Mexico Missouri message., 1904-10-20

You are a cur and a coward Nor
ris!" he said, looking at the younger
man with blazing eyes. Lay hand
on me II you dare!"
with a muttered oath Morris turned
and left the old soldier standing def
autly by the railing. A minute later
General Garden entered a carriage
and was driven rapidly to the offices
Of James Blake & Company.
In tn" meantime Morris had fol
lowed Mr.. Mason to his private ofice.
"l'd like to punch old Gardens
head, and I'd have done It hadn't Il
been for you!" he declared. What's
he prowling around here for? What
did he want?"
HE demanded his L. & o. stock"
replied Mr.. Mason.
His L. G. D. stock" repeated Nor
rls. well, what of 1t? He didn't
wish me to make him a present Of t.
did he? II he comes around again
tell him to dig up about three hun.
dred thousand dollars and he can have
his stock"
Morris laughed as he stepped to the
ticker.
He showed his option, demanded
the stock, and paid over the money
said Mr.. Mason slowly, and | gave
him the certificates"
odd Garden took up his stock and
paid over the money? What do you
mean, Mason?"
Il mean just what | say, Mr.. Nor
ris," was the reply. DO you know
what has happened? With that stock
you lose control of l.. & o. Someone
is back of General Garden in this
transaction"
Blake! Blake" gasped Morris.
He clutched the arm of his chair
and the muscles Of his neck twitched
nervously. Pacing up and down the
room he burst into a storm of inco-
herent profanity.
The ticker, which had been silent,
spluttered rapidly, and the ominous
sound did more to call Morris back
to his senses than had the sober
words of the broker. He lifted the
tape and eagerly scanned the charac-
tiers What's that? This must be a
mistake! Five hundred shares of l..
& o. at 50! It must mean 2S?" Nor
ris gazed at the figures like one in a
trance.
There came a violent rapping on the
door, and, without waiting for a re-
spOnse, 4 broker entered. His collar
was torn open and his hair was
rumpled and moist with perspiration.
BLAKE & Company are bidding up
L. & o." he exclaimed. I've sold
them four thousand shares up to 80,
and they are yelling for more. How
does it stand nOw?"
He took the tape from Arthur Nor
ris' nerveless hand.
"Thirty-nine! Thirty-nine and a
half. Six hundred at forty A thou
sand at forty-one! Something's up.
tell you! What shall We do, Mr.. Nor
ris?"
Morris gazed hopelessly at Mr.. Ma
son.
What can we do?" he asked, weak.
IT, His brain was in a whirl.
A heavy step was heard in the hall
way and Randolph Morris entered
the room.
You've raised hell. haven't you?"
was his greeting to his son and heir.
Il told you to keep your nose out of
this Cosmopolitan business. You've
made a fine mess of it! l suppose you
think, because the bottom hasn't fall
en- out of Cosmopolitan. that you're
all right, don't ye? Been supporting
it, haven't ye? OF course you have.
You're an ass! Admit it, and take
your losses. I'll bet this damn fool
play will cost more than a million"
Tell him about this business" said
Arthur Morris, sullenly turning to
Mr.. Mason.
In a few words the latter explained
what had occurred in L. & o. The
old millionaire's face was a study
during this hurried recital.
The look of anger changed to one
of perplexity and then to fear. The
millions amassed in a lifetime were
menaced in his old age, and the fires
of defense and defiance blazed again
in the eyes of Randolph Morris.
ITO be continued.)
The Salt Of the Earth.
LA