Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-08-11

II looks IKE run on Dank, said
Brouillard.
1T is." was the crisp reply. Garner
has beaten everybody else to the home
plate. but he couldn't keep his mouth
shut. He's been talking. and every
man in that mob is a potential panic
breeder. That thing has got to be
nipped In the bud, right now!"
"Yes." Brouillard agreed. He was
still wrestling with his own besetment
the prompting which involved a de-
liberate plunge where up to the pres
ent crisis he had been merely wading
in the shadows. A little thing stung
him alive to the imperative call of the
moment-the sight of Amy Massingale
walking down the street with Tig
Smith. the Triangle Circle foreman. 1t
was of the death of her hopes that he
was thanking when he said coolly:
You have sized It up precisely, Mr..
Cartwright; that is a panic in the max
ing. and the bubble won't stand for
very much pricling. Give me a free
hand with your check book for few
minu6es and I'll try to stop it."
It spoke volumes for the millionaire
promoters quick discernment and de-
cfsion that he asked no questions. do
t." he snapped. "I'll cover you for
whatever 1t takes. Don't wait; tina:
crowd is getting bigger every minute"
Brouillard ran downstairs and across
the street. It was no part of his inten.
tion to stop and speak to Amy Mas
singale and the ranchman. but he did
1t, and even walked little way with
them before he turned back to elbow
his way through the sidewalk throng
and into Gamers dingy little Office.
You are selling Mirapolis holdings
short today. Garner?" he asked when
he had pushed through the crowd to
the SPECTATORS desk. And when Gar
ner laughed and said there were no
takers he placed his order promptly.
you may bid in for me, at yesterdays
prices. anything within the city limits
mot options. you understand. but the
real thing. Bring your papers over to
my ONCE after banking hours and
we'll close for whatever you've been
able to pick up"
He said 1t quietly, but there could
be no privacy at such a time and in
such place.
Whats that. Mr.. Brouillard?" de-
manded one in the counter Jam.
You're giving Garner a blank card to
buy for your account? Say, that's
plenty good enough for me. Garner.
cancel my order to sell. will you?
When the chief engineer of the gov
eminent water works believes in Mir
apolis futures and bets his money on
'em. I'm not selling"
The excitement was already dying
down and the crowd was melting away
from Gamers sidewalk when Brouil-
lard rejoined Mr.. Cartwright in the
second-floor room across the street.
well. it's done," he announced
shortly. adding: IT'S only stop
gap. To make the bluff good. you've
got to have the railroad"
That's the talk" said the promoter
relighting the cigar which the few
minutes of crucial suspense had extin-
guished. And then. without warning:
You're carrying something up your
sleeve, Brouillard. What is it?"
1T is the one thing you need. Mr.
Cartwright. II l could get my own
consent to use II l could bring the
railroad here in spite of those New
Workers who seem to have an attack
of cold feet"
Mr.. J. Wesley Cortwright's hesita-
tion was 30 brief as to be almost i'm
perceptible. Il suppose that is your
way of saying that your share in the
table stakes isn't big enough. All
right: the game can't stop in the mid
die of . bet. How much is 1t going
to cost ~ to stay in?"
the cost isn't precisely in the kind
OF figures that you understand best,
Mr.. Cartwright" Brouillard said half
musingly. Then. with sudden vehe-
mence: 1T il altogether . question of
motive with me. Mr.. Cartwright: of q
motive which you couldn't understand
IN Z thousand years. II that motive
prevails. you get your railroad and 4
little longer lease Of life. II 1t doesn't
l(irapolis win 60 to the devil some few
veok1 or months ahead o; its schedule
Ind IN take my punishment with
he remainder Of the fools-and the
nnevss."
Is was on his feet and moving To-