Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-18

hundred and fifty is the limit In this
pool, as have often told you"
Cant you let me go In for two hun.
dred?" argued Blackie. 81 don't like
to play for piker bet like this"
"Then stay out" retorted Walling
ford. 81 offered TO let you in on $50.
900 pool once, and you failed to meet
me at $3.50, SO now you take the little
pools. Wait minute and he con.
suited red memorandum book. "You
can only have hundred today"
"All right" agreed Blackie reluctant.
ly. Heres your hundred" and he
handed 1t over.
"Good day." said Walllngford, taking
the money.
NJ. Perigord looked after him in stun
ned perplexity. "Impossbler he com
mented. "He invested $3.50 for you
yesterday, and today he gives you
back $1,000"
"Yes, confound him, grumbled Black
ie. Hes sore at me and won't let me
In on his big game"
"Bigr' repeated Perlgord in astonIsh.
ment, looking greedily at the money In
Blackle's hand. ''Do you call this
smallP
ITS tin horn proposition" scorned
Blackie.
"But how does he make IT."
"Wallingford won't tell" BIacliie
half whlsperingly confided. "He Is one
Of our most clever Americans. No
body knows how much money he ID
worth Nobody knows how much am
worth. don't know myself"
"And did Mr.. Walllngford make you
all your money!"
Every last $1,OOO,OOO," asserted
Blackle.
"AhP' breathed NJ. Perlgord In wor-
ship, 81, also, would become rich
quick! So rich that also could say Of
$1,000, Give the tin horn to the news
boy NJ. Daw, would you truly give
that much money to a newsboy, or
was it what you clever Americans call
joke%
Blackies eyes widened in astonlsh
ment that such question should be
asked "Td give it to anybody" he
stated, with a fash of inspiration
Would you like to have it2"
"Nine hundred dollarsW gasped NJ.
Perlgord In terror.
"Is it $500? Why, so It is," counted
Blackie negllgently. Here, PerIgord.
take 1t and buy yourself dinner"
and, thrusting the bills Into the hands
OF the dumfounded Perigord, he stalk.
ed out Of the place.
II forgot to get Miss Warden's
check" explained Blackie the next day,
walking into NJ. Perigords with a
saxaphone case In his hand.
ut is ready, monsieur" cordially
stated the importer, greeting Blackie
with the enthusiasm Of an old friend
He clasped his hands and bowed pro
foundly. He delivered the check with
a flourish. 1T gives me great pleasure
to make myself again honorable with
mademoisele."
She'll appreciate II" grinned Blac.
kie. Thanks, perlgord Good day"
and he started for the door.
Pardon, monsieur, one little mo
ment," began Perlgord.
Blackle, expecting that call, turned
with slow reluctance. He looked at
his watch.
"Your friend, NJ. Walllngford." In.
sinuated Perigord. 81 am consumed
with curiosity to know how much he
gave you for your Sl00 Of yesterday"
"oh," returned Blackie, with bored
expression, 81 don't know yet. As a
matter Of fact, l hadn't thought Of In.
qulring about IT, He probably has only
six or eight hundred dollars for me.
I'll just let It CO."
"Ah, monsieur" protested PerIgord,
even II It Is only little money like
that to you, who are SO rich, It should
be taken. Perhaps monsieur would. like
to give II to some friend"
very WELL" agreed Blackie, yawn.
Ing. "Wallingford's office hours are
from 3 to 4. Would you like to go over
with me?"
81 shall be transportedl' exclaimed
NJ. Perigord In a tlutter Of delight this
being the boon for which he had been
eager to ask.
He ran. He brought his silk hat. He
brought his gray gloves. lie brought
his little cane. He brushed his klnky
beard. He trlpped down the stairs two
steps ahead of Blackle Daw. Only
when they reached the office did he
hang back tlmldly.
That was brand new office In n
brand new skyscraper and on the door
was the legend: -. Rufus Walllngford.
investments" NJ perigord did not no
tlce that the paint was still fresh, for
Wulllngford himself had carefully dust
ed and otherwise aged It. He had spent
the morning on the job,
Inside was small anteroom, In
which there sat waiting totally bald
headed man and man with bushy
beard and large red necked man with
a mustache, one end Of which had been
chewed to tassel. A spider legged
boy guarding the entrance to the door
Of the private office greeted Blackle
with nod and turned an unfrlendly
stare on NJ, Perlgord Beyond the glass
partition could be heard the loud and
angry voice Of that peerless investor, ]
| Ruf,s wnIlinvfnrd