Newspaper Page Text
' See the New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford in Motion Pictures
g Continued from Preceding Page.
and mustache and even clinging to his eye
% brows, was bent over a much-soiled building
~ plan.
~ “I'm in no hurry, Mr. Bessmer,” said Walling
. ford cheerily. “When you're not so busy,
- ¥l take up with you the matter of the pur
- elase of that stock.”
<r. Bessmier seemed somewhat embarrassed,
.~ "P'm very sorry to say you're too late,” he re
turned, his conscience smiting him that he had
bhelped to trick this friendly big stranger out
of a possibly profitable deal.”
“You don't mean to say you've sold {t!”
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 building my
extensions.
“l bet T 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."
“l can't blame you,” pardoned Wallingford,
hurt, but generous. “Does Mr. Daw now own
all your surplus stock?”
“Every share of iL.”
“Where would 1 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~
. piding on the warehouse elevator. Shall I sena
for him?”
~ “No, thanks,” replied Wallingford with care.
ful gravity., “If you don't mind my going
through your factory unattended I'll hunt him
: "-Wlth a fair certainty of what he would find,
. Wallingford walked back through the grind.
ipg-shop and out the side door. Across the
yard, on one of the little narrow-zauge tracks
which ran everywhare, came a black casting:
~ gar, rattling and bumping at top speed, and
standing on the buffers was a tall, lank figure
in new vivid blue overalls and blouss and
wearing a workman's cap tilted rakishly up
over one corner of his forehead.
“Can't stop, Jim'™ he yelled as he flew past.
- *They're wuua: for this car.”
Wallingford, finding no place jclean enough
10 sit down, stood where he was etm ten mortal
minutes, unt!l Blackle 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 inapire
- confidence,” complained Wallingford by way
of ._’nouu
: 'ou know, Jim, sometimed | think you're a
~ dabd, .flflm .ll.". n:mfllod Blackie. *“You
never w the finer points of stagecraft
1 had -ynlr;uo essistant manager, and I'm
o much confidence that this morning
1 bad Bessmer lock my own money in his safe
soar ll'd trust myself too far™
~ “"Asststant manager,” chuckled Wallingford,
~ who had the born instinct for mechanics of
. Which Blackie had no trace. “What do you
fl -Kf-'; till the engineer hid 1" Blackle
M.“‘. ‘:l- with regret
.y you've t of that
&m G-mwou na {'.u-.......
. "Tm om':c. nt:.fl“ :mm |
never eredit 8. ere’'s your
list g_u‘ have hmnl s, Jim "
“Lunch'” pustied Wallingford. “Why, you're
. “Tree.” sssented Blackie. “dut am ! one to
_ fasame airs of -rrhmy over my own iln
3 workmen® | treat them s fellow
- beings. You see, | intend to run for
~ Mavor of my suburd on the reform ticket this
L almmmm-o.humh
“mmog‘wmm:u
- . fmproved a n
- “mnlu-ou.ufluu
§& you _Ovu"n! ”m you" declared Wa)
B from my hotel unt
W are Dhrough - v .
35’%. h: war m”wslhfl:“uom.&b‘:
Bers javitation inspect plans
Bappily. “Did you securs any stock ™
& “Mr. Daw won't »
— . "The local papers are full
the extensions were uht.l bellave we
Ive Oak Conter awakened at to manufae
- llll.:t:-‘ J!u stock will be worth
L Belleve L admitted Wallingford 1
DRt mind confessing mow that | wished to
g’ = another corporstion
el looked up ot him with sharp
o “The monopoly, en ™
41 WILKS" read Walllngtord from
Biackio's lst; “the leading sport of
the village. and might bet as high as
e dollars. Wears & gray puff tie on SNan
y Imuhlnnmau Pro
o father's shoastore and almost resl
E m that ;n-m w =
o treusle 1n picking o Puiey ' Wikes
N understand rou bave some stock ia the
b Malisadie Process Company ”
£ N been talling.” was the gity re
fl-:’al'kmubuh
e & %“?’ Wallingford compi
% had the ehin of an idist and (he
. .“..bdhh‘b‘md.-.u,
Rt reckos -u-uu.'hh-a’u‘
“The papers are full of how
m In business ten rm .ith
A BEY money, but be don't owe any
v "%‘ me
“I'm 15 aay Dhat Ite Wty
IS mere. My firm will pay you sisty dob
N ayee of Peter sarrowed otill more
e z“f" be seied
d. )
1 Wallinglord. eveating that
. " Witk Bo e®ort whalsowier,
%.l " and he O
& Mg red 0 bulged wun
. # elreaintion of Witle
" o of Mond increased 1o & whiy
T e .
“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.
“l misunderstood you,” and Wallingford,
hastily gathering up the money, made as if
to start for the door.
“Wait a minute!” called Petey, experiencing
pangs as be saw all those warmly tinted en
gravings disappearing. “I might sell for
eighty.”
%,! ynid 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 careMlly in his fingers, “I make fifty
per cent on An investment I thought was dead.
I bad it five years, and that's ten per cent a
year"
“That's good business,” approved Walling
ford. "1 wonder where | could got some more
of this? I understand that Mr, B. F. Croats
has a ten-share certificate. Do you suppose
he would sell it?"
“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 aseailed Petey. “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 oecurof his number, how.
ever, tae faculty which lay behind his miserly
eyes had evolved another course of action.
“You sald, last night, you wanted some money,
dido’t you, Bink?" he hegan.
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. “Ob, yes, somebody ought
1o buy it. Bessmer's stirring around down
there and it ought to be worth pretty near
what you paid for it before long.”
“Ah, shucks! Why, 'l buy it myself, on
speculation. Of course | won't give you quite
what 1t cost you, but I'm willing to gambie
four hundred and ofty dollars on your ten
shares. Don't mention it, old horse. Bring 1t
right down, and get your money. and say,
Binky, come the back way, will you?"
Potey 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
o think up the brilllant scheme to buying
Binky's stock. Tustead, Wallingford went
llru:hl to Thaddeus Putman.
Old Thaddeus looked with stern disapproval
on Wallingford's offensively cloan shirt, and
he steadfastly refdsed to sell his Bessmer stock
at any price
Wallingford, delighted to find bim so obdu.
Tate. offered him seventyfive, a hundred. and
finally & bundred and ten. At thet figure ha
paused, for fear Thaddeus might sell, but
Thaddeus did not invite more m
b 0 6o o el Th ) tever
o on my judgment. my stocl
from young William Bessmer because | !h‘*:t
nvuac-lunn:nd»hm 1
never sell my stock il he proves that | wes
Tight; and he's proving "
“Very well” relinguished Wallingford with
a h, and now %fl:rm on
*ith three stars. “Apparently you won't well,
but at Jeast g' will not advise your friends
to hald on, will you™
“T'l make wo :n-.hu of the kind.” wheessd
Thaddeus, to w such an ides had not oc.
curred, ;w.u'o safe. and | alvays ad
vise my to follow it; if they don't, they
can™t bame me "
After this, mm,un went home, well
satisfied with his da % work: but he had pot
finished it for just bhefors dinper Petey Wilks
came g: Bim, and judllantly seld h':'- Binky
.'l‘ h.l:n s -h-n'-n‘ winning.
0 the morning Wallingford went to see the
paxt tenshare man on the report. “Bpraddies
Martin,” Backie had listed him. “Keaps books
ummm«:.mnmmnm
legged turtle. Human Billiken. and 1 Hke him
Spraddion’s face was as awkward as his body,
mulmuumnhmm
right place. Mis mind was well and
Erncelully active, howsver
“My Bessmer stock?™ he remarked. poking
% pen behind his left ear, which was better
suited for the purposs than his right one. 1
Kuess you must be the man Petey Wilks wants
o il 010 umlmmhru'nmmh-t
night ot all the way from forty up to eighty.
w 0 dollars and Aty cents o share, but | knew
that If Petey was willing to Pay elighty twe
nn{, u:'n 'm:.‘. hundred. 18 ‘s sold
o him that, . slace you're & Im’.
l‘n”l.um‘::uhfmlmh ..‘mtfll
© cheerfuliv ae he anpounced 3
but he sobered as w.:fmmm, dealt
kim out eleven hundred
“I'm afraid | dMdat charge you esoush.” he
flthunthmhm“rmhw
firm " admitted Wallingtord reckiossly.
*Anyhow, T've wot it all over Petey Wilke
Bpraddies philosaphically consoled bimsall as
be produced the stock. “Are you willing to
uyo;.mmhh.ldfihn
can
”lrmnmoulfiuulln‘lhnh
Svary share sou can Sring me to the Fag'le
Hotel. Just inguive for My, Wll?l.'
“1 wouldnt need your name ot Eagle”
Soh that Corty Washburs woutt e Lo
wall that Washburn would turn v“
10 soe If you wasn't standing ?fl there
You pay & hundred and ffeen
1 might, o dickered with me bord
enough W
“Youll get some of Bardest dickering
hat was ever done to " promised Spraddies,
remching an -M arm for his cont. "I'm
r. Out and buy stoek. | can get 1o where
s guicher than POU can
< ‘p- 0. sighed Wallingford with the
Alr of an abused person. “But promise me one
Ihing; whether you secure any stock or ot
n;‘n 16 e 8l the botel thie evening. won't
ron ™
“An !T." apreed Spraddies and
oul of the room In sarsest &m
Cfi for Wallingford to \ ®
Bia holel and waited fi as he had
a:'mn. hu:: Bim up st (Bres o clock lnstend
You ene me Marhew” he an
Wilke bent me 10 0, and sven didn :
2.-'-"-‘-‘- Spesger Sumied to have
e
an becuuse | only offered Mm o -&
Wallingford felt sweet peace surging through
him. EN Spooger was planted, and ripe! He
hurried away from that topic.
“Did JO“ 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 neva.nartner,” the Billiken
sald, wben ‘the worst of the symptoms had
passed. “le's a long, skinny fellow, and was
playing the sailor's hoedown on a horn liye a
big gourd pipe when I was down there this
noon; and Sandy McClintock was patting a big
hole in the cinders with both feet.”
CHAPTER V.
LI SPOOGER looked over his glasses at
E Wallingford with a benevolent smile, and
rubbed his bony old knees very, very
gently. “Yes, | am Mr, Spooger,” he ac
knowledged to Wallingford’'s query, and his
vol% wag full of human kindness, “and you
are™ Mr. Wallingford, I am sure.”
Wallingford smiled with fully as much
benevolence as Mr. Spooger hagd exhibited. “I
seem to have been accurately described,” he
returned, and ceased to study Mr. Spooger
with any degree of curiosity. 5
“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Spooger., “Any
gentleman endeavoring to buy control in a
local concern for the benefit of a trust is sure
~— ,
\Jx:;‘n.\” . \"’\-’
LR ey
o e
T 9 4 ”x\
g Sy P et L
(;: % K ol \g'*'i
> «s‘% "'f: b W*' ‘i | | t‘:"«?
~ m gl ». ) ‘
1 i b
.t:"\‘ 7w#" , . ,"* 3" d
» - k - " e ,
T T A
b 4 5 “p?’:j;‘ \/ "'fl B )
) R t;fi.i ? - .\‘
0y My s i~ 1
};'Téz s '&”\;‘ R 4, — \
. | - ."p'v e ’3
8 k 2 N » :
’ . : :i* -».‘ i |
LA My e - y R e
L %@;" 3 i B
OF Ll TR
N T, = San , !
y : !’ P " 4 ;""»‘f .
VSRR WR Y |
1J ! . b 2 M:‘ f 2 % [ ‘_s' s}‘ »
‘ Vil f o%Py -4] ’.”
\: B 3 ¥ s %g gt
%B % .
0 : \ PR : e
f e :‘.‘ ;} ‘oi .";1
. : gj . - .Y
. -~ 5 F f Y ;‘w ~
s. - W
-
' <
& -
“You're Dealing With Spot Cash,” Said Wallingford Displaying a
Big Red Pocketbook m Bulged With Important Bills.
From the Drawing by C. K. CHAMBERS, the Famous Artist, Whese Wonderful Hiustrations
Have Made Famillar Types of the Characters in the Wallingford Stories
1o be much discussed
“It's the sad truth.” admitted Wailinglord,
vary visibly annoyed by the fact. “The publie
works & doubleswivel spotlight oo anyons con
nected with a big concern such as | am sup
posed to represent. Personally, | shrink from
publicity, but since | can't, what 4o you wast
for the Bessmar stock ™
“We are c.ua:l.‘ approved Mr. Spooger,
much grotified. MMLWCOD
be almost impatient. “T have shares of
|y own, and twenty-five shares which | yeos
terday accepted, from clients of mine, to apply
on paymentis which were 'n arrears.”
‘%M" figured Wallingford in
ad e ;::.mm uu' 3!]?‘ &
mitted Mr. Spooger e *.m.'.m!..
bundred and twentyfive ”
“Murder!™ exclaimed Wallinglord, pleased,
and yot shocked, that his fl‘:u.' hu‘ nvb‘:
80 extramaly well. “Why, you are rying
e umu'o: of what you consider to be
"n:""'“’m was not indignant . merely hurt
I his tenderest feclings. “You are most us-
JUeL" be complained. lam only correctly
mfiommdlnmum
monopoly. | bave labored 1o secure them for
you, and the laborer is worthy of his hire*
“A bundred and twentyfive fen't ‘aborers
profit, I‘.M."m&mfl“m
"‘"fi. tut!™ c:“.“lr Hpenger, v'nl
angelic forgivenses harsh *You
offered my friend hl.num?:':l bun
dred and ten; and younz Mr. Martin, whe was
ARxiows o buy my stock 1o sell 1o you 8! &
Profit, offared me & bundred snd Sve The
o"0 v ' el
L
.fl*o‘n“mm"
vl"mwm
zlwr. . "
th“mmm
fve dollare” replind My r.n prompily
mun-own Aesk. “Here is
eres
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
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 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 the
times, and felt each bill, and held it to the
light.
“It 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 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.”
“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
brick contract for the new Bessmer building
told me that you were bitter bysiness rivals
“We are even more than thet " stated Wall.
lagford, with overy appesrasce of Lruthfuluess
CHAPTER V 1
LACKIE DAW, who had ia perfection
antumnumh-nnm.m
Sxtracting. with » Buge magnet, su iron
m;u'&o::‘n.:ubvm%
L&} . D-flmd!"‘"“
:&:mu:mwmflkb
P In the neglected patiers room
hciflln‘u:. The workman came out with
mll'&h and by, bandaged, and smiling grate
'r.w-mumh‘umm
Wmm‘ “He's outside In
room."”
arinding room ™ replied Biackie softly,
-u-o«ummnm.w.'u
Bassmer, thinking he usderstood the Joke,
Save it full acknowleagment.
"lvhhumu-u:n-rnmu.m
b{.:vtnum.'m r.‘n:um
* playfuisess, drawing Riackie inte »
corner
“Come over here then” fnvited Blackie,
solomaly isading him into another eorser
which was no particle more secretive. “Now,
-v'%&‘:.."&..--:..um
o
Mvesiment in (his establishment; that fa, ¥
you mads the of the stock low snough
Wltimn.mmwdan“
ferring a saver,
- o;nmy::é;w -n":-nn
':.".:!,_.u.......____‘..-...' -
mer e of the r
Mt Bpooger was shocked he should sven
fohceive such an Mea. “No one, 1 am sere,
mmnml’. Begemer, who s a
h“omu‘m”dfio:‘
fire community, inclading myself 1f you ehose
REGT RS T .BV mnd S res
U anmouned afabiy.
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
word.”
“It doesn’t sound half as well as, say, sev
enty-five dollars, cash,” insinuated Mr. Spooger,
laughing like one glving 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 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 soo, 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 T 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 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
gon‘l comwe over to-night, and see you at your
otel.” =
“Make it tomorrow morning at ten o'clock,”
amended Blackie. “I am not coming to the
shop to-morrow forenoon.”
Mr. §pooger was busy writing him out a
check. “Here is five thousand dollars for your
silty shares,” he stated, holding it with both
hands for impressiveness. “Just think how
little those fifty shares cost you, and how much
profit |am giving ‘ou! 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. Spooger returned to Wallingford's hotel
trivmphantly.
“l can get you fifty shares of that stock.” he
announced, delighted to give Wallingford so
much pleasure: “but you'll have to raise the
price to & hundeed 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.
“] ean’t get it for you for less,” declared Mr,
Spooger, seemingly sad that such was the case,
“1 don’t believe | want it at all,” suddenly
decided Wallingtord.
“Why not?™ demanded Spooger, in breathless
fright.
“Because you haye oniy fifty shares of it
My instructions are to secure control, and am
beginning to be discouraged about 1"
“You buy these fifty shares at the price
named, and INI tell you some good news™'
promised Ell with exultant playfulness,
“Do you mean that you can secure all of It*™
asked Wallingford eageriy.
“l believe that 1 can” judilated Ell, snd
rubbed his hands over and over each Bther
“Then 11! pay you s bubdred and thirty.
five for these fifty with pleasurs” and Wal
lufon jerked out his pocketbook.
r. Bpooger «as sorry he had said that he
could merely secure the fifty shares, for he
had the ceriificate In his pocket. However,
be had made it ah early motto that if he could
not entirely avold evil he would avold all ap
pearance of evil .
“I'll b 4 back in ten minutes.” he stated
'Yo-"lluuflnlm m‘:m"’u‘h
sved lingford's ketboo! b
“Right here” wufiuon m
Mr. Bpooger was back in nine minutes and
s Ball. “If | can socure the remainder of that
stock I don't think it will be necessary to ralee
the price above a hundred and thirtyfive,” he
suggested, being quite certain hat this was
the limit which Wallingford would pay
*1 should say you wou'd not raise the price’™
retorted Wallingford. 1 may be careless, but
1 don't mesn any harm to myself”
“Will you pay a bundred and thirty-five*™
Epooger wanted to be assured.
“I will pay & hundred and thirtyfive dollars
» share for every share of Besamer stock that
you sell me from now on” Wallingford truth.
fully answered
CHAPTER VIL
N English gentieman, with broad checked
A clothes, mopocie, flowing rellow mus.
tache, and two soung and beautiful
Indies, one browneyed and one blue, dropped
into town that evening, and sshed numerous
m y “.4“ cipansion :.“‘. o
. s capacity, ! avery
other leading fact, After Baving asked these
questions in the places where they would most
rapidly cirenlate, he called on Mr. Walling
ford and held a m..cnt conference.
That settied jt—t cu-n s a
lord—certainly not lese - and waa negotiat
ing for munitions of war to be made at the
Besamer plant.
In the privacy of Wallinglord's reom, had
the public but knows it the jord's name was
plain Onion Jones, and sothing more serious
thap & bottle of wine was discussed. In pub.
He, however, whea Violet and Paasie Warden
took dinner with Onlon and J. Rafus, with
Blackic Daw looking on enviowsly from the
other corner of the big diningroom, Ounlon
was more like & lord than any lord. In the
morning be weat away with his lndies, but the
w full of wild rumors about the mil
munitons contract which was to o
1o the Malleabls Trust, not to the Dessmer
plant, a 8 at first reporied’
A lover counting the minutes until he cosid
see his twin soul would be an oyster of pla
W with En Onag walting for
his ment with Backie Daw, s went
down 1o the factory in the afternoon, butl was
W 1o snter the yard, whers,
Fl .lranu'mmnm
ome Pregarations for a sort of
m‘r“m on the
He ealled ot Mr. Daw's Botel that =
.an mm. Daw wae taking his sase
and could pot be Gisturbed;
the clerk was pleasast about 18, lon,
he hint from (hese Mr,
Spooger wailed ontll sharp ten o the
BNt mersing, when Be was weheved Into Mr
Daw's rooms. We found that geniloman freeh.
Iy shaven and compietely dresend encept for
Bie il et and behind & table, studi
m & Bgndbovk ou the art of
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! v
On his part, Mr. Daw had consclentious
scruples about allowing the controlling stoék
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 Bessmer
Malleable Process Company. L
“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 thk!dq.
“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 bad to be identified to
cash that other check of yours, and I don't
like to have bankers look at me as it 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 boastfully
assured him. “Feel my muscle.”
“Well, I'll gee if I can get them to honor tha
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.”
“l 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,
anll Mr. Spooger leafed through them to see
that they were all there. They bulged his in
.“.d coat-pocket frightfully, but he did not
mind.
He went with Blackie to the three banks, and
bersuaded the much ulnt gentlemen in
charge to relinquish, collectifely, one hundred
and thirty.one thousand, five hundred dollars,
in genuine United States currency; then he
and Mr. Daw parted.
The latter -xnuem dashed into the er
press office, tto 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 bolnfi informed that Mr. Wallingford had
left the city. Mr. Spooger's first thought was
swift, direct, and natural to his mind. *“The
swindler!"” he gasped.
“Who said 807" demanded Curly Washburn.
"11: t:l bhim that vbonbh.:ke:-u back "
“Is he—is he coming ¥ begged Spooger,
breathing with renewed hope
“Of course, he is.” stated Curly indignantiy.
'Holunmnkfnlofdothuhnthulvla
he'd leave behind, and there's so much of his
money in that safe I dodge every time | E:u it
He only took a handbag with him. he
swindie you out of anything ™
“Well, no.” admitted Mr, Hpooger reluctant!s
“Then don't go around saving " ordered
Curly, snd walked away in slient contempt
CHAPTER vIIIL
HE merriment in the festively lighted
vard of the Bessmer Malleable Proces:
Company was at its beight when Il
Bpooger, learning that Wallingford had gons
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 hollo:
square, spread with a snowy cloth, and deco
rated with carmations, champagne pails and
whole roast pigs, to say nothing of chickens.
and such minor articles of inner comfort, filled
the yard; and, st the centre of the head table,
flanked by Wallingford op one side. and Bess
mer on the other, stood Blackie Daw, in his
blackest Prince Albert. making = fdrewel!
speech to his many friends, in and out of the
factory, and inviting them. one and all, to move
to Tarryville. 5o that they could yots for bim
for mayor, on the eeform ticket, i the com
mthl.
ughter interrupted Wis every sentence,
cheers followed his every pause, and in the
Verr air there was a thrill which told that he
could march the entire concourse, at that very
moment, right out into the jaws of suything.
and come back with the tecth!
It was all very reassuring to the only man
n Oak Center who could command over a
bundred thopsand. cash, and when the final
applause bhad subsided, the thresstarred one
bent, with an ingratiatiog smile, over the back
of Wallingtord'y chair.
“1 have that stock for you.” he ll’.ony con
sided . "m.:u Bere” Bnd he tapped h bulging
breast.pocket
“Ob, yes, the stork.™ returned Walltagtord
pleasantly. “Why, Mr, Spooger, my firm bhas
decided not to bother with the Dessmer
pany” He paused placidly 1o wateh ¥,
Spooger clotching at bis Adam's apple
mmumlm.m.lnllMl
”"0" EM~ from you and from others, teo
. -,
Mr. Spooger gripped his cuffe wildly so both
hands and pulied them ocarwrm's length, “And
yununnu!'hsfl!ywm
“You never said o word about buying the estrs
thares from Wallingford'™
“Tul, tut!” remonstrated Blackie r.
:fl': fl‘“.bfl me you intended to o
allingford.
“You fooled me'" frothed BN, turning te the
W‘ tative of the trast. *| don't want this
Moek ™
t?m“:::" t;:‘u.m!n. q
“I'd sugpest 1 o ™
resalytion umd' almoet unanimously
night, Mr, mmmm&.umu—.
within thufllnmumgu
Bt | L O 8 Gg e e ceme
“That stock's worth all 1t cost you™
how It bad all h‘r“ and mever would.
"It may ot pay dividends for five years s
come byt rflmuumnhohhnm—."
“Did m help ..”.z e Inlo this. Wil Degs
mer ™ ."1'&." make it
rot for you! Remember, | & majority of
“You can help vote to repaper the office, or
nu-um wtatlonery huhnnll.‘
Niarkie : s, “The o
Mr. Bossmers rompany. amended al our regs
e stockholders’ meeting last night, whes yeu
mmnm.&mhmu:'::lfl.h
mABRES ment diection L
for the Besl ton Jonrs”
e