The Nevada County picayune., 1911-06-23
If you don't mind, Tom,

pose to know what it Is. Now. Holl. wedel--"
 Hollwedel stammered.
 Well, 1t isn't much" he said. that had to do with the deal" he added, hastily Matter of fact I only acted | as an agent, under orders Of course, you understand, I thought they were your orders, and obeyed them im- plicitly."
 "Orders?" queried West. Mrs. West averted her face. 1T hope you won't be angry. | Tom,' she faltered, tremuIously. I'll be angry if I don't get this straight from the beginning" said West. GO on, Hollwedel. I promise to control myself and not to inter- rupt."
 Well" said Hollwedel and stop ped. Welt" he plunged desperately at his narrative, the morning after you were sunstruck, Mrs. West called at the office Mind you, hadn't any notion that you were even ailing She said that you had broken your arm your right arm."
 Why" demanded the startled con. | valescent.
 ITO explain why you couldn't send me written instructions, by your own hand" suggested Hollwedel.
 "Yes," assented Mrs. West, timidly.
 And" the broker continued, "it was necessary to get around Belden. You had given her full details of how I was to go about the business. Mrs. West instructed me. I thought that it was mighty risky, but that made it seem all the more as though it came from you. West. It was a scheme to knock the bottom out of Net Common, in or der to keep Belden on the anxious seat while we quietly bought up a ma- jority of the Bennington Fours. l ob- jected because we hadn't ready money enough to put it through, but Mrs. West overcame that by pledging her personal fortune to old Winant. That gave us enough to operate with"
 "Bess," cried West, "you-you did that"
 Wait" advised Hollwedel You promised to go easy. Mrs. West start- ed the ball rolling by going to Wise's uptown room and selling five hundred Net Common short. Inasmuch as you were known to have been conferring with Belden the day before and Mrs. West being your wife, presumably ta- king a flyer for pin money on your advice, young Wise jumped at the con- clusion that Net Common was due to break-just as we had figured he would. He telephoned his papa, and the Wise clique unloaded on the min- ute. That staggered Belden, and be- fore he got over it, everybody was bearing Net. l sold ten thousand sbort. just to help things along, and Belden took the count. Then soaked them with twenty-five thousand shares and Net dropped like a sinker. She closed at eighty-three, with Belden choking to death: and we covered and cashed in to beautiful tune.
 Tn the meantime. I'd been cabling the English investors for their Ben- ningtons. and got a big block from over there, besides what I picked up on the Street during the slump and while Belden was getting his second wind. Finally. I had corraled over half the bond issue, which Mrs. West and I locked up in our safe deposit vault Pretty soon-day or two- Belden came around; said he's recon sidered. that he'd take our block at the price agreed upon-eIghty. told him just how things stood. We held the majority of the Fours; but we didn't want them. We didn't care to foreclose. told him he could have them at par. He swore he'd have your blood, West-and gave in. He had to. don't know where he got the money, but do know that we cleared nearly million on the operation. And your wife's responsible"
 Hollwedel stopped abruptly. Mrs. West started. and quivered little with a fearful gladness-that she had done this thing for him, for her hus- band. But she feared to meet his eye. West remained still in his chair. star ing at the ceiling After while--a tense. silent interval-he passed his hand over his eyes.
 My wife," he said, softly, and arose. He took step or two toward her. and paused "A millionl" he whis- pered. "Oh. good Lord!" He ad- vanced until he lowered above her. while she sat with bowed head and a film of dimness cloudlng her vision. My wife!" said West, breathlessly. "Bess-"
 She looked up at him, her face shin- ing.
 TT had to. dear" she said T couldn't help it-things were so des- perate. Something had to be done, and 1t seemed to me that you would have done just that"
 "But-but how could you know how t, flank naldax, N