Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10
CHAPTER XVII.

Ten thousand dollars is a great deal of
money" said Frank. easily, with Ian
guild shrug OF her shoulders.
1t is great deal. But we're up against
a great deal, If We had twice as much. it
would be even better I have a possible
twelve hundred now, altogether-just a
scrawny, miserable twelve hundred. I got
most of it yesterday through dabbling in
this cotton of Curry's. Tomorrow morning
every cent of il goes down to Robinson &
Little and if the market is moderately
steady, and he takes a 81 margin, knowing
what | do, it means l double that amount
before the days trading is over
Robinson & Little? Who are they? New
friends of yours?''
They are the big Wall street people.
had TO pay $3CO-in l. o. U. form.for a
letter 10 that firm. l still have suspicion
II was forged, too. I've been getting ac-
quainted with them. however. and showing
them that I'm all right When the eleventh
hour comes. and when l have to cut in on
Furrys Postal Union wire downtown, we'll
have to tear around to Robinson & Little's.
flop over with the market, and buy cotton
short. on a stop-order. 1t all depends upon
what margin We may have to put up,
whether We make forty thousand dollars. or
a hundred and forty thousand dollars.
Curry. you may be sure, will try to start
the thing off quietly as possible. So
normal market will bring a more normal
margin. and give us something worth while
TO play on
Something worth while?" she unused alb
sently. Then she came and stood by Dur
kin. and studied his face once more. Some
sense of his isolation of his unhappy aloof-
ness from his kind. touched and wrung her
feeling. She caught at his arm with sud
den companionable enthusiasm, and joined
him I'm pacing the room.
After all, there would be something big,
and wide, and sweeping about this sort of
work, wouldn't there?'
Yes: it's blamed sight better than pool
room piking" he cried. Its living; it's
doing thingsw
IL believe 1 could plunge in il. and glory
in it, she went on, consolingly.
There's Just one drawback-just one nasty
little blot on the face of the fun he ven
fured. catching al the sustaining arm of
her enthusiasm.
And that is-r
We've got to get this ten thousand dol
lars just for day or two"
But have you any idea as to how, or
where. or when?
her steadily. There seemed to be some CO.
vert challenge In his glance, but she faced
him unwaveringly.
Say IL out, Jim; I'm not afraid.'
Il mean you must get 1t! You've got to
borrow it,
lie began bravely enough. but he hesitated
before the startled scorn on her face.
You mean Twelve got to steal it?'
He held up protesting hand Then he
went to the half-open door of her inner
room and. closed il carefully.
NO: as I said before. We cannot and
must not steal it, 1t may be called theft.
of course. but every cent of 1t will be re-
turned. No, no; listen to me- have II all
figured out Only it has to be done this
very nght!'
'ronight?'' she said. with reproving lit
tie cry.
Yes. tonight, And that is why I've been
desperate. of course. and have been looping
every telephone wire that runs near my up
town room, hoping against hope for
chance to pick up something to work on.
The only thing that gave me that chance
was Theodore Van Schaick's house wire.
Now listen. Two days ago his daughter
Lydia came OF age. / could tell you most
OF the things she got, and how she has been
phoning gratitude and thanks and girlish
messages out round the city. But among
other things Miss Lydia Van Setback re-
ceived from her father, was a small and
neat bundle not long out of the subtreasury
II was made up OF one hundred equally neat
iitt.e pieces OF parchment, and each one of
them is a one-hundred dollar banknote"
And I'm to crawl through one of her
windows, and burglarize the house of this
amouRtl'
No. no, Frank-listen to me a moment.
Yesterday, Miss Lydia telephoned her I'm
Gle Cedric about this money. Not being
used TO small fortune in ready cash. nat
urally. she feels nervous about having IL
around. and wants to put II somewhere
Her level-headed Uncle Cedric advised her
10 take II down tomorrow to the Second
National Bank. and open a deposit account
with Il. And this Lydia intends to do To-
night her ten thousand dollars are laid care
iutly away in a glove-bOx. In one of her
room. So tonight is our only chanceo'
Couldn't sand-bag her In the morning
on her way down town. demanded