Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-17

UAO CuOsSu - Vu0Ouyeuxl0uAI y tUpuU1I "
Joining us, was beyond my guessing.
essayed many n theory. yet, Sone after the
other. all broke down, and left me cropping
In darkness Only one fact remeined stead.
fast to which 1 could cling with confidence
tho girl was no mere adventures no
criminal; she was doing nothing OF which
she was in the least ashamed. nor had she
the slightest fear of consequences.
Tho after deck was deserted as ] went
below and sought my stateroom In the
berth ] lay and thought, but to equally
poor results Word by word l reviewed
our conversation, endeavoring TO recall some
expression which might yield mo some faint
clue. Tho name, Vera" haunted me with
tantalizing memory, yet ! could not bring
back from the past its association. Still
endeavoring TO recall the list of acquaint-
ances in hope Of thus touching some spring
Of recollection, / lost consciousness and
slept.
! slept SO soundly as TO be the last guest
at tho breakfast table the next morning,
although as / sat there alone FosdiclS re-
turned from the deck to tho cabin, seeking
raincoat. and reporting heavy fog,
through which the yacht was proceeding
slowly. lie paused to exchange a few words,
resting on the arm of n chair. smoking.
The vessel was still within easy view of
Montauk, or had been before the mist shut
down, but the really important news had
como to Darlington by wreless-positive
| sia and France were pitted against Ger
many and Austria in the death grapple.
| The German troops had already begun an
| invasion of Belgium on their drive toward
| Paris. II was still unknown what course
| England would take.
| The nature of this news olscured all
| else, and left mo unable to complete my
| meal. Other messages were momentarily
| expected, and l dressed hastily, and joined
! the little group on the deck. 1t was II raw,
| disagreeable morning, the fog shutting in
! close about us, an impenctrabe curtain.
the yacht nosing its way forward with ut
| most care. its siren walinE out every mo-
| ment in warning. From the companion l
| could barely distinguish the outlines of
| the bridge enveloped in folds of yapor.
and oversize perceive narrow lane of
| frothy water The air was heavy with
| moisture, and the passengers on deck were
| hudded beneath the protection of the avn
| Ing their interest In the receipt Of news
alone keeping them on deck. 1 Joined
them just as a cabin boy handed Caring
| ton n new message. He read IL, crashing
| his clenched hand down on the rail.
It's all over with now" he exclaimed.
holding the paper aloft, and gazing about
into our eager faces.
| England declares war. gentlemen. She
| will stand by her treaty with Belgium
Here is our opportunity; listen to me. This
Is going to be the greatest war in history
| every nation Ill EUROPE may De involved
| before II is ended. DO you realize the
commodity most in demand; the one metal
those armies cannot get along without? II
Is copper. They must have 1t, and they
must buy It of us. This morning, as soor
as / received that first dispatch. j wired
l'my agents to buy, buy, buy Now, with
England in, the result Is certain"
lie paused and studied the faces In the
group.
Gentlemen there is wealth enough here
on this yacht to control the entire copper
output If work swiftly. The profit viii
be enormous. l have the campaign al
mapped out; 1 know where to buy, and my
| agents are ready to execute my orders
am going to say to you frankly that l hat
this thought in mind when l first organized
this cruise I Invited you TO Join me~very
largely because of what you represent IL
the business world. l believed this crsi:
was approaching and prepared for 1t.
wanted you men together, away from every
other influence, where you could make quicl
decision. Our very absence from New York
which has been widely advertised, will tent
to allay all possible suspicion that we ar,
influencing tho market. BY wireless W.
can operate surely and secretly, with M
| possible fear of betrayal The only question
is, are you ready to back me up?"
The expressions on the faces of thos
gathered about him reflected the vare'
characters of the men. They were alik
started by tne unexpected turn OF
yet financial greed evidently predominated
Even tho one German in the group ha,
) seemingly forgotten his nationality In viey
of the golden bait dangling so temptingl,
before his eyes. FosdiclS actuated by hi
lawyer instincts. and still cool and calcuat
ing was first TO question the proposition
"You are perfectly assured Of being abl
to control the market?" he asked
II already virtually CONTROL" returned
Darlington confidently. with little NOR
capital the game is certain. My agent
have everything buyable located and n pric
put on It, All | need do is order the deal
, | closed. In twelve hours, gentlemen. w
can have the copper situation entirely II
our hands. Here my holdings In
dividually. This morning, by wireless,
acquired options 25 per cent more.
! need your help to close the deal"
They bent over the papers. eager to grasl
the truth, but abundantly satisfied with
| quick glance at the magic figures. 1t wa
evidently enough a master stroke. bust
| ness deal easy to comprehend, and all tina
remained for them to do was to take thei
profits
."You-you return Immediately to New
, York;" questioned McCann. his lips trem
. bling.
| Certainly not our game at present is tS
keep out of sight; permit no one to dis
cover who Is behind the movement You
personal checks will satisfy me. I propose
| holding the Yacht say, n hundred miles
from shore, and conduct the entire business
by wireless. That makes 1t safe and sure.
The group of financiers stared at each
other. one waiting for the next to voice de-
cislon. Fosdck. as usual. took the initia'
tive.
I'm heartily with you Darlington he
said frankly; you can count on my checl
for 800, 900 right now"
"And l." land l." echoed from lip TO lip
) 'Tt looks like mighty easy money" added
Mccain, land 1 need n little"
Darlington, smiling pleasantly. turned to-
ward me.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
{..Pellucidar'' Is concluded on Page OF Gals