The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-04

hate to anony you.-hut I don't like
to be watched like this"
I'm o watching you. SIR Simon
answered reproaShfully. OH" sneer-
cd the other, n settled on his pillcw.
An hour went by: both men were
still awake Another hour. and there
was no sleep. There they lay. wake
full. nervous. each s~tealthily observing
the other. Finally, there was a loud
snore, and Simon Mobeson was really
asleep. But, ere long. his hand relax
ed its hold upon the box and Tell
wildly upon his bed-mate, while he
uttered a deep-toned groan. He was in
the throes Of q night mare: some n
was stealing his money.
Jedrow. seixing his pistol. sat oolr
upright in bed. The energy of The
movement startled the sleeper. who
was awake in an instant: and, seeing
the stranger in 4 ~menacing aspect.
sprang out Of bed and stood against
the wall.
What do o mean b. all this >" de-
manded Jedrow.
Il don't understand what you are
after" was the impatient reply. A
strong. repellant feeling OF mutual dts
trust and a~ntagonism had sprung up
between them For a moment the TWO
men glared at ccch other in sileaCs
Blast the whole arrangement"
growled Jedrow; and. bounding from
the bed. he hastily put IN his clothes.
tooi up his hand bag. and staiked out
OF the room.
George Stebbins, Esq, att~orney-at-
law. was cioseted with his client. Mr..
MADISON, to whom he was e~xpounding The
immense possibilities of a proposed in
vestment in a phosphate mine. Mr..
MADISON, very sensitive 10 openings sos
! profit, and ever strangely fascinated
by the pleasing and confident discourse
OF his attorney, was now in the laiterss
power. lie had been asked to como.
| PREPARED 20 invest on an option when
would expire at noon. This request he
had literally fulfilled. Mr.. Stebbins
was enthusiastic: he calculated on eve
~ minute detail. working il IN w. n.
the clearesi, s~hrewdest foresight, IA
it shone IN prospective as glittering
profit, awaiting the grasp of Simon
MADISON and associates yet to be chos-
;. en-. Among the iatter. however. there
was provision for the worthy attorney.
himself, in the way of fees and perqul-
sites, for which ne was TO offer in re-
turn his legal acumen and valuable
counsel.
In short, the proposed Acme Phos-
phate Company was, without any rea-
sonable doubt, to be a glorious success.
Old Simon's face flushed with a dc p,
stirring enthusiasm, which seemed Tor
the moment To have completely sup
planted his stern, cold habit of caleb
lation. Mr.. Stebbins saw an %advantas
in the degree of ardor which had Dean
| reached, and he ventured upon a fur
ther overture.
"Twenty-one hundred and fifty FOR
the purchase" aid he thoughtfu!iy.
Cant you run the figure up fifteen
hundred more for operation, and have
this magnificent proposition practically
! all to yourself?"
mo, St%ebbins,' answered Simon
| gravely, I've agreed to go deep
enough" He relapsed into solemni'y,
81 told you at the outset, of considera-
tions to be weighed. Capital must BIZ
! controlled, and you-'
1 Mr.. Stebbins!" called the Office boy
from the door of the ante-room; and
, the attorney followed him Is he with
drew.
Simon sat studlously lingering the
bits of paper which lay on the table
I AS if be were Using a lay rake, he
showed his fingers several times trough
his long, straight hair. which tumbled
in raised heaps, giving the appearance
4 that his head was being cooled by the.
i escaping neat of the mental operations
which he had just passed through
Z Left to himself, he became the same
! old Simon, cool, careful, reticent.
Mr.. Stebbins returned. NJ MADISON;
my old friend, captain Jedrow,- my
former neighbor at Arnoldsville;" and
: he presented a TALL, erect gentleman,
= hat ON, with a face covered by a new
\ growth of thick, deep, brown beard.
/ Simon started.
"Mr. Mabson," the attorney contin-
ued, being full of interest In your side
Il % this matter, | neglected to tell you
of my conversation last evening with
Captain Jedrow. He has ~canvassed this
phosphate subject thoroughly, and is
,I willing to invest two thousand .ol-
lars in the scheme-under certain cen
! tingencies, which we will go into pres
entity. Gentlemen, | tell you both here
together that only once in a life time
does such an opportunity offer at a
small figure" He glanced at MIR. Nab
son, whose round eyes we're twinkling
in 2 most incongruous, inexplicable
manner.
The man who tried 10 rob me. NAB
son muttered in an undertone, and with
+ q comical grin.
And you." retorted Captain Jedrow.
"tare the one who peeped at me all
l.. night. and / knew you were after tha
: cash | had in my handbag"
Let's shake OF 1t, Captain" cI:ed
Simon. and they shook hands with hi-
laricus fervor, while the phosphate
+ scheme was thrust aside. and Stebb-nh
slunped into his chair till quiet should
r reign again
Bryan Illustrates Selfsiinr-s.
s~CnIfShueSs a ruthless se~lfighnesS