Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-02-26

capital seeking III iuNeSsAuShe' 10y
are all old men in the company and
willing to sell out But If new capital
and new men get hold of the concern
1t can be forced into Alden's trust on
valuation of clean million, and there's
a profit of 100000 for u.s.
Neale twisted a newspaper into rags
with his gigantic hands.
"Thls thing needs investigating" he
| said, "and there isn't much time"
"Investigating?" echoed Blair. III
old Duncan Maclane says it's all right,
do you suppose there's any doubt about
itY
"Why doesn't he buy in?' queried
| Neale and then answered his own ques.
| ton. 81 see. He can't. He's got II
confidential from Alden. 1t wouldn't
do for him to show up with the proper
ty. But you're talking big money, and
we mustn't go too fast"
"Don't you see," said Blair. speaking
| slowly, but in n voice thick with ex'
element, "that all we've got to do Is
to buy the option? Show up with that
on the day before it expires, and you'll
never have to put up the 100000 OF
purchase money. You'll only have &c
prove that you can. Alden will have tc
settle at your own figures. If he does
not, his game is up. BY heavens, we
can take more than half the profits Of
this transaction right out of his hands,
But wherell Alden get the money tc
settle with us:' demanded the captain
1--WE can't take no promises"
"That option closes the DEAL" sale
Blair. with the deal closed, Alder
| can command all the money he wants
| for the thing will go right into the
hands OF trust company to bt
financed"
"Then why hasn't Alden bought the
option himself? You say it's n gam
| ble"-
mot altogether that. Young Bowen
so Maclane said, hates Alden and has {
suspicion of what's up. He has turned
down certain parties because he sus
pected Alden was back of them. Blu
you can bring him to terms. All he'll
want to know is that you don't repre-
sent Alden"
"If it's old John Y. Bowen's son.
| said Neale, with smile, II reckon
can fetch him. l happen to have :
hitch or two there. He's pretty live
ly boy"
"Then the thing is as good as done.
responded Blai,'
Neale took t,isl around the room.
"I'll go and see Bowen this after
noon," he said, land IL this thing works
III make Alden holler. I'm no FRIEND
of his after that little affair the othel
day. This will cut that honeymoon
| journey of his down a trlfle. Pm think
ing, when little Elsie Miller gets well
By the way, Blair, you owe me thou
sand.'
Blair took an enormous, ragged peck
etbook from the inside of his waist
coat and paid the money. Then he re
placed the wallet and showed Neal,
the additional writing that he had pu
into the blankbook. Above the part
nership agreement was this:
For the purchase OF the Holbein Manufacturing
company and further operations on information
furnished by A. C. b.
II don't see how you happen to b.
poor" said Neale, regarding the othe
genially.
Blair ground his hands together.
Its the start" he said, 1.-THE cursed
money to make the first move. l neye
could get these ten talons on it."
There's something in that" rejoineC
Neale. 81 hope you've got a safe place
| Ed h,t J,,,t ~
it printed in the newspapers after thi
game is over. I've got pretty stronl
pull, but it won't stand everything"
Blair went back to the desk, whicl
was heavy, old fashioned affair, ant
locked up the book in one of the draw
erS.
'And now, my friend" said Neale
zone final word. If you play any game
with me. I'll do n trick with you tina
will wind you up. l have 1t on TIL,
quiet that this Miller girl is going t,
die. Now, I've been turning up littl
evidence, making most of 1t myself on
of the raw goods, of course, and cal
make evidence that would hang maj
for murder committed before he wa
born. How would you like to have M
figure you out as the man that did thi
deed?"
The breath went out of Blair's bod,
as If some one had struck him In tn
region of his solar plexus.
You're crazy" he gasped.
Neale laughed softly.
II Went through her trunk" he said
'.and got some notes that you wrote t
her awhile ago. 1t isn't generoll
known that you We're SO well acquaint
ed"
isn't generally known?" echoed
Blair. why not? lived in that hous
for awhile. Certainly l knew her ant
took her out to dinner a few times
But, holy heavens, why should wan
to kill her?"
We'll" said Neale, there's the mon
ey.'
"Nonsense! You know where TIL
money went, and you know who con-
mitted this crime"
Perhaps l do" responded Neale
with grin; but, at any rate, pleas
| iciutLlpeI that latNe uCtcu III SouE IL
terests throughout"
Blair took him by the topmost buttol
of his sack coat.
"In the interests of Joseph Neale,
he said. my interests and those o
justice haven't bothered you much
Why, this case reminds me of the oil
college football games 20 years age
Somebody kicked the ball once, an
then the boys began to fight, and nc
body paid any attention to the ball aft
er that. Usually some mucker fror
East Cambridge stole it, and the los
wasn't discovered till after the gam
was over"
'"rhe football being the criminal, eh,
said Neale, lust nominally a part Q
the proceedings? Well, there may
something in what you say"
And he grinned serenely as he wall
ed backward toward the door.
CHAPTER Nv.