The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-25

Street 'plunger' fond of say . N%lAAI ing that there was subject
 VV interesting the study of hu-
 S< man face-that the panorama of
 city street held far more expres- sion and inspiration than the greatest book ever written, the most eloquent preached. With his first glance at his present vis- itors he rose impulsivey to his feet. They were two young, and very pretty women--and in some vaguely ndefinable way different from the young women with whom his meteoric career had brought him into contact. He fumbled for their cards which the servant had left on the big table that served him private desk
 "Nfr Maxwe11" said the foremost of the two young women in direct business-like tone. And at his nod of affirmation, My is Miss Hart ley. And this is Miss Burnett. I know you are a busy man," she continued. he bowed "and we not going to take up much of your time. The reason for our visit briefly is-this." She took from her hand bag folded newspaper, and her dantily gloved finger pointed to group of heavy headlines the first page.
 Maxwell shrugged and laughed rather inn patiently.
 Docs the newspaper exaggerate?" continued his questioner,
 "No-as a matter of fact it bells the exact truth" Maxwell shrugged again. More so-called Social Workers,n and s'Women with mission" But he yelled the thought and the resultant dis appointment and waited for them to continue
 "Then you have determined to give half of the fortune. which you have made in the manu facture and sale of war munitions, to practic- able charity? continued his charming ques- tioner
 Maxwell bowed again silently.
 ''No we have not come to help you spend 1t s said the interviewer quickly though divin- ing his thought we don't even intend to ask you for donation for any pet charities. It happens that we are interested in much the things which evidently appeal to you, and as business proposition. it occurred to us that quite possibly could work in conjunction in several directions" Then Mona outlined plan to have him help them in their campaign of retrbu- tion against different people.
 "You interest me, young woman,' said Ro- land Maxwell. ''PIease go on."
 For the better part of half hour Mona talked, with occasional contribution from Mary. Maxwell, himself, spoke hardly half a dozen sentences. He made it plain that his role was that of listener, perhaps judge. It true that he had determined to devote half of the spectacular fortune, which the sale of mu- nitions had brought him, to charity. And in ill-advised moment he had given his intention to newspaper reporter. The result had been that he had been swamped with letters and telegrams and requests for personal interviews, which had driven him to the verge of distraction. and which at the end had left him in condition of all most complete disgust. 1t was one matter to de- termine calmly to spend several million dollars for the public good. But it quite another matter to be besieged by stream of inter- viewers, who presented all manner of wild, i'm practicable schemes for the spending of those millions, and who took it personal affront when he didn't coincide enthusiastically with their visionary plans.
 Mona looked at her watch suddenly and rose abruptly to her feet.
 ''We have kept you long enough, Mir Max well. But hope that we have convinced you, at least, of our sincerity and practicability. If we be of any further service to you, it is possi- ble to reach at most any time. We regis tered at this same hotel ourselves, for the present. Maxwell sat in revere for time after they had gone.
 The tinkle of his telephone aroused Max we'll suddenly. He knocked out his pipe, and put the receiver of the instrument to his ear. Come up7 he growed after a moments barley over <1,o T,a rofr rrn1t htc fon l,,f this time it of an entirely different charac- ter, and when the door of his suite again opened, he crossed the floor with his features set codly, and his eyes narrowed grimy.
 Two men entered the room, both with out stretched hands, and effusive smiles. Regard less of the obvious coldness in Maxwell's atti- tude, they caught his hands, and pumped it up and down with expansive cordiality, after which, they lighted fresh cigars, and stood surveying him with their bubblng geniality if possible in- creasing instead of diminishing.
 Well come to the point, Durkn snapped Maxwell q know you are here for some selfish motive. And you, too, Wentworth" addressing the other, Eff you have anything really import ant to say, be quick about it. I am very busy man just now'
 "Of course you are! Don't we know it?' purred Durkn, affecting to disregard the others curtness. And have an idea that you will be a whole lot buster after you hear what have to offer!"
 "Just so! Just sol" echoed his companion, parrot-like
 "Go to it, then, growled Maxwell, opening his watch expressively.
 The man called Wentworth stepped closer to him and lowered his voice suggestively. You've made a killing on Muntion Maxwel-by forcing the stock up. Why not keep up the good work ?
 What do you mean?'
 Isn't this the psychological time, with all this talk of neutrality, not to mention your own publicity philanthropic agent, to force the stock down? Just fancy for moment what would happen. The whole country is crazy with the so-caled millionaires, made over night, and everyone, from newsboy up, is anxious to invest in anything suggesting munitions, or war supplies, that munition stock can't be supplied fast enough. The right at the right place make the biggest cleanup the Street has seen for years-by the right kind of pressure those stocks You know what mean. Why not make little pool of three and stand ready to garner the harvest when the crash comes?'
 Maxwell surveyed the other silently-a dis concerting silence had Maxwell been keener student of psychology.
 "What about the ruin that would result to innocent investprs?'
 What have we to do with them? There is n sucker born every minute, and think some times the average is whole lot higher. If we didn't do the trimming, someone else would. And have an idea that we can do the job just