The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-17
BY M. j. PHILLIPS.
OF VT. y. TFIVECIF0.
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Lit

erary Press.)
mir. Spinner, this is my friend. Miss
Brooks said John Aldrich. she's
the postmistress Of Hollywood
Spinner bowed, courtierlike. Il Won
dered why they had lady for post
master here---till now" he fiattered.
Miss Brooks seemed made for flat
terry: she was little and blonde and
very pretty. But Just now her dim
pies were under stern control, and
she appraised Spinner with swift.
keen glance.
Mr.. Spinner is from Chicago" VOL
unteered Aldrich.
Yes" smiled Spinner easily. from
the big. wicked city Fifty cents worth
of twos, please There was no haste
in his speech. Yet one might gain the
impression that he did not care to
have Aldrich discuss himself and his
visit with the postmistress.
But Aldrieh. great, good-natured.
honest John. had discussed people
and things too long with Ruth Brooks
to change now. Disregarding the hint
in the others manner. he went on:
Mr.. Spinner is president of the Com
dor Crude Rubber Company. I'm go
Ing to invest some money with him
You are?" asked Ruth quickly.
How much. Jim "
"Oh, about a thousand dollars" re-
piled John. speaking as if it We're a
trivial sum, 1t represented, she sus-
pected, his entire savings.
YES" interposed Spinner, in the
same easy manner, before Ruth could
comment MIR. Aldrich is one of the
many people In moderate circum-
stances who is going to share in the
wealth that rubber is pouring into this
country. We are not asking the big
capitalists to come in
What dividend do you pay?' inter-
rupted Ruth.
ION a thousand dollars? Twenty dol
lars month Spinner's prominent
gray eyes, which had the trick of look
ing at one either too much or not
enough. narrowed watchfully. His
wide, slack mouth, the mouth or I.
ready talker, frightened under his dyed
mustache.
The postmistress smiled frostiiy.
Good interest. JOHN she commented;
twenty four per cent. year,,
isn't it," said John heartily. He
saw that his old friend and his new
did not seem especially cordial, and
he wanted things harmonious. That's
more than farm, or even store.
would pay me. The money is in Ha-
garsviile bank. Mr.. Spinner is going
to drive over with me morrow
Spinner. sure Of his man. despite
the girls disapproyal, grew guardedly
insolent. DO you care to invest. Miss
Brooks he asked. with smile.
Before she could answer, the door
was opened briskly. A stranger
strobe In and without ceremony took
the prosperous looking Spinner aside
They conversed In an undertone for
a few moments, Then Spinner turned
back.
Where does Zebulon Cole live. AL
drich? o.
Fifteen miles east"
Spinner frowned thoughtfully. land
Hagarstown is west?'
Yes; eighteen miles,
Then I'm afraid | can't go over
with you, to-merFow-@a Mr. Cole has
sent for me; he wants to invest with
us. We couldn't make the two trips,
in the shape the roads will be-" He
nodded toward the outdoors, where
the first heavy snowfall of the win
ter was filling the ruts and blanket
ing the walks.
He glanced calculatingly from John
to the mutinous face of the postmis-
tress. Tell you what, though: we
could go the next day"
Aldrich looked up In surprise. why,
You told me You had directors meet
ing in Chicago"
Spinner's start of recollection was
we'll done. That's 50; I'd forgotten
all about It,"
He took heavy envelope from his
pocket. Across the face Of 1t was
printed, in staring black type, the adj
dress Of the Condor Company. He af-
fixed half dozen of stamps he had
just purchased to the upper right
hand corner, wrote Special delivery"
beneath them, and handed II to Al
drich. You can send the money in
that" he said. Don't buy a draft. Get
hundred dollar bills. pin them to a
sheet OF heavy paper end send them
along. And be sure to get the let
ter away tomorrow. All stock sub
scriptions must be in ten days before
the first OF the month in orde.. to par
tfcfpate in the regular monthly diyi-
dend. You can mali 1t at Hagers-
town"
John shook his head. I'VE patron
izze our own postoffice," he replied,
with smile. THE salary OF the post
master depends on the amount Of bus
mess done. you know"
Quite right" returned the promo
ter. heartily. He had won, and could
afford to be maEnanirnOus rfAnd now
must make arrangements for an
early start tO-mOrrow."
He swept on his. siik hat and bowed
low. revealing the fact that his thin
hatr was dyad. too. ''0oOd- hyA. Mise
ssss'fs' aIsS 4 4 asys - }sY:sl