The Washington times., 1908-12-13

and set his heart go
ing at double quick
sent him next instant
on wild bolt into the cafe of the
hotel.
Here he snatched up the tape Of the
ticker. One look was enough.
Corn had dropped twenty points!
He,Was wiped out, ruined, a beggar.
t,y a sudden reversal of the market,
,.b.ch he. being out Of touch with the
situation at the critical moment, could
not protect himself against, he had
been squeezed" to the limit
Where yesterday he had confidently
counted himself as worth close 10 a
SriAicn, today his tangible assets con-
.istcd of the single thousand dollars
i'm lis recovered pocketbOok-
u was not Jim Harrisons way to
cI.v over split milk. however. With
T.ifself alone to think Of, he would
Iape squared back his big shoulders
and said: We'll, thousand dollars
ard my experience is not bad capital
for chap of twenty-siX to start on,
end would have sailed back into the
.ight.
But the thought of Helene un-
AIMED him. He could not ask her TO
marry him now; with so uncertain "A
future he could not even ask her 70
wait for him.
Why. he had seen il take years for
fellows I'm this fix 20 get upon their
feet again.
Years, And in the meantime she
would have gone 20 the Philippines,
and possibly meet some other man
who attracted her fancy; while he,
unable to speak. was grinding away
out i'm Chicago at the slow task Of
building up again his shattered for
tunes.
Years, Couil any one expect that such
girl as Helene would lack suitors a
plenty, or remain long unclaimed? Why,
here was this Starr Spencer nOw-who-
ever he might be; this man who had
obtained her position fox S.a-. and was
taking her out TO luncheon. Why was
Nix. Spencer interesting himself so in
her behalf?
No. Jim smashed one big fist down
into the other. He must scheme out
some immediate stroke whereby 10 re
trieve himself. But what could ne do
with a paltry thousand doIIars2
And then with a start. he recalled
the offer made to him the night before.
Ridiculous, Quixotic, Absurd, o.
course. il was. Yet. nevertheless, Jim
Harrison. practical. hard-headed busi-
ness man Of practical, hard-headed
Chicago. found his mind returning again
ana again to a contemplating OF the old
CAPTAINS extravagant project
The Malay archipelago? That was
Just around the corner somewhere from
the Philippine Islands, was it not? His
memory was a bit haZy on geography;
but he knew Il was but a few inches
distant on the map.
How would It seem, then. TO coma
sailing into Manila harbor some fine
morning with a whole boatload Of pre-
cious stones. and bid Helene pick out
the most gorgeous OF the lot for a
brida; present?
Dreams. dreams: wild. fanciful I'm
aE1rinEsi But those are the things
which govern and control mems actions.
Ey the time Jim was clad n conven-
tional attire, and had exchanged his
drafts tor currency at 4 neighborlng
bank, the undertaking had actually as
sumeG a feasible aspect; the idea OF
sailing a small boat halfway around
tho globe seemed only a proper pre-
measure.
BE was sickened. you see. at the
thaught o. returning to Chicago TO
struggle for dollars In the grain pits.
Tne lure o. excitement. romance. ad-
yeAture. was beckoning tc him with an
Irresistible spell. The enchanted East
was calling.
He stood hesitatfng a moment or
two In the doorway OF the bank. un-
certainly lingering the crisp, new notes
in his pocket. Then with an impulslve
toss OF the head. he strode swiftly
ACROSS T. block OF two and dived into
a subway station.
4 half hour or so later. from the
Jersey side OF the Fort lee ferry. he
was signaling energeJicaIIy to the
Helene. ana Captain Carman. after a
prolonged survey 10 make sure Of his
identity, pulled ashore IN the lapped-oft
cory to receive him.
'ayeH?" The skipper rested on his
oars. 'Ye're back?"
Only the CLEAN In his deep-sunl5en
eyes showed how anxloUsly ne await
ed the response.
fYes. I am going with you
A suppressed sigh OF relief: then can
niEy, Have We got the thousand?"
1Sure; see, here II IS, all in currency"
At the sight Of the actual money, the
captains affectatiOn Of nonchaIance de-
parted.
'.Glory ber' he shouted. springing TO
the deck with a heap which almost
upset his lubbeTly craft.
He sang. he danced a snatch Of the
hO-npiDe. he fairly hUgged Jim in his
jubilation-
Then as suddenly he grew morose and
surely. What do know about you.
any way?" ne grumbled. "a fellow that
I picked up of the street. as ye may
say:"
'Just as much as I know about you"
retoJed Jim. You've got the boat and
the scheme, I've got the money. and
'hsnce has brought us together.
How do know you won't murder
me when we get the treasure, SOS 20
Keep IT all7''
Jim laughed.
THAT, too. 70 an equal risk. But II