The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-09-04
CHAPTER xI.-Continued.

The call closed amid animation; but
the excitement was nothing COM
'pared TO the scene that had followed
tthe fall in the morning. Omega stood
at eighty asked. and se~venty-eight bid,
;snd the ship of the stock gamblers
mas again sailing on an even keel.
The session vas over at last, and
'Wallbridge and Eppner handed me
sheir memoranda OF purchases.
You couldn't pick Omega off the
bushes this afternoon, Mr.. Wilton"
said Wallbridge. wiping his bald head
vigorously. There's fools at all times,
sind some OF EN- were here and ready
~ drop what they had; but not many.
& gathered in six hundred for you, but
j had to fight for it"
IL l thanked the merry broker, and
save him a check for his balance.
Eppner had lone better with a
wifer margin. but all told | had added
blt three thousand one hundred
share to my list. | wondered how
Snuch OF this had been sold to me by
gsny employer. Plainly, if Doddridge
Knapp was needing Omega stock he
Woulu nave 10 pay Tor IT.
a There was no one to be seen as I
REACHED Room Is. The connecting door
was closed and locked. and no sound
scame from behind 1t. | turned to ar.
range the books. to keep from a bad
hlbit OF thinking over the inexplicable.
. An hour passed and no Doddridge
Knapp. 1t was long past Office hours.
sJust as l was considering whether nv
duty 20 my employer constrained me
wait longer, | caught sight of an en-
veiope hat had been slipped under
the door, II was in cipher, but It
eSlelded to the key with which Dodd-
aidse Knapp had provided me. l
ynade IL out to be this:
Come to my house tonight. Bring
your contracts with you. Knapp"
was thrown into some perplexity
by this order. For a little / suspected
trap, but on second thought this
Seemed unlikely. The Office furnished
o. convenient a place for homicidal
diversions as he could wish, if these
%Dere in his intention, and possibly a
visit to Doddridge Knapp in his own
hptoC "ouIu SlFt mt d UGlLGI Clue W
his habits and purposes, and q better
chance OF bringing home to him his
awful crime. than a month together on
The Street.
The clocks were pointing past eight
when l mounted the steps that led to
~Doddridge knapp's door. / had some.
thing of trepidation. after all. as l rang
.tha roll for 7 wao for fran, ha,ro cura
thai Doddridge Knapp was above car.
rying out his desperate purposes in
his W house. and | wondered wheth.
er I should ever come out again, once
4 was behind those massive door.
had taken the p~recaution to find a
smaller revolver. suitable for an ev.
ening CALL" as l assured myself, but 1t
did not look to be much of a protec.
SiOn in case the house held a dozen
ruffians of the Terriil brand. How.
ever, 1 must risk it. l gave my name
10 the servant who opened the door.
This way" he said quietly. and in
q moment / was ushered into a small,
plainly-furnished room; and at a desk
covered with papers sat Doddridge
Knapp, the picture of the Wolf In his
den.
(. sit down. Wilton" said he with
grim %affability, giving his hand. you
won't mind If an old man doesn't get
up"
/ made some conventional reply.
Sorry to disapHoint you this after
noon. and take up your evening" he
said 'but I found some business that