Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-30

British marquis, and not one OF the
heiress hunting kind, because he sue
ceeded very unexpectedly to fine
estate and very large fortune
But why should we want him in
with US, Alec?" inquired short. enor-
mously stout man, whose porcine
bulk exuded over the sides of a
capacious chair.
1t was a shrewd thrust. The wives
or daughters Of most Of the men in
the room had attended Marjorie
coming-out dance, and Mrs. Howell's
keen desire that her daughter should
become marchioness had been pat.
ent to all. Moreover, John had been
seen many times in Marjorie's COM
pany during the last few days.
But Alexander Howell had not
made his millions by being fool. ,
well, now, Goldstein," he said
you are the last person breathing
from whom l should have expected
such question. This kid is well
fixed. He doesn't know thing about
the game. He will do as he is told
and be perfectly satisfied when he
pulls out with nice profit Since
when have you refused to avail YOUR
self Of few millions of solid back
ingi"
HowelPs reply was unanswerable,
and he knew it
Show Mr.. Burton in" he went on,
nodding to the clerk.
John was greeted most cordially.
The president introduced him to the
others, and each name was bne OF
import in the financial arena of that
city. But it was serious gathering
drawn together on business and moi
for talk. Within a couple of minutes
of Johns arrival Mr.. Howell was ex.
planning the object of the meeting
He went into certain facts and fig
ures, which, to Burton's thinking,
proved that the c. o. & P. line was
in a thoroughly satisfactory eofidi.
ton. Then came the bombshell.
That is just how we stand at the
moment, continued Mr.. Howell
unctuously. There is one other item
that doesn't appear on the balance
sheet. We have S5,000,000 of unap-
propriated funds to divide among the
shareholders. Now, if we work The
suggested pool on the right lines
we'll send this stock down until we
are able to buy it in for next to moth.
ing. Then when we have declared out
dividend. watch it soar"
Insofar as Burton could Judge
every other man in the room regarded
the projected theft as perfectly salts.
factory and morally unobjectionable
Howell took it for granted that the
scheme showed no flaws, and at once
began lotting down names and hold.
ings. Half a million dollars was the
lowest individual sum named. Sew.
eral doubled and few quadrupled
the amount. Howell himself headed
the list with five millions.
Now, Mr.. Burton" he said at last
How much for yous"
John shook his head slowly.
Il don't think I'll come in at this
stage" he said.
I Oddly enough, the others merely
regarded him as being extra cautious
a commendable quality among money,
makers. Even Howell himself did no,
altogether. disapprove.
| "All right, Mr.. Burton" he agreed
1T will do you no harm if you de.
eide to get aboard later. But remem.
Der, no matter how far the stock
drops. don't be tempted to sell c. O
& r."
Soon afterward John left the room
AT the exit from the palatial offices
he. happened to meet Mrs. Howell and
Marjorie. Mamma greeted him ef,
fusively, and John, OF course, ex-
pressed his pleasure and surprise that
two such smart ladies should be down
town so early
This is the only hour that can be
sure of catching my husband" laugh
ed Mrs, Howell. Even now may
have to wait quite time. Wouldn'i
you two young people like to take a
spin out into the country this fine
morning.
What else could John do but invite
Marjorie to enter his car? Even he
with wits sharpened by experience
did not understand that the coinci
dence of the meeting had been care,
fully arranged, the financier's conf
DENTAL clerk having been instructed
to advise Mrs. Howell the instant
John entered the office
| That mornings events, trivia
though they appeared, were destined
to make history.
John was reading in his librar,
after lunch when a servant announced
Mr.. Ralph Morgan. Somewhat per
picked by the visit. John was minded
Ito be friendly, but Morgan merely ig