The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-30
- w. u.
a uthor.o OF The sl.ngkc Mess
sb- = i rAr INC,
low Copyright, by
rights

and manner were subdued to the nt-
ting llousclteeper level.
Mr.. Jack had brought with him ne
satisfactory news: In reply to Crun-
denis ANXIOUS inquiries he could only
shake his head although he still spoke
hopefully.
ing home to think about It,"
mth. well.' said Crundcn gloomily,
that's rs good az saying, No go. IT
best"
Impossible sort Of people" said
bowling. You arclalways where you
started with people OF that sort"
NO" said Jack, they Intended buy.
ing. feel sure they did. j believe
It's just torpid liyer-they probably
cat too much. They 10th looked as it
they did. They want bncking UP be-
fore they can do anything did try
TO bluff thcm--just at tho end-whilc
we were waiting for their fly. a hy..
TOO lazy TO walk to the station
though j told them they'd have to
wait for their train"
Mr.. Crundcn was not bear!ng this
disappointment with his wontcd stoi-
cism. lie sat frowning, silent. absent
minded-in spite of Mr.. Jacks hopeful
chatter, Lizzie's sympathetic glanccs.
and Dowlings wcl-ntentioned cforO
ness Once or twice he brought out his
bandaHa handkerchief and wiped his
forehead; and Lizzie, watching him.
saw that his hand was trembling. For
the moment, at least, he was suffering
kecniy under the failure OF the lonS
days hope.
He looked mp with start when tho
telephone bell rang; and Lizzie could
read in his eyes that his thoughts had
carried him far away.
will you allow me?' said Mr.. Dow
ling. hastily interceptng Jack as h0
moved towards his table. to answer inc
call II think this is for me. Mrs.
Bowling most likely. -. Are you
thcre?n and Mr.. Dowling's voice be-
came deprecatingly gentle. us that
you my dear? Oh!' and he turned
and beckoned Jack. 1T is not for me
after all. VIII you take 1t, please"
| sThen Jack put the receiver to his
ear.
Yes, hear YOU" he said. in strong,
firm tones. mo. am not Mr.. Crun-
den am his clerk. Yes, Vincent.
| oh. no! No. certainly not -.
AS he stood now listening. he mads
gestures with his left hand. as It beg
ging for silence from all at the tea
table behind him. Yes, 1 hear you.
| Walt moment, please"
Then he came from the wal! and
| whispered cscitedly to Crunden.
Speak low. l don't want them to
catch word. -. It's the Same old
| trout-down at the station now. He's
nibbling again. Almost biting. May
lstrike? Will you let me striker"
What d'you mean?" whispered Crun.
| den.
\ ~ believe i could land him. May
| bluff solid? You know-kill or cure"
/ Crunden was looking up Mt Jack'seS-
cited face with an expression In which
'Llzzie saw doubt. anxiety. even fear
! His hand shook; his lips trcmblcd
.You--you mean''-he whispered
| tell him TO buy now or be done with
i it?"
That's it. Poker. Bluff him Put
! up. or shut up"
!, Yes. said Crunden. in tho faIntest
| whisper. do lido it," and lie picked
UP the bandana and again wiped his
/ forehead.
.'Are you there?" said Jack a, the
| Telephone in really truculent tone.
Come on. Speak up. What Is it:''
At the taa-table there was dead
silence. All eyes were upon Mr.. Vim
/ cents back: Crunden was mopping his
forehead: bowling sat rigid and open
mouthed; Lizzie. with her elbows on
/ the table and her chin resting on her
hands. was pale and breathless from
! sympathetic excitement.
1T is TO take or leave. said Jack,
with appalling brusqueness. You
! have wasted enough OF our time. l
have often sold six houses with far lesl
trouble than you have given US to-day.
4 Il. oh. yes. you can have as much
time as you like. but I told you our
houses are going Oft like hot cakes.
4 We won't hold tho house to your ra-
! fusal while you shily-shally and ask
i your grandmother's advice. ~. No of
Tense. That was a joke / say that
i was a joke. 49,.
Very good. You will buy ut 1900.
i All right. Take your check for ona.
i eighty round to Eaton's, and the house
is yours. u. Yes, Monday. or Tues
4 day, or Doomsday will do Just as well
but we don't hold the house for you
i till 10 per cent. deposit is in hand.
il Just as you like. -. Very we'll.
j I'll ring up Eaton and tell him to pre-
pare the receipt at once. Now buck
up. Keep moving. Eaton will have
the receipt ready long before you're
there" and Jack worked the handle.
hung up the receiver. and, with
beamlng face. turned for q moment
j, from the wall. "Whoo hoop! Tally-
no. Worry-worry"
n "Bravo" said Crunden huskily.
Bravo"
Il admire his pluck" said Bowling.
"Grand-rcally grand e3s
And after a little more bell-ringing
. ana Win mucn are you tncTe .1--OTSB
I, to the Medford Central Exchange and
then to Mr.. Eaton, the sotcitor-Jack
gave instructions about check and re-
4 ceipt.
!, "Oh, lie meant buying he said mod
estly. but dreadful torpid liver-surs
the man eats too much,' and he took
out his watch. Now II they don't
a change Their minds again between the
station and Bridge Street. Eaton ought
TO give us the albright signal in less
4 than ten minutes"
, Then they sat anXiously waiting.
Ton minutes passed. Twelve min
s-tlfteen-sixteen Immensely long.
heavy minutes had passed when the
telephone bell sounded again and Jack
sprang to the instrument.
: "That you, Eaton?s. u. Yes, yes.
Thanks. Sure it isn't sumner? Yes,
I lyes. Thanks. Goodnight SLEEP
we'll. Pleasant, dreams" and lie shows
. ed his benming face 10 the room. Now
II is all right-Eaton says Sol" ana
he snapped his fingers. Paint 1t up.
!. Bowling, old boy. Paint the map red.
/ 4 40 !t5r,E