The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-26

Southampton, usually stayed at Not
tidge's- Smith had had four bottles of
that Tokay, and, since Symons could
count on a profit of e5 a bottle from
Crook, even If he paid G5 bottle for
the wine, the businesslike Symons
hoped to make, G 20 at least by an in
terview with Smith.
So that presently, as the triumphant
Smith saw McNab disappear. in the
entrance of another hotel, he was
touched on the shoulder, and turned to
confront Symons.
Good morning, Mr.. Smith" said Sy-
mons. MY names Symons. You
don't know me. but I think we can do
a stroke of business together. Shall
We go back to Nottidge's?"
McNab, with the parcel of precious
magnums Rugged under his arm,
found Hahn, with fiuttering tele-
gram in his hand, busy at the hotel
office. Turning away hastily, he al
most knocked McNab and his weighty
burden over.
'Ay, Mr.. Hahn" said McNab, we see
I'm no so long ava. You hae luck.
Mr.. Hahn-Ive three magnums o. the
Tokay herei"
Hahn was curiosuly preoccupied and
excited, but he controlled himself by
an effort.
MOI" he said You don't say SO,
Mr.. McNab! Three magnums?"
'Oh, ay, sir. three hail magnums o.
the lot that was roupit at Lawson's.
Ye shall hae 'em as reasonable as
pawsible, Mr.. Hahn-though / paid
cruel dear for 'em myself"
Hahn looked at his watch. and
how much shall we say, then, Mr..
McNab," he said, for the three mag
nums?"
'rll juist TAX aft the wrappers" said
McNab, fencing the question for the
moment. ''Fll juist TAX aft, and ye
shall see the bottles yerser-fine an
great bottles as they are; fine great
bottles"
Never mind that" Hahn answered,
impatiently. Don't bother about un-
packing them. How much for the lot ?'
McNab drew a long breath and
looked hard in his customers eye.
''Feefty pun" he said.
Right" Hahn answered, hurriedly.
"Thatll do. / must run out to the
bank and get the money. Sit down
here in the hail. Mr.. McNab, and wait
1 may be gone a quarter of an hour or
twenty minuteS-perhaps little more.
But you'll be sure to wait, Mr.. McNab.
won't your"
''Oh, ay, I'll wait" answered McNab,
readily enough, and he found a seat
while Hahn hurried out at the door,
1t was noble profit, but he was
angry with himself nevertheless. He
never expected Hahn TO jump so will
ingly at such a demand, and now he
was consumed with vexation not to
have asked more. He might as well
have said a hundred-at worst Hahn
could only have offered less. But how
could any one have guessed that Hahn
would pay such a sum? And at any
rate G so for the three was equivalent
fNf hn IN .fnlr
whole case on the ship. But the con-
ISOLATION to be drawn from this fact
was marred by the reflection that he,
McNab. had sold this same Merrick
bottle for G5. 1t was a wicked thing
thought McNab. for a rich man to take
advantage of him like that.
Hahn was a long time gone to the
bank, but prospective profit of 400
per cent made McNab patient. And he
had the satisfaction of scoring over
Smith, too. For the steward had not
long occupied his seat when Smith
came putting and hurrying in.
"Ah, here you are!" cried the nobby
little man. II thought this was where
you came. I've come to do deal. I'll
give you a profit on your bargain over
them magnums."
Vera kind of ye, Mr.. Smith," re-
piled McNab, sweetly. What amount
of profit would ye be disposed to
offer?''
"rll give" said Smith. -four quid a
bottle"
McNab shook his head with quiet
enjoyment. Ma, ma, Mr.. Smith," he
answered. It's no go, in your ain
worlds. Twenty pun bottle might
do it, now"
Twenty? Pooh, nonsensei Look
here, here you are. twelve sovereigns-
no. I'll make II thirteen. Here you are,
thirteen quid for the threei" and he
shook the money in his hand.
But McNab >only shook his head
again. and enjoyed the action. Clearly