The Huttig news. (Huttig, Ark.) 1907-1955, 1912-11-23
SPINNER
AND HIS WEB
By MI. ]. PHILLIPS


Mr. Spinner. this is my friend, Miss
Brooks" said John Aldrich She's the
2ostmistress of Hollywood"
Spinner bowed courtlierlilSe Il won
Tered why they had lady for post
master here-till now" he flattered.
Miss Brooks seemed made for fiat
terry; she was little and blonde and
very pretty. But just now her dim
pies were under stern control, and
she appraised Spinner with a swift.
keen glance.
MIR. Spinner is from Chicago" vol
unteered Aldrich.
Yes. smiled Spinner easily. from
he 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
Aldrieh discuss himself and his visit
with the postmistress.
But Aldrieh. great, good-natured, hon
est 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 Condor
Crude Rubber company. I'm going to
invest some money with him."
You are?" asked Ruth quickly
How much. John?"
"Oh. about thousand dollars. re
piled John. speaking as if it were
trivial sum II represented. she sus-
pected. his entire savings.
Yes" interosed Spinner in the same
easy manner before Ruth could COM
ment Mr. Aldrich is one of the many
people in moderate circumstances 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.
"On thousand dollars? Twenty dol
lars a 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 of a ready
talker, frightened under his dyed mus
tache.
The postmistress smiled frostily
Good interest. john" she commented.
"24 per cent a year."
isn't it," said John heartily He
saw that his old friend and his new
did not seem especially cordial, and be
wanted things harmonious. That's
more than farm. or even store,
would pay me. The money is in Hag
erstown bank Mr. Spinner is going
to drive over with me tomorrow.
Spinner, sure of his man, despite the
girls disapproval grew guardedly in
solent DO you care to invest, Miss
Brooks?" he asked. with a 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
few moments Then Spinner turned
back.
where does Zebulon Cole live. Al
drich?"
Fifteen miles east"
spinner lIONutu luOhSbtiuily Anu
Hagerstown is west?'
Yes; Is miles"
Then I'm afraid | can't go over
with you tomorrow. 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 winter was fill
ing the ruts and blanketing 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 a directors meet,
ing in Chicago"
Spinner's start of recollection was
we'll done. That's so; I'd forgotten
all about it,
He took heavy envelope from his
pocket Across the face of 1t was
printed. in starin black type. the
address of the Condor company. He
affixed a half dozen of the stamps he
/
had just purchased to the upper right
hand corner. wrote special delivery
beneath them. and handed it 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 and send them
along. And be sure to get the let
ter away tomorrow All stock sub
scriptions must re in ten days before
the first of the month in order to par
ticipate in the regular monthly divi
dend. You can mail ii at Hagers
town"
John shook his head. We patron
ize our own pestoffice." he replied
with smile The salary of the post
master depends on the amount OF
business done. you know"
Quite right" returned the promo
ter, heartily He had won. and could
afford TO be magnanimous. And now
must make arrangements for an
early start tomorrow"
He swept off his silk hat and bowed
low, revealing the fact that his thin