Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-19


II see.' Walllngford smiled. SIS
Oak Center a pretty fair business
towny
For some lines" stated Bessmer
With distinct and quite visible inward
reservations. ITS really a farming
own and very rich, but it gives slight
support to manufacturing"
"You must be manufacturer,
guessed Walllngford.
81 am In a small way" acknowl
dyed the other, still frowning. 81
lave a maleable iron foundry and
laye secured capacity business on q
process of my own"
capacity is good enough"
''The trouble is with the size Of the
apacity," explained Bessmer, with
Try laugh.
"When a shaky business can't Dor
'ow money it sells stock" observed
Nalingford, with a wisdom born of
much experience. "You are lncor
joratedT
1.-TWO hundred and fifty thousand
I'VE $125,00O worth of stock In the
reasury The $4,000 / sold of the
ther half went at so per cent"
81 suppose you'd be willing to clean
lut the treasury shares for your $50,
co." suggested Wallingford.
The man jumped at that. "Show me
loww he begged.
you're shamefully honest" mused
WalllngfOrd, studying him in minute
letal.
"I hope So" returned Bessmer sin
erely.
"I'll go to Oak Center and look al
our plant promised WaIlingford
I have $4,000 which hasn't done Il
lseful thing except come to me since
was printed"
Blackle Daw returned from the op
,ratlng room with the dentist.
"The girls were correct in their sug
yestion," said Walllngford as soon as
hey were alone, and he produced a
ettcr from his pocket. "Ths is the
)est report they have made of any
own"
They're crackerjacks, especially
Violet" And BlaclSle, blowing a kiss
at the ceiling in honor of pretty VIC
et Warden, took the letter. 1t was
VlOlets handwriting, and Blacllie
blew another kiss at the letter as lie
ead. "AIr Bessmer will be in River
City today to see his dentist, Mr.
Prang. Mr.. Bessmer's business is the
only Improbable concern in which
Mr.. Spooger has an interest, so we
believe that you might find this the
best approach to the 100000 of which
Mr.. Spooger robbed us on the death
Of our father"
When Bessmer returned from the
dentist Wallingford declared that he
would ride over to Oak Center with
him on the 2:40 train to talk over the
purchase Of stock.
Mr. Bessmer, much relieved as to
Jaw and with renewed hope as to
business, took seat in the p0ror
car Of the 210 train, correctly gaug
Ing that the resplendent Wallingford
would ride there or nowhere. The
train waited its appointed four min
utes, Its bell changed, its whistle toot
ed, Its smoke pufred and 1t pulled out
and still no Walllngford
"Well, Mr.. Bessmer, hows the
law2' inquired a cheerful voice at his
elbow, and, looking up, he found
Blackie Daw, laden with n suit case
hatbox, an oxford and a saxophone
case.
Haven't any, so far as the feeling
is concerned" responded Bessemer,
his heart jumping with the sudden
memory that Blackie Daw was in the
same line Of business as the man who
had failed him. 81 didn't notice you
getting on the train"
you were looking for Jim Wal
lngford; that's the reason" laughed
Blackle, slowing grips in every avail
able corner and Sitting down like a
real sport, with no regard whatever
for the tails OF his Prince Albert, al
side tracked him."
Mr. Bessmer contracted his brows
and turned on Blacile a glance Of dis
approval. "That was not fair to either
Mr.. Wallingford or myself" he
charged.
ITS all in the game" declared
Blackle lightly. 81 saw he had a bust.
ness opportunity with you. so had a
phoney telegram delivered to him and
sent him on wild goose chase; then
| made your dentist tell me all about
the Bessmer Malleable Process com
pany, and here | amp
Mr.. Bessmer could not see the Joke.
Mr. Wallingford might have purch0s.
ed my stock he protested.
80 might l." Blackie consoled him.
'On the other hand, Mr., Wallngford
might not have purchased II and may
not, Tell me the news"
Bl0ckle, studying him intercstedy
while he talked, admired the shrewd-
ness Of Walllngford, who Insisted that
Bessmer was entirely too honest to be
ntrusted with the details Of even a
square scheme for his own benefit.
j. Rufus Wallmgford paused oppo
site the corner of the Bessmer Nal