The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-08-26
al Pross Buroau.)

ana looking at the ceiling.
II remember the Battery Trust
failure" l said. There was no men,
ton Of any OF your family In connec-
ton with It. The men involved
we're"
"Figureheads," said Handsykes.
bluntly. Clarence was the man be-
hind 1t. gave 1t to him as q Christ
mas present"
But"
His name did not appear even In
the list OF directors? 1 know. The
directors were dummies The off,
GERS were employes-Clarence's en-
ployes. One Of them went to Jail for
yean We took care of them ALL I
don't understand how the facts got
out-the facts that this man is limiting
at, l mean. We paid enough to keep
silence. heaven knows"
Then 1t Is possible that this man
is"
Not crazy? Certainly. He's prob
ably got the goods on Clarence How
In heaven he ever knew OF the boys
connection with the Battery bank is
more than can see, though. But APP
parently no does know It And II he
knows that he probably knows the
whole story"
What is the story. Mr. Hand
sykes?" l asked boldly.
"oh, Clarence used his little bank
In a careless sort OF way" he replied
frankly. Its long story, but can
make 1t short Clarence wrecked 1t to
help me put through my merger
Loyal son. Clarence; but careless,
very careless"
Then there is such a cloud as this
man speaks Off"
Certainly. And 1t isn't too late for
1t to fall, either. Especially now
when the federal attorneys are SO &C
/ tive"
L sat back In amazement I knew
something of the crooked ms and outs
of Wall street. but that Handsykes
would sit and openly admit that his
son, the Justly celebrated society lion,
Clarence Handsykes was walking
with potential disgrace always on his
shoulders, WAS a shock. Handsykes
continued to smoke. rot In the least
disturbed by tho thoughts that must
have been running through his mind
Il would pay this man without
murmur." said he. but II you pay
once. you've got TO keep on paying.
sent for you to help me shut him up
without paying"
picked up the letter and looked at
| 1t.
do you happen to know anything
about the man?" 1 asked
ooh. certainly" said Handsykes
Hes q good friend OF Clarence's
They were in Yale together"
WHAT" l cried. nc isn't the rich
young Vaudeville, is III"
"Of course" was the calm answer
who did you think 1t was? There's
his name. as plain as can be: Walter
Vaudeville. believe the boy Is tell
ing the truth; he needs $4,000 and
this is the only way In the world that
he knows how to get 1t. suppose he
has become involved IN some way and
Is desperate"
81 should think he would have gone
to Clarence" l suggested
mo; that wouldn't have been eth
zeal. He and Clarence are friends.
! He Is Clarence's best fFiepd, really.
He and l are not friends. He likes
Claronee and wouldn't harm him for
! the world. He doesn't like me, and
wouldn't give damn no matter what
happened--to He. You see. he isn't
willing to take a cent from Clarence,
but he would like to gouge me for
100000 and do 1t WITHOUT the slight
est feeling OF conjunction. / can I'M
derstand the young man'e feelings
but don't pay one cent"
Then the case, so far as am con.
cerned." said l, us to render Mr.. Man
deville harmless without stirring up
any trouble or paying him any black
tsaA?"
"Jpst that" SAID uapdsykes your
job is TO bury Aandeyiiles eesira 10
blackmail me-and bury 1t so deeD K
will never come to life"
Good enough" said. rising
Have you any suggestions to maker"
None" said he. except that. the
HRndsykes interests can raise more
money thRR RRybody IN New York ex-
cept Morgan-if neoSssGfs"
Then no smiled and bowed me Oua
Here was as delicate task as ever
I had faced. The name Of Handsykes
must be protected beyond ell else As
/ II stood now. Il was power lg Esw
York finance because OF It's reputation
Tor Shsoluto integrity Let the Bat
:ery Trust scandal become known, and
that power would DO gone, ~ greatly
diminished. And Mr.. Walter Mande
yillO had the power TO make THIS
known, and was apparently deter
mined to use IT, And my lob was 70.
mako this impossible. Delicatel "
/ Vaudeville even 30 much as got =
! suspicion that he was being Swallowed
he would az likely az not spill tho
eggs
Ny first move was 70 discover all
thst could concerning tho young
man IN quesusp. ! found that he was
one OF type quite cOmmOa yp New
York but rare I'm other parts Of the
countryside young man who haa
, sqnhngDTed every cent OF bis fortune,
but vino manages 70 keep up appear,
ancos, no one knows how Mande-
VILE had run through several hundred
thousands Of dollsrs-ali the way
/ through II was common knowledge
= that he was dead broke, yet he was