The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-22
The
Sable
I-orcha
--- IT -
HereSo Hazeltino

Heraeo Haxeltlno


ts reported. or whether he 10 quite
robust the effect OF the gossip ON
Crystal Consolidated was disastrous.
"A slump OF fifteen points In two hours.
this afternoon. wiped out many weak.
u margined accounts. and spread ruin
among q number Of spectators who
fondly imagined this law-defying
trust. Of which Cameron is the sup
porting Atlas. as firmly intrenchsd as
In the government itself.
Unless something definite is forth.
coming regarding Mr.. Cameron's con.
dition before the market opens tomor>
row. a panic In Crystal Consolidated
is predicted IL closed today at 1924
bid. los asked; the lowest figures re-
corded this year"
t startled me. because Il showed
that at least part Of the secret we
were guarding was q secret no longer:
and IL perplexed me because I could
not fancy through what channel these
somewhat distorted facts had filtered
into publicity. I had no doubt that
The ball. having been set rolling In
this fashion. would gain both n, col.
ume and momentum unless some ener.
setic measures were promptly taken
TO check II. And yet. what. under the
circumstances. could we do? Subter.
fuge. 1 knew. would be useless, and
the truth must prove an acc Grant.
In haste and with diminished appe-
ute l rushed through my dinner, and
moment later was speeding up the
avenue as fast as q taxicab could car.
~ me. with the Cameron mansion my
destination and consultation with
Evelyn Grayson my object.
IL must not be imagined that I'm this
matter l expected any weighty assist.
ance from n young woman of such linn.
fted experience; but she was practi-
cally alone In the great house and
could well imagine how already re-
portsrs must be vying one with anoth.
or to wiring from her admissions con-
corning her uncle.
Y To my infinite relief I found that
sne had returned the word, mot at
me" TO all such callers. Inquiries
from other sources had been met In
similar fashion. Ofloers OF the com.
pany had called In person or had tel.
egraphed. and Hatch & Hastings had
been almost aggravatingiy insistent.
But. Evelyn" I said, this is all
such surprise to me. had no notion
your uncle was at all active In any cor.
poration. fancied him a director,
probably, In score or more Of com.
panies. but that he was the so-called
Glass King I never for q moment
suspected. Under the circumstances.
he must have private secretary
somewhere. who might have been of
inestlmable aid TO U.S."
1 He has a private secretary, II
seems" she replied, though even I
never knew II until read II In the
News this evening. am sure he
never came TO Cragholt. His name Is
simms-Howard Simms--and he was
interviewed at the Com 2any's office.
Didn't you see it1"
' I confessed that ! had missed ev-
cry evening paper but one.
1T was he, I think" she went on.
who. becoming alarmed at Uncle
Roberts long silence, mentioned Il to
some one. who In turn spread tho dam.
aging reports"
Then he Is very incompetent pri-
vate secretary" I commented, III not,
indeed. a dangerous one. shall make
point OF seeing Mr.. Simms as early
as possible tomorrow. Tonight | am
going TO call on Tony Hatch-I have
a nodding acquaintance with him-and
assure him that when last saw Rob.
ert Cameron less than a month ago
he was In perfect health, and that
u am satisfied he Is not in any santa.
mum or suffering from any mental or
physical disorder. IL he approves OF
the idea | shall give out a statement
TO the newspapers. implying that your
uncle has gone on little Journey OF
which his family are entirely cogni.
zant. and that his return may be ex.
pec'ed almos, any day. I think that
ought L. tUrn the tide in Wall street
tomorrow. Meanwhile. my dear Eve
yn. continue 20 be- not at home"
But neither at his home nor at any
OF his clubs could | find Mr.. Hatch.
though | searched for him diligently
until long after midnight. Evidently
he was intent on evadlng the slcuth
hounds OF the press. and had sue.
cessfully taken TO cover.
And then. on my way back down the
avenue, TO the Loyalton. that hap.
pened which made all subtcrfuee. al
tact. IL assembling. unnecessary. Tor
on tho sidewalk. opposite the cathe-
dral. found tho best OF answers 10
all the questions raised by the rumor
mongers-the animate refutation OF
every disturbing waif word.
CHAPTER XVII.