The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1914-12-20

ers' exchange" Just as Joe McElhan-
ey's harness shop around the corner
had been used for years by turfmen
as their rendezvous and had been
known as the "horse exchange" That
evening the trade was well repre-
scented, special attraction being an
opportunity to exchange gossip on
the McAndrews job. All found that
subject most prolific source Of in
teresting conversation. Harry and
Joe were there as listeners and they
were listening for all they were
worth. At the same time they APP
peared to be much interested in the
batting and fielding averages OF the
Orlando baseball team, then on the
road.
Soon 1t became apparent that old
Colonel Josephus Horton, a veteran
contractor, who had become rather
loquacious under the stimulating in
fiuence Of high halls, was fidgety and
anxious to slip away from the crowd
without notice. Harry observed IL.
Finally the colonel sneaked upstairs
to the balcony overlooking the lobby
under the excuse that he had some
letters to write. Within few min
utes, Samuel Davisson, senior mem-
Der of the old firm of DAWSON and
Burton, general contractors, silently
took his departure. A slight atmos-
phere OF mystery such as hangs over
an assembly OF politicians Just prior
to an important party caucus, was
detected by Harry. He felt there
was something doing and he contided
his feelings to Joe.
The rest of the crowd continued
brisk conversation on the subject of
the McAndrews job. Later on, young
Wilson Burgett, of the Burgett-Bron-
son Company, dropped out. A meet
ing was on and Harry wanted to know
what 1t was for. He and Joe slipped
room and talked it over. II believe
whispered Harry, but where; that's
the question. We've got to be in on
1t. Let's trail them up"
Harry and Joe sauntered out, went
through an alley leading to the bag
gage entrance in the rear of the ho-
tel, walked into the freight elevator
and, operating it themselves in the
absence of the porter who was doing
duty at the Union depot, let them
selves out on the fourth floor Peeping
around corner Of a hallway, Joe
saw the broad back of old Colonel
Horton disappearing into room. The
door closed and the key turned in the
lock. Several others had preceded
the colonel Joe tiptoed down the
hallway to the front passenger eleya-
tor, noting the number of Colonel
Horizons room. and Harry went down
the freight elevator and met Joe at
the clerks desk busily engaged in
porting over the register.
Say, Linger," Joe was drawing to
the clerk, I'VE fellows are going to
have a confab, too. Can you let us
have a room for awhile?'
Sure" obligingly responded the
clerk. There are few rooms left;
what do you want?"
WELL" Clipped in Harry, that 423
had when we organized the
Draughtsmen's Club is all hunkey
dorey, or something like it."
Guess can let you have 423," re-
sponded Linger; 'if rent 1t in the
meantime, I'll telephone you and you
can all slip down; but there is not
much chance that I'll need it tonight"
Sure said Harry. Joe, you go
out there and get Jim and Scrumpy;
I'll bring Herb and let's skin up
there right away"
The two hurried away.
Talk about your luck" Harry said
when he and Joe walked down hall
way on the fourth floor, there's door
adjoining 42S and 425, and the crowd
is in 425. Now, don't breathe"
In moment, Joe and Harry were
down on their knees in front of the
inner door of their room, listening to
the conversation in the adjoining
room Old Colonel Horton was doing
the talking.
Gentlemen, we have lost out
lot lately and old Henry McAndrews'
money is like finding it. It'll do us
more good than he's getting out of it.
This job is a big one and ! think we
ought to boost it about 10000 plunks
on a basis of half and the extras for
the contract and a split on the other
half. II we figure on the same basis
as we did on the Appletree job, we'll
have trouble as old McAndrews is
pretty close"
But, won't the old grubber smell
it anyway" asked DAWSON.
Not if the trimmings and the subs
are fixed all right; and it is settled
that Putnam here will do the draw
ing"
Leave ii to me-" said Putnam, land
it will be done in tip top shape; only,
I'm in terribly deep on this PROPOSE
tion and IN have to have my share.
How about sixteen for the builder
eight for the architects and the re-
naming sixteen for the split?"
This resulted in sharp discussion,
and, like pack of hungry dogs fight
ing over bone, the conspirators
wrangled and quarreled for fully an
hour: but Putnam seemed to have the
crowd where he wanted 1t and stuck
out for his point. Finally, gentle
mems agreement" was made on the
basis he laid down, then all shook
hands and drifted down stairs in
pairs.