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See the New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford in Motion Pictures
gfi" Continued from Preceding Page.
~ and mustache and even clinging to his eye
r brows, was bent over a much-soiled building
plan,
%. “I'm in no hurry, Mr. Bessmer,” said Wlfllnl
¢ ford cheerily, *“When you're not so busy,
" I'll take up with you the matter of the pur
| chase of that stock.”
. Mr. Begsmer seemed somewhat embarrassed,
I "I'm very sorry to say you're too late,” he re
. turned, his conscience smiting him that he had
~ helped to trick this friendly big stranger out
" of a possibly profitable deal.”
“You don't mean to say you've sold it!”
. protested Wallingford.
; In spite of his compunctions, a gleam of
. atisfaction lit Mr. Bessmer's eyes.
4 “Well,” he stated apemgetically, “the spot
- pagh was offered me, and now I'm building my
i ex%nslmm
“1 bet I know who bought it,” declared
. Wallingford, with a trace of annoyance,
: “Your friend Mr. Daw,” admitted Bessmer,
. flushing slightly. “I'm afrald that he played
. a rather questionable trick on xeu, and that
! made myself a party to it.”
“I can’t blame voun,” pardoned Wallingford,
hurt, but generous. “Does Mr. Daw now own
all your surplus stock?”
“Every share of "
“Where would | find Mr. Daw?”
Bessmer suddenly laughed. “He is probably
" put olling the engine, or trimming castings at
. one of the emery-wheels to see the sparks, o
. riding on the warchouse elevator. Shall | sena
& for him?
. “No, thanks.” replied WaHingford with care
" ful gravity. “If you don't mind my going
~ hrough yvour factory unattended I'll hunt him
ap.”
p\\‘uh a fair certainty of what he would find,
Wallingford walked back through the grind.
" jmgshop and out the side door. Across the
yard, on one bf the little narrow-gauge tracks
which ran everywhere, came a black casting:
car, rattling and bumping st top speed, and
standing on the buffers was a tall, lank figure
fn new vivid bine overalls and blouse and
. wearing a workman's cap tilted rakishly up
" gver one corner of his forehead.
“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, until Blackie came back with a face
. which, though well grimed, was perfectly
~ happy.
"1 thought you were supposed to stick
. arouind the town, in a siik hat, and inspire
. confidence.” compinined Wallingford by way
of gnouu '
. "You know, Jim, sometimek | think you're a
. dub, after all” reproached Blackie. “You
. never will get the finer points of stagecraft.
- 1 had mysel!l made apsistant manager, and I'm
_inapiring so much confidence that this morning
| had Bessmer lock my own money in his safe
~ for fear I'd trust myself too far™
. “Assistant manager.” chuckled Wallingford,
é’llh‘ the born instinet for mechanics of
%'fiflv\h”hls‘d:olm. “What do you
manage, rilfl y?
~ “The ollean, till the engineer hid It.” Blackie
. am_‘ “;l- with regret. ;
0 you've t of that
a: et Uit 5 & Taisoepettss
. "I'm so discouraged.” ssserted Blackie. 1
. Bever get credit for anything. Mere's your
. let. Stay and have lunch with us, Jim *
© “Luneh’'” pusried Wallingford. “Why, you're
. Bot over four biocks from your hotel”
. "Tree.” assented Biackie. “but am | one to
| hsume airs of superiority gyer my own in.
workmen® | treat them as fellow
- Bay of my suburb on the reform ticket this
. #o | bring my lunch with me, in & Mttle
' At noonthwe. I've improved a ot in
- n-de.lp Shall | come up and play for
L M you do I'll slurder you" declared Wal
u “You stay away from my hotel until
BRRST, et oo e
at
Ber's invitation. 1o Inspect (he plans for the
b Wl‘h =
"T've dreamed ton vears.” stated
Bessmer happily. “Did you secure any stock ™
“Not & share” answered 'lw mwuch
- ' “Mr. Daw '—.l -
g yith you" announced the
i the extensions we're making. | belleve we
Ave Oak Center awakened ” 1o manufac
i hlu:l,u:u‘ .:‘l_h will be worth
"1 belleve I° sdmitted Wallingford. *1
T mind confessing now that | wished to
Y it for another corporation ™
Mr. Bessmer Jooked up st him with ahary
“The monopoly, eh ™
AT PFTEY WILKSE" read Wailingford from
i Blacite's list; “the leading sport of
= she village, and might bot as high as
B dollars. Wears & gray pull tie on Sun
8 #nd the siher 190 on wesk days. Pro
ar of father s shoestore and almost real
& with that description, Wallingford
MBo trouble in picking out Petey ia Wilke's
Doe Koo g -
1 andersiand you have some stook in the
Malieatis Frocess o-.-zi
g iy'e been telling.” was P e
i o Fou care 1o soll u™
Wil anyfhing et my wite. but |AN mar
1 foked Mr Wilks, and this time he
o sty dog Wallimglord compl
& Iy >
tt?_ TWhsL Wil you take for your
Moy Wilks bad (he chin of an idiot and the
-ol . 'b-t e had the Q-.d. miear
N want 1o fllé" m
rhe pasere are ot
" " making all W"
| Ay Break him the ecoldly
penndihe Wallinglord smiling e cola.y
dollare & share h'.‘”-
&. My Srm will pay you sisty deb
|y ™(" aoied —
o Ch.. - ooy "
B g e S
| ;- i ooa whis
2»— e »
e et
“It's bought,” accepted Wallingford, and
counted out four bills, a five hundred, two one
hundred and a fifty, so promptly that u“looked
like the throw«fl of a printing press. “Where
is your stock?”
“l sald eighty-five,” correctofd (l”etey quickly,
laring . accusingly at Wallingford.
y " ?mnumlerfltood vou,” and Wallingford,
hastily gathering up the money, made as If
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
eighty.”
s‘l ynld 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 avoldable
motion.
“Anyhow,” he exulted, as he clamped the
money carefully in his fingers, “I make fifty
pur cent on an investment | thought was dead.
I had it five years, and that's ten per cent a
year.'
“Tbat's good business,” approved Walling
ford. “I wonder where I could get some more
of this? 1 understand that Mr. B. F. Croats
has a tenshare certificate. Do you suppose
he would sell 17"
“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. “I
must put Binky wise,” he observed, as he hur
ried to the 'phone. “He's too 'Phehod Just
now to hold out for a good price.
By the time Petey neur-: 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 could
hear the sound of Binky's eager voice, like the
biast of a trumpet, throughout the room.
“Why don't you sell your Bessmer stock?"
suggested Petey. “Oh, yes, somebody ought
o buy it. Bessmer's stirring around down
there and it ought to be worth pretty near
what you pald for it hefore long.”
“Ah, shucks! Why, I'l 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 fifty dollars on your ten
shares. Don't mention it, old horse. Briog 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 uwp 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
Al any price
Wallingford, delighted to find him so obdu
rate. offered him seventy-five, & hundred, and
finally & bundred and ten. At that mn he
Phused, for fear Thaddeus might : bmt
Thaddeus did not invite more w
?::e sir!” he hoarsely |'r i"1 never
ko kon my judgment. bought my stock
from young Willlam Bessmer because | tlum
he was & coming man. and he is coming
never sell my stock till he proves that | was
right; and he's m
“Very well” Wallingford with
a h, and now hcb-fi his cwu.a on
Kl ’m whose name marked
with three stars. “Apparently you won't sell.
mum'&--mummm
uw:‘. D of the kind." wheesed
uxh. t "
Thaddeus, 1o w such an idea had not oo
curred, m&-‘.fl safe, and | always ad
vise my 1o follow it; If they don't, they
can’t blame me.”
After this, W, went Bome, well
w-nmwowt: but he had not
1. for Just before dinner Petey Wilks
u-ouht-i:cnmunurhn
Croats's stoe uh.laxgw elghty.
five dollars & share —and winning
In the morning Wallingford went to see the
Bext tenahare man on the report. “Spraddies
Martin” Biackie had listed him. “Keeps books
In the plowdactory, and walks like s one
iegaed turtle. Human Billiken, and | like him -
Imunhamuulmuhbhdy.
.umbm-umuuwm
right place. s mind was well and
Eracefully active, however
"My Bessmer stock™ he remarked. poking
% pen behind his Jest ear, which was better
suited for the purpose than Mis right one. 1
Fuess you mast be the man Petey Wilks wants
1o sell it 10. e tried to buy it from me last
NiEBL &t all the way from forty p to elghty
1 P S vv, g
thmt oy was willing 0 pa
ARy, i was worth & handred {'c‘.-nn
bhnhM.iu.Mm‘nnnw.
TH It you have it for o hundred and ten
e ehurking cu-w as he announced thie
bt be sobered as ingford prompily dealt
him owt eleven hundred dollars
“I'm afrald | dMn charge you enough” he
“This stock s worth almost ARy price 1o my
firm. " admitied '-nlrn "
-u::‘:' Philosaph ieally A ‘m" - e
he produced the stock wiiling :
“Are
Pay & hundred and ten for ““d this you
s
‘l{:‘” you & hundred and ten ‘l-w.
SYErY share you can brisg me 1o the
Hotel. Just inguive for My '*..'
" 1 need your same st Bagle ”
lectared "1 could deseribe you s
o e if you
you pay & hundred and seen
“1 -pl. it dickored wih me hard
“You'll got some of hardeat dicuering
that was ever dn::‘yq.' Promieed Spraddion
-:.ri arm for bis cont. “I'm
” = Buy stock. | can gt 1o where
e guieher than you san
"1 geees 0" slghed Wallingford whih the
Wi of o ahused persen. “Bat promise me one
ihing, whether you secure any Mock oF nod,
uo-"j 16 me ot the hotel this evening, west
o
“Al sarved Spraddios and
- .."§‘ o I sareset hame oßioes
-m" Wallingtord 1o
thy raniented -
cxpoetd. bested Bl & ©sk
m l-l.lz Bwp ot three intiend
“You ove me ke e s
; et ee W and sven u
an Youd thinh Bessmer stonh was
and oA ¥ Rganges "r .
Sewause | enly , .
Wallingford felt sweet peace surging through
him. EN Spooger was planted, and ripe! He
hurried away from that topic. .
“Did lou 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
theß;?lnt of calling a doctor.
“Béssmer’'s got a new partner,” the Billiken
sald, 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 | was down there this
noon; and Sandy McClintock was patting a big
hole in the cinders with both feet.”
CHAPTER V.
LI BPOOGER 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
volce was full of human kindness; “and “you
are Mr. Wallingford, | am sure.”
Wallingford smiled with fully as much
benevolence as Mr. Spooger had exhibited. 1
seem to have been accurately described,” he
returned, and ceased to study Mr. Spooger
with any degree of curlosity.
“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Spooger. “Any
gentleman endeavoring to buy control in a
local concern for the benefit of a trust is sure
- - .
' “‘;“s\ o ‘
('& } ¥
" 3. R
l. o\ \;~
s. s e
? I"" b 'i k 1
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5 3 » 4
.*‘l:‘:}*, B e
[y . 5 A A '
‘i’ % & \
Ve y y
s ™ ; # ¢ 1 »A .-‘i“. . A ‘
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Y N edb R
Y e “a] e
Lol B fg Ad @ vé(
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o 9 T "oy v
3 g e 3
B T RN
; 5 ‘..‘,,‘; A W" ‘
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£, - ge ot . "*’ ’ »
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v - . o f b S
. " . Pose | . 7 A 4 -«
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; . fi t&; v o :‘ . & B“%}\ g": 23 i
P 515,"-: . R : Y - O
. g < .’ *»3}#‘ ‘i“"\ :&l' F
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3 ; ; » * : o
L9K 3 P
¢B;o ¥ e o 8
P - L oy 1 %
) ' \‘% . y S ;"f A
4 ot SRR fa; ’ :
N 8 * ’ ¢ . *};.‘: % # -
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43’ * 3 \V = .
SR N 1 o
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3 . | S e o
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5 ’ e J
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L
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- //411«’9
““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 Wonderfu! Higstrations
Have Made Familiar Types of the Characters in the Wallingford Stories.
o be mech discussed
“It'e the sad trath sdmitied Wallingtord
very visibly anmsoyed by the fact. “The publie
works 8 doubleswivel spoiilgM on ansone con
nected with & big concers such ¢ | am sap
m‘;hnu b 1 ennt fl:‘l‘o:mllmu:
see | oan't, what you was
ht_#:i.-w-l«v“ &
coming on.” approved Mr Spooger
m‘&un’bmm‘muu
be almost Impationt. 1 have ten shares of
Wy own, and twenty five shares which | yos
terday aceepled. from clients of mine, 1o apply
um.‘.m which were in arrears
e fgured Wallingford in
& disappointed tone. “ls that all™
fl\u:'mhlbomt.“m';u&u
" itted Spooger. “The price wi .
bundred and twenty Sve "
“Murder!” saclaimed Wallingford, pleased,
and yot shooked, that his plans had worked
o extremely well. “Why, you are trying to
ke advaniaze of what you consider 1o be
Beceasity
..."munm.mpm
In his tonderest feslings. “You are most wn
aL" he complamed. “I am only correctly
SARING the market value of the slock to your
menopoty ) have iabored 1o secure thews for
you, and the nborer s worthy of his hire *
“A l.—‘tn m‘mvm“nw iatrer o
“‘i\l. - .:'J:m Mr Spooger, t;nl
*m mtw *"You
oßered my friend Putmas se bigh as & hun
dred and ten . and youne Mr Martin sho was
SRNlous 16 buy my stock 1o sell 1o you At 8
PPI offered me & hundred and fes The
M Mh-lvu:u' 1 m.r
o | oam ¥
-.-,hm.mmm;
W comceded Wallingloed
zp‘wg?hm‘buowd
“Four ihonsand (hroe bandred asd sevents
fee deliare.” repiind My Prosnpal s
: n:wu desk. “Here
e e n:mm
" and the mild eyes of Mr. Spooger took on the
passing expression of twin needles.
“Ot course they will not sell stock to you at
the factory,” he conjectured, watching hungrily
as Wallingford counted out the money, and
noticing 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 1 want; moreover,
b 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 thise
times, and felt each bill, and held it to the
light. \
“If 1 _should secure some of his stol-k\. I
suppose you would be in the immediate market
for 1t?" he suggested, after he had deposited
the money in his safe and twirled the knob
about ning times.
“At the rrenem moment,” declared Mr. Wall
ingford, with a trace of vindictiveness, “there
I 8 nothing 1 desire so much as tp have every
share of the Bessmer stock taken away from
Mr, Daw.”
“I ha.a understood shat there was a de
plorabie personal feeling in this matter,” com
mented Mr. Bpooger, grieving over the selfish
passions of men. “Jim Hoddery, who has the
Brick conimct for the new Bessmer buiiding.
ol me that you were bitter busines: rivals ™
“We are oven more than that.” stated Wall
inglord. wih every appearancs of {ruthfultiess
CHAPTER Vl.
LACKIE DAW, who had in perfection
B what is known se the hoaler's touch, was
extracting, with & buge magnet, an iron
M|»mdnhmm -mvi‘a:
c@lind, and he @ERitively refused
mmuquw.mu
he had Brisd up in the neglocted patiern room
back of his degk. The workman came out with
::%:»m». bandaged. and smil'ng grate
r. Spooghrs sl wailt o see you,
Wlackie ™ Mv:d Mesamer '.'"Hc'u outside in
wmm."
Erinding room ™ replied Wackie softly.
“is ennctly the place for Mr. Spooger.” and
Bassmer, thinking he understood the Joke,
#ave it full achmowiodgment.
i;. chth .:- xh =ith m’* :m private, 'h‘v:.t
our vou, r unzw
hind playfuincss. drawing Biackie into »
Corner
“Oome over here then” invited Blackie,
-11-t:‘.m him Inte another cormer
which 8o particle more secrelive. “"Now,
what can we do for each other™
‘Yu-wmmmumwm
“fi:‘mdmufi‘:‘-‘l‘h.
rou "
Mm “flr,mw.m:kwdmn
® saver
"1 Baven't maeh 16 sell” Blackie told him.
looking decidedly wncomiorabie 1 coulds |
m“flm - "
ot Moo 73 hrhed ha b shoud eves
s ~ ane, |am sure,
would wish 1o injare My Dm-w.'mho
Yery hamest. hand working business man. e
Hflmflm%dhm
ann—-:s.mw I rou chone
bflficn“r fi“”“mm
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. 1 like the sound of the
’ord.”
“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. *“Atethat, I'll only sell you
fifty shares. 1 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.”
“I am not an agent or emmissary for any
one,” stated Mr, Spooger, much outraged. “I
am investing, or.-neculaunz 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 1 sell more than that, I'll
sell all. If 1 have to weaken my majority of
stock, I want to be ouat entirely.”
Mr. Spooger stilled the pea-like thumping of
his heart. “Would you seriously contemplate
selling all?” he asked quietly, »
“Well, yon 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 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 the strict truth, Blackie had a
perfectly clean conscience when he said it.
“I'll take those fifty share, at par,” Mr.
Spooger slowly observed, after thinking a long,
long time. “If I were you, I would not say any
thing to Mr. Bessmer about it just now. Sup
pose | 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 tomorrow forenoon.”
Mr. §pooger was busy writing him out a
check. “Here is five thousand dollars for your
fifty shares.,” be stated, holding it with both
hands for impressiveness. “Just think how
little those fifty shares cost you, and how much
rofit |am giving you! Multiply that by the
L.luco of your stock, gnd think it over!”
“I don't like to leave this place.” mourned
Blackie. “I'm teaching fwo of the boys, over
in the shipping room, to dance the double clog.”
Mr, Spooger returned to Wallingford's hotel
triumphant!y.
“l can get you fifty shares of that stock.” he
announced, delighted to give Wallingford so
much pleasurs; “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..
“I ean't get it for you for less,” declared Mr,
Spooger, seemingly sad that such was the case
“I don’t believe | want it at all,” suddenly
decided Wallingford,
“Why not ™ dgmanded Spooger, in breathless
fright.
“Because you have only fAfty shares of it
My instructions are 1o secure control, and am
beginning to be disconraged about iL.”
“You buy these fAfty shares at the price
named, and l’!l.tdl 'yu some good news”
promised Ell with exunitant playfulness,
*Do (vc-‘m that you can .cnt’ all of ™
asked Wallingford eagerily.
“1 believe that | can”™ jubliated EI, and
rubbed his hands over and over each other,
“Then 'l pay you a hundred and thirty.
five for these fifty with pleasure,” and Wal
lingford jerked out his pocketbook.
Mr, Spooger ~as sorry he had sald that he
could merely secure the fifty shares, for he
had the certificate in his pocket, However,
he had made it an early motto that if he could
not entirely avold evil he would aveld all ap
pearance of evil
“I'l be back In ten minutes.” he stated.
“You'll be right here, won't you? and he
eyed Wallingford's pocketbook anxiously.
“Right here,” Wallingford assured him.
Mr. Spooger was back in nine minutes and
8 hall. “If | can secure the remainder of that
stock | don't think it will be necessary (o raise
the price above a hundred and thirty-five,” he
suggested, being quite certaln that this was
the limit which Wallingford would pay.
"1 M!‘d. -y ymml" not f;bo the M':
retorted Wallinaf, “1 may reloss. bu
1 don't mean any harm to nnlf'.: -
“Will you pay a hundred and thirtyfive®
Apooger wanted 1o be assured.
“1 will pay & hundred and thirty.-five doliars
8 sthare for every share of Bessmer stock that
vou sell me from now on” Wallingford truth
fully answered
CHAPTER VIL
N Eaglieh gentleman, with brogd checked
A clothes. monocle, sowing yellow mus
tache, and two soung and beautife!
iadies, one brownesed and one blus, dropped
into town that ovening, and asked numerous
questions about the Hesemer plant-ite reiis
bility, Ha capacily, s expansion and every
other leading fact. After having asked these
questions in the piaces whare they sould most
rapidly clreuiate, be called on Mr. Walling
ford and heid n long. long secret conference.
That sefiled it—the Enghish ccbau was 4
lord - cortatnls not lees - and was negoting
ing for munitions of war to be made at the
Ressmer plani
In the privacy of Wallingford's room, had
the publle but known i, the jord's name was
plain Ondon Jones, and sothing more serfous
than & bottle of wine was discassed. 1n vub
lie, however, when Vielet and Pannie Warden
fook dianer with Onion and J, Rufus, with
Hisckie Daw looking on enviously from the
other curner of the big diningroom, Onjon
Was more like & lord than any ord. In the
morßing he went away with his lndiss, but the
w fall of wild ramors about the mil
muitions contract whieh was to o
10 the Malleable Trast. sot to the Dessmer
'hAl. o A Sew nu‘o‘.md!
lover counting minutes wntil he coaid
e his twis soul bug. b an oyster of pla
ity with hfl: walting for
N m wHA Blackis Daw, He won:
down 16 the factory in the afterncon, but was
W 16 enter the yard, where,
i My Daw was foverishly engased on
some Important preparations for & sen of
EHRIER S ceiohiaiinn on the A
He called ot Mr. Daw's botel that .fi
Wb toM that Mr. Daw was taking his savo
mm '.n'nl could Bot he @leturbed
cleri Plometnt about it oo
Toking he hint from ihese h M
Fpooger walted wntll shatp 4on oehoek (he
Bedl Wmerning. when he was wehered inte M
l:"l foome He found that gentieman freed
- drenmed evvept for
¢m; ang ehind & table, stodi
. ogr & %‘,fl.\gwm P
There en\auad 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 stifled his conscience
and sold to Mr. Spooger, at one hundred dol
lars a share, his entire interest in the Bessme;
Malleable Process Company.
“But 1 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
vou, and here you are offering me thirteen
hundred and fifteen.”
“l acquired a few more,” explained Blackie.
“The certificates are all here, new issues made
out to me last night, and daly signed by the
president and secretary.”
“The more the better,” granted Spooger,
after a littlé thought, and added twice more
so 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!”
“I can carry that much,” Blackie boastfully
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 Blackie,
most amiably. “I'H 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.
Binckle took them out ofa little wooden box,
anll 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 Blackle to the three banks, and
persuaded the much pained gentlemen in
charge to relinquish, collectively, one hundred
and thirty-one thousand, five hundred dollars,
in genuine United States currency; then he
and Mr; Daw parted.
The /huor gentieman 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 being Informed that Mr. Wallingford had
left the city. Mr. Spooger's first w was
swift, direct, and natural to his “The
swindier!” he gasped.
“Who said s 0? demanded Curly x“
"l‘ll' tell him that m.:.mr =
“Is he—is he coming begged Spooger,
breathing with renewed hope. :
“Of course, he 18" stated Curly indignantly.
“He has a trunkful of clothes here that | wish
b.'d leave behind, and there's so much of his
money in that -rol‘ou-mu-olmlu.
He only took & handbag with him. he
nvlad‘o you out of ny.l&..'?;.'
“Wgll, no,” admitted Mr, reluctantly.
"‘n:«doa't.o-munfluh.’m
Curly, and walked away in silent contempt.
CHAPTER VIIL
HE merriment In the festively lighted
vard of the Bessmer Malleable Process
Company was at its height when EN
Spooger, learning that Wallingford had gone
straight there from the nine o'clock traln, re
paired 1o the scene of the festivities.
A wumumummu;unn
square, spr with a snowy cloth, and deco
rated with carnations, champagne palls and
-na«m'mm-ymmmm
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 a farewell
epecch 1o his many friends, in and out of the
factory, and inviting them, one and all, to move
to Tarryville, o that they could vote for him
for mayor, on the reform ticket, in the com
ing Fail
Laughter interrupted his EVOry sent@nce
cheers followed his every pause, and in the
very air there was a thrill which told that he
could march the entire concourse, at that very
moment. right out into the jaws of anything
and come back with the teefh!
It_was all very reassuring to the only mas
in Oak Center who cogld command over a
hundred thousand. cash, and when the Snas!
applause had sabsided, the threestarred one
bent. with an ingratiating smile, over the back
of Wallingford's chaiy, »
I have that stoek for you." he happily con
Rded: “right here” and he tapped bulging
Breast g ket -
“Oh, yes, the slock. ™ retyrned 'M
pleasantly. “Why. Mr. Spooger, my firm has
decided not to bother with the Bessmer Com.
pany.” He paused placidly to walch Mr.
Spooger clutching st his Adam's i "so.
Inst night, before | went om.l#vfll
;u lnwnnl. from you and from others, te
. Daw”
Mr Epooger gripped his cuffs wildly in both
hande and pulled them out arm's ength. “And
::u sold It 1o me!™ he botly charged Hischie
o 4 never -m-mu-um anire
shares from Wallingford'™ -
Ul Wi remonstrated Blackie hiagly.
“You didnt toll me you
“? nefore ® intended 10 sell to
“You foolsd me'” frothed RU turning
representative of the trust. 1 Yom't !: z
ook ”
“Throw it away, then ~ advised Welllagters
“Td suggest that you keep i thoughy .
resointion adopted almest MML
sight. Mr mmmmam-.
within the pext 188 years, to purchase i ot
par., and 1 think h‘i“h”“
m‘*
“That stork's worth afl 1t cont you.”
Row W had all happened, and sever wewld
T mar not pay dividends for five years te
come. but Tl bring it 1o par valne before then.*
“IN4 you help #st me inte thin, Wil Bess
mar™ Ball shrieked Spesger. ‘TN wmeke "
:"‘:‘?‘E"" m.nmumu
L
"flmmmnmm“u
1o adopt pink siationery. but thet's sbout ofl*
Biackie informed Mim. “The constotion of
Mr Pesemer s company. amended ot N reg.
a 1 slockholders’ mesting nst nighl, vhen you
::-‘un.m :-"&-"3."& the coneare,
rOßrer:
for the nest ton yonrs” ] . .
L — SRR
N “flatd;d’“