Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-21

this hurt Selwyn and alarmed him,
too, for he was slowly coming to the
conclusion that he did not like Neer-
gard. that he would never sign arti-
cles Of partnership with him and that
even his formal associateship with the
company was too close relation for
his own peace of mind. But on Ger
AIDS account he stayed on. He did
not like to leave the boy alone for his
sisters sake as well as for his own.
Matters drifted that way through
early spring. He actually grew to dis
hike both Neergard and the business Of
Neergard & Co., for no particular rea-
son perhaps, but in general. though he
did not yet care to ask himself to be
more precise in his unuttered criti-
cisms. But Neergard broke his word
to him. G
And one morning before he left his
rooms at Mrs. Greeve's lodgings to go
downtown Percy Draymore called him
up on the telephone, and. as that over
fed young mans usual rising hour was
VIGOROUSLY nearer noon than o'clock.
1t surprised Selwyn to be asked to re-
main in his rooms for little while I'M
til Draymore and one or two friends
could call on him personally concern
ing matter of Importance.
First there was Percy Draymore,
overgroomed for a gentleman, fat, good
humored and fashiona ble-one of the
famous Draymore family noted solely
for their money and their tight grip on
it; then came Sanxon Orchil, the ia
nous banker and promoter, small, ur-
bane, dark, with that rich. almost orr
entail, coloring which he may have In
herited from his Cordova ancestors,
who found it necessary to dehumanize
their names when Rome offered them
the choice, with Immediate eternity as
alternative.
Then came q fox faced young man.
Phoenix Notify, elegant arbiter of all
pertaining to polo and the hunt-slim
legged, Ratchet faced and more pro-
sentable in the saddle than out of 1t.
He was followed by Bradley Harmon,
with his washed out coloring of con-
sumptive Swede and his corn colored
beard, and. looming in the rear like an
amiable brontosaurus, George Fame,
whose swaying neck carried his head
as q camel carries his, nodding as he
walks.
"We heard last night" said Dray-
more, show that fellow-how Neer-
gard had been tampering with our
| farmers-what underhand tricks he
has been playing us, and L frankly adj
| NIT to you that we're worried lot Of
near sports. That's what this dismal
| matinee signifies, and we've come to
| ask you what 1t all really means"
| 'Why did you not call on Mr.. Neer-
| gard?" asked Selwyn coolly. Yet he
was taken completely by surprise, for
he did not know that Neergard had
gone ahead and secured options on his
| own responsibility, which practically
| amounted TO violation of the truce
between them. 81 know nothing about
1t. I did not know that Mr. Neergard
had acquired control of the property
1 don't know what he means to dc
with it. And, gentlemen, may l ash
why you feel at liberty to come to me
instead of going TO Mr.. Neergard?"
"a desire to deal with one of oul
own kind, I suppose" returned Dray
more bluntly. And, for that matter,
he said, turning to the others, ''wt
might have known that Captain Sci
wyn could have had no hand in and NJ
knowledge Of such an underlined anG
dirty
Harmon plucked him by the sleeve
but Draymore shook him off, his LITTLE
piggish eyes sparkling.
what do carer" he sneered. losins
his temper Were in the clutches O
vulgar. skinf1int Dutchman. and he'll
wiring us dry whether or not we ours,
him out. Didn't tell you that Philil
Selwyn had nothing to do with 1t? L
he had, and was wrong. our journe!
here might as well have been made t,
Neergard's Office, for any man VIII,
will do such filthy thing
"One moment, Draymore," cut in Sci
wyn, and his voice rang unpleasantly
IF you are simply complaining be
cause you have been outwitted, e
ahead, but IL you think there has beel
any really dirty business in this mat
ter go to Mr.. Neergard. Otherwise. be
ing his associate. 1 shall not only dc
: cline to listen, but also ask you t
leave my apartments"
captain Selwyn is perfectly right,
observed Orchil coolly. do you think
Draymore, that it is very good fast
in you to come into a mans place an
begin slanging and cursing membe
Of his firm for crooked work.
Besides" added Notify, 'ft's nc
D crooked; it's only contemplate" An
/, to Selwyn, who had been restlessly fax
e ing first one, then another: 1--WE cam
] 1T was the idea of several among us
< to put the matter up to yop, whic
! was rather foolish. because you couldn
have engineered the thing and remail
o ed what we know you to be. So"-
I "Waitv' said Selwyn brusquely.
/. do not admit for one moment that thel
d is anything dishonorable In this dea
! nor do accept your right to questio
s 1t from that standpoint, because
] personally have not chosen to engal
:. In matters of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
;. no reason for condemning the deal I
a its method"