The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-10
The Taciturnitu Of
No. Is.
A Utory Of tbs Unlucky Number.
BY W. r. Rose.

II man that September morning. He was
always a busy man, but just now he
\ seemed to carry about all the steam
that could be considered safe. At least
y that's the way it struck No. ID.
fs The Chicago man had come down as
K usual to help somebody or something out
y Of tight place. When some particular
project reached point where nobody
else could move it an inch further, they
vent for the Chicago hustler, and he
h pushed it through. He was a fellow Of
Infinite nerve, was the Chicago man, with
X thorough contempt for money, and
\ that's what No. Is particularly liked
about him. At luncheon time he would
toss No. Is half dollar and tell him
X to fill up. No. 13 knew where he could
4 an up on Is cents, but he made no bones
) about accepting the half dollars. And
sometimes No. 10 took ride with the
hustler in a carriage, for carriages were
daily necessities with the Chicago man.
When he came to Blutfland, he had the
hest suit Of rooms that the best hotel
could provide. In short, there was moth
\ ing too good for the man from Chicago.
When he came to Bluf1and, he always
4 sent for No. 10.
No. ID was model messenger boy. as
I the Chicago man had speedily discover
K ed. He knew the topography of the city
~ well as if he had laid it out. He was
walking gazetteer of commercial men
4 and marts. He was quick boy, a
sure boy. and, above all, he was boy
i who rarely talked.
That's what like about the cub"
~ IA ha Th;oono J,v
exactly what he's told to do and asks no
questions. He's one boy in a thousand.
Unlucky number? Pooh, pooh! I'd hire
him for that very reason il no other.
There's no BANKED superstition about
your friend John Dexter"
I Aud 30 every time he came to Bluff
land he telephoned over and secured the
services Of No. 13 by the day. Once
they sent him another No. 10, whom he
promptly returned.
"Give me the original Jacobs" he tel
ephoned to the messenger office, "or all
Is at an end between u.s.
II He got him.
No. ID was a medium sized boy of
perhaps II, inclining a little toward
Stoutness, with large pale face and
coarse black hair. He had one other pc
euliarity besides his limited speech. He
always wore his official cap. He was
wearing it on this particular morning in
September as he stood studying a large
map that hung on the wall of the private
Office of the eminent vessel owner who
had offered the hustler the use Of the
= room during his stay in the city. The
eminent vessel owner and the bank pres
ident from down stairs were with the
hustler now
"You see, Dexter" said the bank presi
dent, III we don't show clear title to
that tract by noon today the deal with
the New York syndicate is all off. Now,
how do you stand:"
~ got options on it all yesterday after
,,-, mon, all except the lot on the northeast
corner. It's the property of German
named Finkelstein, who runs a little
bakery and confectionery store. I've
looked upon him as the easiest fish in the
bunch to land"
well land him this morning without
fail said the bank president What
do You propose to offer"
~. 1.-The whole Finkelstein outfit would
be dear at S6,000" said the hustler.
lnat WRat expect 10 oIler
''Offer him up to 10000 if yon have
TO-" growled the vessel owner. I'VE must
have that corner"
The eminent promoter smiled
''Trust me-" he said. "lll have him
here in 40 minutes aud square him in half
the time"
He drew forward a sheet of paper and
rapidly. scrubbed a note. the vessel owner
and the bank president retiring while he
wrote.
mo. 49," he said as he addressed the
envelope. The boy came forward. Take
that to the address given and wait and
bring the answer"
The boy took the note and briskly start
ed out.
It was just 40 minutes later by the
Chicago mans infallible watch when lie
returned He was not alone. A plainly
dressed man a little past middle age,
with an unmistakable German face, was
with him. The hustler looked up as they
catered
"Mr. Finkclstein?' he half inquired.
The stranger bowed awkward!y. He
was evidently i'll at ease.
"Take a chair here" said the Chicago
man, and as the stranger came forward
No. IL slipped around TO the big map on
C,,;.
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