The Washington times., 1915-12-26

spooger, with the air Of one conferring
| a favor.
4 haven't much TO SELL" Blaclxie told
him, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
II couldn't possibly let 20 OF enough to
| weaken MIR. Bessmer's control OF the
company"
Mr.. Spooger was shocked that he
should even conceive such an idea. mo
one, ] am sure would wish ia inture Mr..
! Bessmer, who Is very honest, hard
working business man He had the re-
spect, and even affection, of the entire
community, including myself. II you
chose to sell any Of the stock. how
much would you want for it?''
| Par" announced Blackie, aFably.
MY dear young man. eNpostulated
MIR. Spoo4ar in stern but kindly tones,
| The stock has never been worth more
than 30 per cent, and I'll guarantee that
YOU paid even less than that for T."
I Par repeated Blackie, gently but
| firmly. and lit a cigarette. "Aat that. I'll
only sell YOU fifty shares. l understand
that Jim Wallingford's buying up this
stock. and ] wouldn't run the risk of
much OF y falling into his hands. He'd
put my friend Bessmer right out Of his
own own shop and turn it over to the
| II am not an agent or emlsssry for
| anyone. stated Mr.. SpoogeT. much out
RACED. Il am investing. or specializing "
you wish to call II so. for my own bene-
VI.
Blackie had particular reasons OF his
| own. for doubling that, but he did not
think 1t wise to say so.
Fifty shares or nothing: and at nar."
than that. I'll sell all! II have 70
weaken nay majority of stock want to
| get out entirely"
Mr.. SpooEeF stilled the pea-like thurup-
contemplate selling all?" he asked.
| quietly
| wen, you see." hesitated Rlaclte.
looking mournfullv about the shop and
over at Bessmer's office. II like this
business. and Bessmer. and the men
but I'm poor person, and to sell out
al par would mean big profit on my
| Investment. | wouldn't sell to Jim Wal
nnStord' though l don't think he'd even
This being the strict truth. Blackie
he said It.
Mr.. ,spooger slowly observed, after
thinking a long, long time. IF | were
YOU i would not say anything to Mr..
Bessmer about 1t just now. Suppose |
come over tonight. and see you at your
Mr.. spooger was busy writing him out
cseck. Here is five thousand dollars
for YOUR fifty shares" he stated, hold
ing II with both hands for impressive
ness. Just think how little those ffty
shares cost you, and how much proRt I
am giving you! Multiply that bv the
BALANCE OF your stock. and think IT
Mr.; spooger returned to wa!IinEford's
hotel triumphantly.
Il can get YOU fftv shares of that
StoGk. he announced, lighted to give
Wailingford so much pleasure: bat
you il have TO raise the price to hun
dred and thirty-five dollars"
Wallingford eyed him with a secret
sorrc'" that he was doing the man no
| harm. Its extortionn' he proteste l.
You buy this fifty shares. at the
price l named. and I'll tell you some
good news" promised Eli with exult-
ant Dlayfulness.
do you mean that you can secure all
OF it?" asked Wallingford eagerly.
Il believe that l can,' iubilated Eli,
and rubbed his hands over and over
each other.
thirty-five for this fifty with pleasure. -
and wallingford Jerked out his pocket
book.
Mr.. SpoOEer was sorry he had said
that he could merely secure the fifty
shares; for he had the certificate in his
pocket. However. he had made IL an
early motto that. II he could not entirely
avoid evil, he would avoid all appear
ance of evil.
"Tn be back in ten minutes" he
stated.
You'll be right here, won't you?" and
iously.
Right here" wallingford assured
him.
Mr.. spooger was back in nine minutes
and a half III / can secure the re-
mainder OF that stock. ! don't think (
will be necessary to raise the price
above a hundred and thirty-five." he
suggested, being quite certain that this
was the limit which Wallingford would
pay.
| 'T shouId saw ,,o, would not raise +bf
price," r0torted Wallingford IT may
be careless. but don't mean any harm
to myself"
win you pay a hundred and thirty.
Hve?" Spooger wanted to be assured.
"I will pay $3.50 share for every
share Of Bessmer stock that you sell mt
from now on" Wallingford truthfullS
answered.
An English gentleman with broad
checked clothes, monocle flowing vel
low mustaches and two young anC
beautiful ladies, one brown eyed anC
one blue, dropped into town that even
! ing and asked rSImerous question:
about the BessmeT slant: its reliability
, its capacity, its expansion and ever!
other leading fact. After having asked
these questions in the places where the,
would most rapidly circulate, he called
on Mr.. Walllngford and held long
. long secret conference. That settled 1
r the English gentleman was a lord, Ger
! tainly not less, and he was negotiating
for munitions Of war to be made a
( the Bessmer plant.
In the privacy of Wallingford's rooms
4 had the public but known II, the lord
2 name was plain Onion Jones, and moth
8 ing more serious than a bottle OF win
4 was discussed. In public, however
when Violet and Fannie Warden tool
. dinner with Onion and j. Rufus, wit
l Blacllle Daw looking on enviously fror
e the other corner of the big dining room
o Onion was more like a lord than an
lord, In the morning he went ava
I with his ladies, but the papers were fu
= Of wild rumoTs about the million dollar
munitions contract which was to go t
= the Mallaeable Trust, not to the Bess
s mer plant, as at frst reported!
a A lover, counting the minutes until
{ could see his twin soul would be a
oyster OF placidity compared with f
I, Spooger waiting for his appointmeT
= with Blaekie Daw He went down I
r the factory In the afternoon, but wa
e refused permission to enter the yarC
where, 1t seemed, Mr.. Daw was fever
:. ishly engaged on some important pref
: arations for a sort OF workingmen
h celebration on the following night. II
r called at Mr.. DAVIS hotel tnat evening
but was told that Mr. DaW was ia kin