Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16

paled by turns. 81 held, on he stammered.
you see, boys
Both men had caught him by the arms.
How much have you got?' they said, shak-
ing him, as if to precipitate the answer.
It's a heap said Barker. Its a CHASTITY
lot now l think of it. I'm, afraid I'm in for
$50. 900, if a cent"
To his infinite establishment aud delight he
was alternately Rugged and tossed backward
and forward between the two men quite In
tue fashion of the old days. Breathless
but laughing, he at length gGsped out. What
does it all meang' ~. .
TELL him everything, Jim-everything,'
said DemoreSt, quickly. }I
Stacy briefly related the story Of the for
gerry, and then laid the latter and its copy
before him. But BARKER only read the for
gerry.
How could you. Stacy-one of the three
partners of Heavy Tree--be deceived? Don't
you see it's Pills handwriting-but it isn't
PHIL"
but have you any idea who it is?' said
Stacy.
NO me-" said Barker, with widely opened
eyes. "You see ii must be somebody whom
we are familiar with. l can't imagine such a
scoundrel."
How did you know that Demorest had
stock? 2" asked Stacy.
He told me- in one of his letters and ad-
vised me to go into it. But just then Kitty
wanted money, l think, and l didn't go in"
II remember it, struck in Demorest.
But surely it was no secret. My name
to see"
mot So" said Stacy quickly. "You were
one of the original shareholders; there IVES
no transfer, and the books as well as the
shares of the company were In my hands"
And your clerks?" added Demorest.
Stacy was silent. After a pause he
asked: Did anybody ever see that letter,
Barker?"
mo one but myself and Kitty"
And would she be likely to talk of it?'
continued Stacy.
'Of course not. Why should she? Whom
could she talk tO?" Yet he stopped sud
denly, and then with his characteristic reac-
ton added with a laugh, why, no, GER
tainly not"
o course, everybody knew that you had
bought the shares at Saeramento?"
Yes. Why, you know | told you the Van
Loo clerks came to me and wanted to take
it off my hands"
Eyes, | remember; the Van Loo clerkt;
they knew 1t, of COURSE" said Stacy with 4
grim smile. well, boys" he said, witt
sudden alacrity, Pm going to turn in, for b.
sunup tomorrow | must be on my way 10
catch the first train at the Divide for Frisco
Well hunt this thing down together, for |
reckon we're all concerned in it." he added,
looking at the others, land once more we're
partners, as in the old times. Let us even
say that I've given Barker's signal or pass
word he added with a laugh, land well
stick together. Barker boy" he went on,
g~rasping his younger partners hand, your
instinct has saved us this time; id IL
don't sometimes think 1t better than any
other mans sabe; only" he dropped his
voice slightly, II wish you had it in other
things than finance. Phil, I've a word to say
to you alone before go. i may want you to
follow me-"
"Bu what can do y" said Barker eagerly.
ssynI'ra mt pninp IN Loo ua m nnt -
you've done quite enough for us. old
man." said Stacy, laying his hands on Par
ker's shoulder. And It may, be for us to do
something for you. TTot OF to bed now,
like a good boy. III keep you posted when
the time ONES" ..,71
Showing the protesting and leave-taking
Barker with paternal familiarity from the
room, he closed the door and faced Demorest.
"Hte's the best fellow in the world said
Stacy, quietly, land has saved the situation,
but we mustn't trust too much to him for
the present. Not even seem to-"
Nonsense, man. said Demorest, impa-
tiently. you're letting yeur prejudices &c
too far. Do you mean to say that you sus-
pect his wife?" q I'm
d his wifer' said Stacy, almost saw
agely. Leave her out of this, It's Van Loo
that | suspect. 1t was Van Loo who | knew
was behind 1t. who expected to profit by 1t,
and now We have lost him,W
But how ?" said Demorest, 7astonished.
"How?" repeated Stacy impatiently. you
know what Barker said2 Van Loo, either
through stupidity, fright, or the wish to get
the lowest prices, was too late to buy up the
market, II he HAD, we might have openly
declared the forgery. and II 1t was known
that he or his friends had profted by IL
even II we could not have proven his actual
completely. we could at least have made IL
too hot for him In California. But" said
Stacy, looking intently at his friend, do you
know how the case stands now?"
"Well." said Demorest a little u~neasily
under his friends keen eyes. we've lost
that chance, but we've kept control of the
stock"
you think so? Well, let me tell yor
how the case stands and the price we pay
for It," said Stacy, deliberately, as hs
folded his arms and gazed at Demorest
you and !. well known as old friends ant
former partners, for no apparent reason