | alwaye ad
vise my friends to follow it; if they don't, they
can't blame me.”
After this, Wallingford went bhome, well
satisfied with his day's work: but he had not
umnmmwmmmmm
Creais's ek, Vedtitng fonorensty b oky
a's stoc s
lv; dollars a share and winning
n the morning Wallingford went to see the
next ten-share Jon the feport. “Spraddies
Martin,” Bisckie had listed him. “Keeps books
in the plowfactory, and walks like s one
legped turtle. Human Billiken, and | like him~
Whflhumaanmuihhly.
and nothing on it seemed to be m the
right place. His mind was well and
"My Bossmer stech? he remarked. poking
¥
A& pen behind his left ear, which was better
mmmm.unnm-. -
Kuess you must be the man Petey Wilks wants
unuu:'couuuh::“um-nu
night at way from ¥y up to slghty.
l:";.!“lfi]ml‘m. but | knew
t Petey was willing to Ay elehtytwo
fifty, it mumt & bundred .':" " sold 1t
o him for but, since you're & stranger,
11 let you have it for & hundred and ten
He chuckied mm his;
but bhe sobered as promptiy dealt
bim out sleven hundred dollars. *
“I'm afraid | dda't charge you enough” he
“This stoek s worth almost any price to my
frm” admitted Wallingford reckiosaly
“Anyhow, I've got 1t all over Petey Wilke ™
Spraddies philosophically consoled himeel! as
he produced the stoek. “Are .;u wiiling to
Pay & hundred and ten for of this you
can g™
“TU give you & hundred and n; lnn.hn tor
every share you oan bring me Fagie
Hotel. Just inguire for Mr. 'o?’
“1 woulat nesd your name ot Bagle
Aoclared m‘. “1 could describe you so
well that Washburn would turn around
1o sIl you wasn't standing pt there. Wil
you pay & hundred and Sfeen ’
" lpl. " dickerad with me hard
“Youll gt some of hardest dickering
Ihat was ever done to you.” promised Spraddies,
renching an avkward arm for s conl. “I'm
golng oul and buy stock. | oan get 1o where
1t s guicher than you oan ™
"1 geess 0" slghed '_rl with the
alr of an abused person. Promiss me one
‘hing whether you secure ARF slock or net,
nn:.t 16 me ol the hotel this evening. won't
b
AN PN agreed Spraddies, and
ont of 2: oom s n.v:—l M:’hm
o i e, WSSt e
amn. n-'nl‘ Bim wp at threw o clock instend
et
“Fou owe me z. anrhew™ e o
sonnced, with Me ot aped :l “Petey
Wilks bent me 10 B and even aany :
wnr You'd think Bessser stock was
And oid BN Sponger wanted 16 Mve me aeiry
a-l .'h:..u I only offered Bim & bundred
Wallingford felt sweet peace surging through
him. EI 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
passed. “He's a long, skinny fellow, and was
playing the sailor'’s hoedown on a horn like a
big gourd pipe when 1 was down there this
noon; and Sandy McClintock was patting a big
hole in the cinders with both feet.”
OHAPTER V.
LI SPOOGER looked over his glasses 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
voice was full of human kindness; “and you
are Mr. Wallingford, 1 am sure.”
Wallingford smiled with fully 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
‘v.‘ 2 Al\ '/‘
e 3
\:, l "‘
B Vet v
’fl o h
G \ 4 - {1 ‘\
( N T L L ‘
{\w} .‘ Y ?’154 ‘e i ‘
- “l“'nw..\, I g - " Jf’i’
& A & - ":‘.l
:.‘ ;& fl‘!"‘“\v"‘ !" Q\‘i{ “‘
P e L *’m
iLY : m 3 ? ?§o¥ : 3
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"R S (‘Mlm » 3 A %'y
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L c“v%‘ L '\i'\f
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,Qf“‘ ! vy 5 g‘ ? ‘
Lol ‘ 1 % ¢
vRT§ s . i
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YRR - ‘ 1 . Ty ® o .
‘ TH’ P i i ¢SI § %
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4 & 2} L - e .‘).»‘.! *A g
. R . “ . 2 )%E ‘
ra— 8
My
‘- S
M}"“
“You're Dealing With Spot Cash,” Said Wallingford Displaying a
Big Red Pocketbook That Bulged With Important Bills.
From the Drawing by C. £. CHAMBERS. the Famous Artist, Whose Wonderful Illustrations
Have Made Famillar Types of the Characters in the Wallingford Stories
1o be much discussed
“I's the sad truth.” admitted Wallingford,
very visibly annoyed by the fact. “The public
works & doubleswivel spotiight on anyone con
Bected with & big concern such as | am sap
posed to represent. Personally, | shrink from
publicity, but sinee | can't, what do you want
hr“‘lol-.-r“r &
omu.-au."w r. Spooger,
much gratified bad been a 0 cager as to
be almost impatient. “1 have ten shares of
™y and twenty five shares which | yes
m‘y‘mmmumuw
-"‘1. ments which were in arrears
“Thiny :’hn-."lnmw-m
--& disappointed tone. “Is that all T
hundred twenty fve”
Ms*mmm
and yoi shoched, that his plans bad worked
o extremely well. “Why, you are trying to
-loun-u'?dmrumbb
my neceasity
Mr. Spooged was not Indignant . merely hyrt
in bis tenderest feelings. “You are most wn-
JeL™ he complained. "1 am only correctly
Saging the market value of the stock to your
monopoly. | have labored to secure them for
you, and the lnborer is worthy of his hire ™
“A i-g.lnt an wmln'hn laborer s
*%ummm'w
. oy
offered my friend Putmas s high s & bus
dred and ten. and youns Mr. Martis. who was
munmmu-&u.,:.‘;‘:
probt, offered me & bundred
n’lfl Wallingford, s & bundred and
Ave. AL that quotation |am really
Q_.Mn.i.-nnum'
tate BT comceded Wallingtord dry
v m-mmam
and twenty ave ™
mmmwmm
mm*mmrmn
B e tad be Trew se st
“res
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 hune:y
as Wallingford counted out the money,@nd
noticing thirstingly that the subtraction of this
amount made scarcely any impression upon the
sum total. ;
“Not a share,” ~ ‘hed Wallingford. “They
know who I am, a . what 1 want;_ moreover,
1 don’t imagine the gew 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 thae
ltimes. and felt each bill, and held it to the
ight,
“If 1 should secure some of his 'stock I
suppose you would be in the immediate market
for it?” he suggested, after he had deposited
the money in his safe and twirled the knob
about nine times,
“At the present moment,” declared Mr. Wall
ingford, 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.” 5
“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
Mmtwlhmmm
told me that you were bitter business rivals.”
“We are even more than that” stated Wall
ingford, with cvery appearasce of truthfulness
CHAPTER V 1
LACKIE DAW, who had in pertection
vaulmuuomu.‘.m
extracting. with & buge magnet, an iron
aflmmmd.rvmui'..
Spooger calied. and he positi rofused
:"mlt:':m%m
‘ neglocted fowen
Mdiha:.k mm&mm
Nim. by and by, bandaged. and smiling grate
"'« Spoogers sl o see you
Mb."mm.“-
mlcm';-*mmm
“mmwhm' w-‘“‘
et g ki he undersiod (he Jebe,
Eave achnowledgment
fl'flhlfll'"’fl*mm
by our two seives.” began Mr wiih
Mmmmmzu..
corner
m«mfinmm
soiemaly leading ancther cotner
which was 8o particle more secretive. “Now,
vi_l'lmwhhvc:::.r 2
o might enabis ncrvace ile
investment in (his establishment; that fs, ¥
M*Nwm-l—lh“'
suggestod Mr . Wik the air of one con
serving » tavor. ’
fl“\mbfl“m“mh“
ml- dd“hm..h
-—nnunl -
Mr Spoeger w&-u.‘.‘.
mm% Mo one. |am sure,
would wish 10 My Bossmer, whe b &
honest. hard working buciness mas e
u-u.ax,ghmwmudlm
“Par announced Blackie afably
My dear young mast sapestulaied My
Spooger In stern but kindly tones. “The stock
has never been worth more than fifty per cent,
and I'll guarantee that you paid even less than
that for it.”
“Par is 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
oL
“It doesn’t sound half as well as, say, sev
enty-five dollars, cash,” insinuated Mr. Spooger,
Aaughing like one giving away groceries.
“Par,” repeated Blackie, gently but firmly,
and lit a cigarette. “At that, I'll only sell you
tmy_ shares. I understand that Jim Walling
ford’s buying up this stock, and I 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
t.l‘o:btlng that, but he did not think it wise to
80.
“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, I 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
mournfully 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 hvom‘b;z: I wouldn't sell to Jim Wall
ingford, I don’t think he'd even come
to me to buy it.”
" This being the strict truth, Blackie had a
perfectly clean conscience when he said it
“I'll take those fifty share, at par,” Mr.
Spooger slowly osurvod. after thinking a long,
long time. “If [ were you, I would not say any
thing to Mr. Bessmer about it just now. Sup
.mlmwummunduoyuuyonr
“Make it to-morrow morning at ten o'clock,”
amended Blackie. “I am not coming to the
shop to-morrow forenoon.”
Mr. Bpooger was busy writing him out a
check. “Here Is five thousand dollars for your
fifty shares,” he stated, holding it with both
hands for impressiveness. “Just think how
little those fifty shares cost you, and how much
profit lam giving you' Multiply that by the
balanee of youp. stock, and think it overt”
“1 don't Jike to leave this place,” mourned
Blackie. “I'm teaching two of the boys, over
in the shipping room, to dance the double clog”
Mr. Spooger returned to Wallingford’s hotel
triumphantly.
“l can get yon fifty shares of that stork.” he
announced, delighted 20 give Wallingford so
much pleasure: “but you'll have to ralse the
price to a hundred and thirty-five dollars.”
Wallingford eyed him with a secfet sorrow
that he was doing the man no barm. “It's ex
tortion!”™ he protested.
*1 can’t get 1t for you for less,” declared Mr,
Spooger, seemingly sad that such was the case,
- do.‘t believe | want it at all” suddenly
decided Wall 3
“Why m?".,-m-‘d 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 fifty shares at the price
named, and 1! tell you some good news”
promised Ell with exultant playfulness,
*Do you mean that you can secure all of ®?™
asked Wallingford eagerly
&b‘lhv- that | ean”™ jubilated EN, and
re his hands over and over each other
*Then I'll pay you a hundred and thirty
five for these fifty with pleasure” and Wal
Hngford jerkefl out his pocketbook.
,lr.:m-r «as sorry bhe had sald that he
could y secure the fAfty shares, for he
had the certificate In his pocket. However,
be had made it an early motto that if he could
ot entirely avold evil he would avold all ap
pearance of evil
*TII b back In ten minuten™ he stated
*“You'll be right here, won't you™ and be
ered Wallingford's pockethook anxiously,
*Right here,” Wallingford assured him
Mr, Spooger was back in nine minutes and
s half. "If | can secure the remainder of that
stock | don't think it will be necessary to ralse
the price above a hundred and thirtyfive™ he
suggested, belag quite certaln that this was
the Nt which Wallingford would pay.
*1 should say you would not raise the pries'™
retorted Wallingford. “1 may be careless, but
1 don't mean any harm to myself”™
“Will you pay & hundred and thirtyfive®™
Spooger wanted to be assured
“1 will pay & bundred and thirty-five dollare
# share for every share of Besamer stock that
vou sell me from sow on” Wallingford truth
fully answered.
CHAPTER VIL
N English gentioman with brosd <hecked
A clothes, monoele, Sowing yellow mus
tache, and two jyoung and beautiful
indies, one browneyed and one blue, dropped
into town that evening, and asked numerous
questions about the Pessmer plant —its relis
bility, its cagacity, its expansion and every
other leading fact., After having asked these
questions In the plares shota they would thos'
rapidly cirediate, he called on Mr Walling
Tont sotied toothe Tugh
That settied it—the ccm e 3
lord - certataly ot lose and s negotiat
ing for munition: of war to be made al the
Rosamer plant
In the privacy of Walllagford's room, had
the public but known it the lord's name was
plain Onion Jomes. and nothing more serioue
than & bottle of wine was discussnd. In pub
He, however, when Vielet and Faanie Warden
took disner with Osnion and J. Rafus, with
Mackie Daw looking on enviowsly from the
other corner of the big diningroom, Ounlon
was more like & lord than any doed. In e
morning be wen! anay with hs ladies bat the
m“m full of wild ramore about the mil
munitione contract Shich wae 1o oo
16 the Malleabis Trust, not to the Pessmer
plant, as M Bret reporied’
A lover eounting the minuies wntll be coaid
s Ris tein soul would be an opster of pla
oMty compared with U Spooser walting for
Bis appeintment with Biackie Daw. e wont
down 1o the factory in the aftermoon, bl wae
w-uu 15 enter the yard. where,
" Mr. Daw was feverishly engaged on
some laportant preparations for & sort of
warkinen's colebration on (he following ufi
Hie cnlied ot Mr Daw's hotel that svening,
was 10l el Mr Daw was taking Bis saee
phone preactive and could B be At hwd
and the clert wae plensant abow 1, e
Toaking the Sint from thess rebulle, My,
Spouger walied antll sharp ten o cloek he
BeNl maraing. ehen be was sshered lnte My
Daw'e roome e found thet gentiemas fresh
Iy shaven and m‘m cecapn Pat
Bie ofik Bal, and sßiing &e, a“
! oYer & handbeok o 8 the Y
A — -l
- 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 ilnterests of Mr. Bessmer; but
in the end he fell! He stifled his conscience
and sold to Mr. Spooger, at one hundred dol
lars a share, his entire interest in the Bessmer
Malleable Process Company. i o
" “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. 1 bought fifty of those from
you, and here you are offering me thirteen
hundred and fifteen.”
“I acquired a few more,” 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,” mnhg':mor.
after a little thought, and added 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
llke 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!”
“lI can carry that much,” Blackle boastfully
assured him. “Feel my muscle.”
“Well.l'llmltlmmthmtowm
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
nnm'}er on a bar check,
Blackie took them out of a little wooden box,
and Mr. Spooger leafed through them to see
that they were all there, They bulged his in
ol:le‘ 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, ond hundred
and thirty-one thousand, five hundred dollars,
in genuine United States currency; thenm he
and Mr. Daw parted.
The latter gentleman dashed isto the ex.
press office, next to his hotel, and inquired how
soon they would put packages in a caf headed
for New York.
Meanwhile, Mr. Spooger, with an ashen face,
was being Informed that Mr. Wallingford had
left the city, Mr. Spooger's first thought was
swift, direct, and natural to his mind. “The
swindier!” he gasped.
“Who sald 0™ demanded Curly Washburn
“I tell him that when he comes back.™
“Is he—is he coming back” begged Spooger,
- 'mb. u.":mn Curly ndignantly
“Of course, e A
“He has a trunkful of clothes here that | wish
— '“t:.un-d l“d‘o"p . nu-ol d.:
money . every
He only took a handbag with him. Qu
n.l::l:“m out of u);hu?"
00,” admitted r. Spooger reluctantly.
“Then don't go around saying It” ul..‘
Curly, and walked away in stient contempt.
CHAPTER VIIL
HE merriment in the festively lighted
yard of the Bessmer Malleable Process
Company was at its helght when BN
Spooger, learning that Walllngford had Rone
straight there from the nine o'clock traln, re
paired to the scens of the festivities,
A big table, bullt in the form of a hollow
square, spread with a snowy cloth, and deco
raled with carnations, champagne pails and
whole roast pigs, to say nothing of chickens,
and such minor articles of inner comfort, filled
the yard; n‘.ummmdtbohum
flanked by Wallingford on one side, and Bess.
mer on the other, stood Blackie Daw, in his
blackest Prince Albert, making & farewell
speech to his manhy friends, in and out of the
factory, and inviting them, one and all, to move
to Turryville, so that they could vote for him
twnm.ulbonlof-mhm..
ing hl;.
Lasghter interrupted hie
cheers owed st B
::y“m there was & theill whieh told that he
mllwnimm.-unn
moment, right out into the jaws of anything,
.u” come l'-‘uu with the teeth!
WaE All_very reassuring to the odly mas
in Oak Center who could command over »
sm«mm.-u-mmm
»fl-n:;.u subsided. the threestarred ope
hent an ingratiating smile, over the back
“ e bet Stock for
e that siock you.* he w, o
sided; “right bere” and he tapped bulgtng
i e
. You, the slock™ returned W
Pleasantly. “Why, Mr. Spooser, my firm hae
docided not 1o bother with the Desamer Com.
pany.” He paneed placidly 1o wateh My
Spooger clutehing st hs Adawm's apple; “wO,
muuu.hhnlm:::mld‘t..!
rrv-h-n. from you from ot ere
Ir,” e »
t Hponger gripped hie caffe wildly in both
hm-umu».-u-mrm “And
’T- sold N :“ me!™ he hetly rharged Mackte
“You never & word about buying erira
shares Trom Walllneford'™ -
“Tel. Wi!’™ remonstrated” Bisckie indly.
“You 4t il me you intended 10
. - - A e
-g e n
representative of the trest. “1 don '-.1. z
ok~
“Throw it away, (hen™ advised Walltngtore
“I'd sappest that rou heep 0. thoagh -
reenintion adopted almoet mm
wight, My thummunh
'ummwm.xmum--
Soaey | sRS Guieg &ke came
“That stock's worth afl 1t cost you
how B had alt Izu-‘ 2 never weoyld
“lomar wet pay @ividends for fve yoars
cowe Wt lflmlbn;-mmntr
holp e Wil Bess
...,-':{3'-4: Sapname. T e
r“’.ms Rememter m.m‘
“You can help voie tn repaper the offen, o
b adopd ik etafhonery bt hal'e shent ol ~
Placbie informed him “The ot vty of
::* Peve et o cmmpasry n:;m o ar regs
Eap g on] ditertion of (he fomewts
o Ihe edt ton Jeare”
THE EnD.