Mexico Missouri message., 1912-11-21

thousand dollars now, John It's al
that was left to me-and | had the
sense to hold on to it. And it's yours
John, after I'm dead After? No
now"
But this is a fortune!" exclaimed
Old Jennings. why, it would-you
can't mean"
DO / mean you to sell them and
retire, John? No, don't" said Van
Tuysen. Listen, John, and get your
brains to working"
The two men sat up till two in the
morning, one outside the coverlet, one
propped up within, figuring comput.
ing.
And Mary Hewlett missed John Jen.
nings on the next day for the first
Sunday in thirteen years.
Strange to say, John Jennings was
at his desk as usual on the Monday
morning, and the men in the office.
who had learned of his discharge, look.
ed at him in surprise, and winked, and
muttered that the old bookkeepel
must be losing his wits. SO thought
Mulchay, the treasurer, when he
caught sight of him.
"Um-did you you receive no com
munication from Mr.. Bland yester.
day. he asked stopping beside him
as he passed to his seat
Yes, sir" replied Jennings respect.
fully. But | thought Mr.. Bland might
have changed his mind and might like
to speak to me again
Muichay was afraid of a scene. He
hated scenes; besides, he did not
know but that John might have
some scheme OF vengeance In his
mind, not disconnected with a knife
or a revolver. He walked away to
warn Mr. BANDS secretary. But Jen.
nings anticipated him, for, entering at
that moment, Bland, too, caught sight
of Jennings and stopped to ask him
why he was there. And Johns man
ner was so mild, 80 respectful, and SO
portentous, that he actually agreed to
grant him a private interview.
Now, Jennings" he began pom
pously, when they were alone togeth'
er, I'VE can't do anything more for
you. II it's that"
NO, Mr.. Bland, it's this" said Old
Jennings, and spread an engraved doc.
ument upon the table. Mr.. Bland look
ed at 1t and sprang up out of his chair.
ITS that missing hundred shares!"
he gasped. Where did you get 1t,
Jennings? It's a forgery"
mo. sir, it's the missing hundred
shares. You said so, Mr.. Bland" re-
turned Old Jennings quietly.
Where did you get it,"
i've got it, answered John.
IF it isn't forgery I'll buy it from
you at fifty" said President Bland
eagerly.
mo, sir" answered John.
Sixty, then, Seventy. Ninety. A
hundred. What do you want for It?
They haven't reached hundred YET"
he yelled, losing his self-control en-
tirely.
"Mr. Shafer would give me two hun
dred," said John quietly.
Curse you for a thief! viii you
take two hundred at once?"
mo, sir" said Old Jennings.
We'll, what do you WANT" inquired
Bland, sinking back in his chair and
twitching nervously at the morocco
padding.
I'll tell you" Old jennings an
swered, strengthening his bent form
and looking the other between the
eyes. Il might sell out to Shafer, and
| guess that would make 1t nip and
tuck between you both. But Skaters
just as big a rogue as you. and just
as mean, and this time I'm playing
for my own hand and for two others.
I'm not going to sell. Those shares
are worth just fifty dollars apiece, and
| won't take advantage of any cut.
throat competition between Shafer
and you to make money. But you'll
do three things and sign an agreement
now"
Name them, Mr.. Jennings" said
Bland; and he said the latter part of
this expression for the first time in
his life.
We'll, sir" said Old Jennings, re-
SumiuS nlb IespeCllul luduhtI, you
know that | was associated with Mr..
Van Tuysen in the first days of the
machine and l know whole lot about
it, So you will give me ten years
contract as head OF the foundry at
what does Mr.. Rogers get?-Ah, yes.
at five thousand a year"
But what about Rogers?"
That's so" Jennings agreed.
We'll, as assistant, then, at thirty five
hundred, with reversion If Mr.. Rog-
ers shall leave you" He was always
a soft fool, Old Jennings was. Sec
ondly, you will appoint Mr. Van Tuy-
sen head OF the assembling room, at
the same salary, for l know that
Brown intends to leave you next
month. And he'll be on a ten-year
contract too"
But the old idiots dead" yelled
Bland. IF he wasn't he'd have been
here borrowing money from me long
ago"
"Oh dear no." answered Old Jen.