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

hurry, single footed back to the safe,
produced his certificate, assigned 1t to
Wallingford and took the pay without
the waste Of a single avoldabfe motion.
Anyhow" he exulted as he clamped
the money carefully In his fingers, II
make 80 per cent on an investment l
thought was dead. l had 1t FIVE years.
and that's 10 per cent year."
THAT'S good business" approved
WallingfOrd. 81 wonder where could
get some more of this? l understand
I that Mr.. B. +. Croats has a ten share
certificate. Do you suppose he would
sell lt2"
"Binky Croats?' smiled Petey. BIN.
Ky would sell his girls photograph.
He needs the money"
Thanks for the information" re-
piled WallIngford and left the store.
After this Wallingford went home,
well satisfied with his days work, but
he had not finished it, for just before
dinner Petey Wilks came to him and
jubllantly sold him Binky Croats
stock, battling desperately for $s5
share-and winning.
By this time every wise person in
town was whispering that Bessmer
stock was as valuable as diamonds.
Eli Spooger looked at Walllngford
with a benevolent smile and rubbed
his bOny old knees very, very gently.
"Yes, am Mr. Spooger," he acknOwl-
edged to Wallingford's query, and his
voice was full of human kindness,
"and you are Mr.. Wallingford, am
sure"
Wallingford smiled with fully as
much benevOlence as Mr.. Spooger had
exhibited. 81 seem to have been ac-
curately described" he returned and
ceased to study Mr.. Spooger with any
degree of curiosity.
Certainly" agreed Mr.. Spooger
ANY gentleman endeavoring to buy
control in local concern for tile ben
eft of a trust is sure to be much dis.
cussed."'
"Its the sad TRUTH" admitted Wal.
lingford, very vislbly annoyed by the
fact. "Thc public works double
swivel spotlight on any one connected
with big concern such as am sup
posed to represent. Personally shrink
from publicity, but since l can't what
do you want for the Bessmer stock?'
"We are coming on" approved Mr.
SpoOger, much gratiied. He had been
so eager as to be almost impatient. 81
have ten shares Of my own and TWEEN
ty-6ve shares which yesterday ac.
cepted from clients Of mine to apply
on mortgage payments which were in
arrears"
"Thirty-fve shares" figured Walling,
ford in disappointed tone. "Is that
Oll?"
"That is all for the present." regret.
fully admitted Mr.. SpoOger, The price
will be hundred and twenty-five"
"Murder!" exclaimed WallingfOrd,
pleased and yet shocked that his plans
had worked so extremely well. "Why,
you are trying to take advantage of
what you consider to be my necessity"
"Tut, TUT" chlded Mr.. Spooger with
angelic forgiveness Of that harsh
charge. "You offered my friend Put
man as high as a hundred and ten.
And young Mr. Martin, who was anx-
ious to buy my stock to sell to you at
Il profit, offered me hundred and five,
The price, Mr.. Wallingford, is a hun
dred and twenty-five. At that quota
tlon am really comforting a benefit
upon you"
81 appreciate it" concluded Walling-
ford dryly. How much is thirty-five
times hundred and twenty-fveT
-Four thousand three hundred and
seventy-dve dollars, replied Mr.. SpoV-
ger promptly, glancing at some figures
on his desk. Here is the stock" And
he drew forward the neat little pile
which had reposed Just before his eyes
Walllngford opened his obese pocket.
book, and the mild eyes OF Mr.. Spoo.
ger took on the passing expression Of
twin needles
"Of course they will not sell stock
to you at the factory" he conjectured
watching hungrlly as Wallingford
counted out the money and noticing
thlrstily that the subtraction of this
amount made scarcely any impression
upon the sum total.
"Not a share" laughed Wallingford
"They know who | am and what
want. Moreover, don't imagine the
new assistant manager would sell tc
any one who would sell to me-"
"At the present moment added Mr.
Wallingford, with trace of vindictive
ness, there is nothing 1 desire sc
much as to have every share of the
Bessmer stock taken away from Mr.
Daw."
Blaekie Daw, who had In perfection
what is known rs the healer's touch
was extracting with a huge magnet ar
iron filing from the eye Of a fellow
workman when Eli Spooger called, and
he positively refused to talk business
In the emergency hopital.
"You might enable me to increase
my little investment in this establish
ment-that is, If you made the price Of
the stock low enough" said Mr.. Spoo
ger. with the air OF one comforting q