The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-04

Ctnlct OF hUb pIoluhotOu W"' tifNV' N
Cllssion.
-Tbe only times" said he. that me and
Andy Tucker ever hsd any hiatuses in our
cordial intents was when we differed On the
moral aspects OF grating. Andy had his
standards and l had mine, l didn't APP
prove Of all Of Andy's schemes for levying
contributions from the public. and he
thought l allowed my conscience TO inter-
fore too often for the financial good of the
firm. We had high arguments sometimes.
Once one word led on To another till he said
reminded him Of Rockefeller.
~ know how you mean that. Andy
says I, but we have been friends too long
for me to take offence at a taunt that you
will regret when you cool on. j have yet
says l. to shake hands with a subpoena
server
Ono summer me and Andy decided TO
rest UP O spell in a fine little town in the
mountains OF kentucky called Grassdale.
We was supposed to be horse drovers, and
good, decent citizens besides. taking a sum-
mer vacation. The Grassdale people liked
No. and me and Andy declared "A secession
Of hostilities, never 90 much as floating the
Nv leaf of a rubber concession prospectus
or flashing "a Brazilian diam ond while we
were there.
"One day the leading hardware mer-
chant of Grsssdale drops around to the
hotel where me and Andy stopped. and
smokes with us. sociable. on the side porch.
We knew him pretty well from pitching
uuoits in the afternoons in the court house
yard. He was a loud. red man. breathing
hard. but fat and respectable beyond all
reason.
AFTER we talk on all the notorious themes
OF the day, this Murkison-for such was his
entitlements-takes a letter out Of his coat
pocket in a careful careless way and hands
it to US to read.
Now. what do you think Of that?'
says he. laughing letter like that to ME!
-Me and Andy sees at a glance what it is;
but we pretend to read il through. IL
was one Of them old time typewriter green
goods letters explaining how for 81 600
you could get 5000 in bills that an expert
couldn't tell from the genuine; and going
on to tell how they were made from plates
stolen by an employee Of the Treasury at
Washington.
4" Think Of 'em sending a letter like that
10 ME- says Murkison again.
Lots of COOL men get EN- says Andy.
'f you dom answer the first letter they
let you drop. II you answer it they write
again asking you To come on with you
money and do business
But think Of 'em writing to Me- says
Murkison.
"A few days later he drops around again.
Boys says he, L know you are all
right or I wouldn't confide in you. | wrote
to them rascals again just for fun. They
answered and told me to come on TO Chicago.
They said telegraph to j. Smith when l
would start. When I get there I'm TO wait
on a certain street corner till a man in a
gray suit comes along and drops a news
paper in front of me. Then ] am to ask
him how the water il, and he knows it's
me and | know it's him
All, yes says Andy, gaping, it's the
same old game. I've often read about it in
the papers. Then he conducts you to the
private abattoir in the hotel, where Mr..
Jones is already waiting. They show you
brand new real money and sell you all you
want al five for one. You gee 'em put it in a
satcheI for you and you know it's there. OF
course it's brown paper when you come to
look at it afterward.'
"'Oh, they couldn't switch it on me. says
Murkison. i haven { built up the best
paying business in Grassdale without hav-
ing witticisms about me. You say it's real
,nvaey they show you, MIR. TuckerY'
I've always see by the papers that it
always is, says Andy.
-.Boys,' says Murkison, I've got it in my
mind that them fellows can't fool me. l
think I'll put a couple Of thousand in my
leans and GO up there and put il all over 'em.
IL Bill Murkison gets his yes once on them
bills they show him he'll never take 'em of
Of 'em. They offer IS for 81. and they'll nave
to stick to the bargain il | tackle EN-. That's
the kin of a trader Bill Murkison il. Yes,
l jist believe I'll drop up Chicago way and
take a S to 1 shot OF j. Smith. / guess the
water'll be fine enough
ME and Andy tries to get this financial
Inisquotation out Of Murkison's head, but
we might az well have tried to keep the man
who rolls peanuts with a %toothpick from
betting on Bryan's election. No, sir; he
was going to perform a public duty bv
catching these green goods swindlers at
their own game. Maybe it would teach 'em
a lesson.
after Mursison left us me and Andy sat
while prepondering over our silent medita-
tons and heresies of reason. In our idle
hours we always improved our higher
selves by ratiocination and mental tho ught.
JEFF says Andy after a long time,
quite unseldom I nave seen ft to impugn
your molars when you Ia been chewing
the rag with me about your oonscientious
way Of doing business. | may nave been
often wrong. But here is a case where l
think we can agree. I feel that il would
be wrong for us to allow Mr.. Murkison to
20 alone TO meet those Chicago green goods
men. There is but one way il can end.
Don't you think we would both feel better
n we was to intervene in some way and
prevent the doing of this deed?'
Il got up and shook Andy fuckers hand
hard and long.
Andy says 1. Il may have had one
on two hard thoughts about the heartless-
ness Of your corporation. but ! rctroact
EN- now. You ave a kind nucleus at the
interior Of your exterior after all. IL does
YOU credit. I was just thinking the same
thing that you have expressed. IL would
not be honorable or praisew orthy,' says |,
for us TO let Murkison go on v it'll this pro-
ject he has taken up. If he is determined
to go let us 90 with him and prevent this
swindle from coming off,
Andy agreed with me; and ! was glad
20 see that he was In earnest about breaking
up this green goods scheme. q
-'I don't call myself a religious man.
says l. or a fanatic in moral bigotory.
but I can't stand still and sec a man who