The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-20

+ BEFORE THE :
+ PANIC By sS :; !:
Copyright, 1901, BY 40. RoUsey I


N1uruOCk WAS washing tluue. Luz
p%roiigate knew it. Looking at the
tadornments one would like to buy for
a girl when you know you are head
over heels in debt and probably going
to remain so indefinitely is sheer nom
sense.
! Presently he became aware that he
was not alone. A shadow cast by the
noontide sun showed the outlines Of a
broad brimmed hat, a pair of equally
broad shoulders and an inartistically
big hand holding fast to a yellow grip.
He edged away from the stranger. The
stranger drew closer.
, "Guess they want a heap for those
things, eh? Do you think ~they'reSreal
kdiamonds?" the origin Of the shadow
said im~personally.
Murdoch looked around and found
himself the only auditor. He glanced
quizzically at the speaker, then at the
grip. The latter bore three initials; and
the magic word "Wyoming."
That interested him. He looked
again at the large features Of the
stranger. Ordinarily he was opposed
to promiscuous conversation, but Wy
oming-anything connected with Wyo-
;ming-made him think of his trip to
his chum's ranch, where he had expe-
rienced unadulterated western well
come. So he answered:
Eyes; they are the real stuff"
"Well. if some people 1 know Of in
Wyoming were here and saw them,
guess they'd put bars on these win
dows," observed the other, who re-
joiced in the name of Bill Helmer.
But when Murdoch turned the con
versation on Wyoming the stranger
became suspicious and reticent. He
had heard of gold brick" and saw
dust" games and the way well dressed
strangers would try to become &C.
quainted by talking of home. When
Murdoch asked him if he knew a man
who lived on the next ranch, he felt
sure this young exquisite was up to
something. But he was interested in
spite of himself.
"There is no place like Wyoming"
declared Murdoch finally.
you are right there. Soon as 1 get
my business done here New York can't
hold me for a minute"
"In town on business, eh? Perhaps !
can help you" said Murdoch affably.
Hes one Of 'em, but he'll get left
this trip" commented the stranger to
himself. 81 amt on here to buy no
gold bricks nor sawdust nor nothing"
he said aloud, with a stern look. 81
am going to do a little-in that line my
self"
"What, sell gold bricks in New
York;" queried Murdoch.
"Bet your boots! l got a block of
stock-Northern Pacific. 1t amt worth
more'n so cents on the dollar out there.
Folks know too much about that road.
Dad got stuck with it; so did a lot of
our people; so they put me up, after
the shearing was over, to sell 1t east,
where people amt likely to know so
much as we do" The westerner smiled.
He felt sure he had defined the situa-
ton pretty clearly.
Murdoch looked with half closed
eyes at the gem of a c~hatelaine-a lit
tie affair studded with diamonds. He
felt as if she was wearing it already.
"Ahem" he said cautiously. There
are always plenty of come ons' in
town. l know where they make them"
The other looked a trif1e bewildered.
"Fact is, l am with a concern that
deals in them" Then his caution yield
ed to his excitement. Say, don't say
anything about that-or those things
and 60 back to your h~otel-and, say,
try and stay there. I-Ill bring ONE
one up or I'll be up to buy them to-
day"
; The other was about to ask a -ques-
ton. 4
"Ill get you par value for that stuff.
Is that enough"
"Why, yes; more'n I expected. But,
say, young man, who are your
| "Me-me?" The son Of Murdoch, the
millionaire banker, stood in shocked
surprise.
"Why, IL am Vanderbilt, Harri-
man, Hill, Gage and the whole bunch.
r. He saw the uselessness of trying
to convince the incredulous westerner.
turned away in disgust. 1t was
maddening. The little watch in the
window seemed four blocks away.
But this westerner followed him aft
er a moment.
Say, young man, l may be mistak-
en-. Things amt the same here as in
Wyoming, but if you're a friend of
Jimmie Walcott's that settles it. I am
stopping at the Vondome, and l won't
offer my stock today, and We'll see,
eh?''
Murdock nodded stifly. The little
watch nestled in his pocket. He could
almost hear it tick.
Murdoch entered the Office of rs
syndicate manager, where he was fill
ing the nominal position of "boy" for
the nominal salary of S. weekly and a
vast fund of experience, worth thou
sands per minute.
The head of the bookkeeping depart
ment looked at the clock as he entered.
"Half an hour late, Mr.. Murdoch.
Too busy buying stock or clipping your
fathers coupons, / suppose, to attend
to our trifiig affairs" The employ
ment of embryo ~millionaires in Office
positions tried Mr.. Norris democratic
coy1 s.r = -EWsQa