Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-25

ment with legitimate profit" speculated
Wallngford. 81 wonder If the goat
will buck" worried Blackie.
"That's horrible thought. Jim! For
two weeks past Trapp has hugged the
hook in his gills and was crazy to buy
In, but after | told him last Saturday
that we might consider letting him
have slice of it he quit. And now
every day at O'Clock he telephones for
the wheat report and says, well, you
didn't get your winning yet"
The somber look on Walingford's
face was not reflection from that on
Blackie's. 1t was from within.
"If this little Trapp let's us hold the
bag after we've so carefully propped 1t
up for him to hold III poison him!" he
declared vindictively.
A messenger boy handed Wallingford
note. He read 1t and passed 1t quick
ly to Blackie:
Trap Marketing company is to be in
vestlgated this afternoon, What does II
nAan? Has Mr. Trapp done something H.
legal to get you into trouble2
FANNIE.
Drive us 10 Trupp's." directed Wal
lingford briskly.
There was man In the Office when
they arrived. He was postmnn with
two heavy lags of mail. all for the
Trapp Marketing company, Depart.
ment A. The postman dumped his bags
into two big wastebaskets which Black
lie set out for him and puffed away.
THE heaviest yet, Jim" Blackie wor
ried. We'll have to work quick"
Wallingford got up TO walk, but sat
| down as he heard noise.
Louis Trap came In. and his eyes
glistened as he. saw the mail Every
envelope contained money. He glanced
at his watch and hurried to the tele-
phone. called a number and asked his
| question.
well, you didn't make your winning
yet" he cheerfully Informed Blackie,
as he turned away from the phone,
Suddenly the true reason for that
daily observation dawned on Blackie
1t was not encouragement. but el9tion
"Trapp, do you want to buy us out?'
he briefly asked. .-,
Louis Trapp's eyes glazed. and his
mouth screwed up.
| "How muchT
"Fifty thousand dollars"
This mail. Is 1t mine?' and Trapr
seemed to be looking through the en-
velopes at the contents.
"It's your meat" .
Sure. I'll take a chance" he said
with eager animation II got tn,
nerve as long as the moneys coming
In" He opened the safe Immediately
and produced the money. He'd had 4
there waiting, In cash. His fingers al
most cramped In their haste. IF yo,
had your winning | wouldn't buy it,
he observed. as he handed Black,
the fifty thousand. 81 wouldn't be
lieve that you ever get but one. Whel
get 1t | quit" He vigorously drew
the two big wastebaskets of mai
over to the end Of his own desk. "I'v
been studying the market every day
think we're about due for sharl
rise In wheat! But we only get one
Wallingford rose, with vast relic
and produced his key to the little til
box.
well include the tubular reflector,
he remarked, chuckllng.
"All right" accepted Mr. Trap
readily. 81 don't think it's any goot
but business is business"
In ten minutes Wallingford an
Trapp had torn up their various art
cles Of agreement, and Wellington
had signed over his patent on th
tubular reflector In consideration o
$50,000 and Wallingford and Black
were out Of the business with II
evidence left to show TINT they ha
ever been In any way connected wit
the wheat investment department o
the Trapp Marketing company.
Good afternoon, gentlemen. Wht
do you want?" Traps eyes had wit
ened, and he turned nervously towar
the big wastebaskets as three heav
set men stamped into the office.
"Informatlonr' said the heavies
stranger In voice which was like
saw file. Were from the postoffic
department, and
"Walt minute Wait a minute!
interrupted Louis Trap, and he a
= most shrieked 1t, as he grabbed th
phone from the hook. He called
. familiar number and made agonlze
gestures for them all to keep stil
!, "Tilwit'sr he suddenly shrleked int
a the phone. This is the Trapp Marke
q Ing companyl Say, Iistenl Close m
= wheat at the market. Quick, qulcl
Say, listen! What's the market?"
moment Of silence. He turned frol
, the phone with weak smile, and
drop OF perspiration trlckled off II
: end OF his nose. Gentlemen, VIII,
!, can do for your"
Give us little statement Of yol
business" husked the heaviest set ma
= looking at the waste paper baskets,
, every person and every article In Il
room and at the door and window.
:. "l'm going to quit It," declared NJ
. Trapp. There's no profit In It," Al
he cast malevolent glare at the thr
y lntruders. II they had only stayC
y !. away another dayl I'VE don't owe
u cent" He mopped his chin. "You C,