Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-30

sions and had begun vaguely to sis-
pect of some secret design.
GOOD evening"" said the stranger,
and Harwood responded courteously
with the tone of Difference appropriate
to the difference in their years. for the
other was beyond middle life.
my name is Graham" continued the
stranger.
"And mine is wilson," responded
Harwood.
1.-THE clerk said Graham. nodding
over his shoulder toward the desk,
tells me that you're looking around
for something to do"
That's true.' answered HARDWOOD,
with engaging f~rankness, 'and | don't
| seem to have much luck finding any
thing"
IL think I've got something that
would suit you," said Graham. "Of
course | don't know you, and | wouldn't
give 4 cents for all the references In
the world. but it's my theory that a
mar carries his character written on
his face"
Eyes, sir; | think so myself" said
Harwood.
Immediately Graham began to give
a hazy account of his business. which
seemed to be concerned with house
property and the management of es-
tates. His main Office was in Chicago.
but he had recently opened a branch In
this city.
"If you'll come to see me tomorrow
about II O'clock" said he. writing an
address upon a blank card, well see If
we can make some kind of deal"
Eyes, sir" responded Harwood CRATE
fully. Il will be here without fall"
+ During the remainder of the evening
he pondered deeply upon this occur
renee. and at 0 the next morning he
called up his associate in the Capital
Cities speculation. To him by tele-
phone he gave a description of Ora
ham and of the man who had been
with him when they had seemed to be
discussing HARDWOOD.
81 don't know Graham" replied the
partner" but | know the other man.
He has been here twice and has tried
to get information about the Capital
Cities. had him followed, and he
proved to be a bookkeeper for a con-
Germ northumberland & Co., job
bers In glassware. can't learn that
anybody In that firm is connected with
Dreamer in any way. The bookkeep-
er's name is Slade. What do you make
of it?"
at looks to me as if this fellow Slade
may have got some sort of a private
tip, and. failing to work you, he went
to Creamer. who bought him up and
put him on to some job with Graham.
who is probably one of Creamer's reg
ular men. In my opinion. this is the
deepest game we've struck yet"
but what is the gamer
81 give 1t up" answered HARDWOOD;
but, by lingo. I'm going TO find out!'
At the hour appointed he called at
the address given by Graham, and it
proved to be a small Office in a big
building. The name "John Graham
was freshly lettered upon the glass
panel of the door.
When he entered he saw only a girl
only a girl. but such a girl! The
sight of her struck HARDWOOD dumb.
Was it possible. was it t~hinkable, that
| this daughter of the gods could be as
ISOLATED in any way with the under
hand schemes of such a creature as
| Graham?
"You are Mr.. Wilson, said the girl
in a voice that matched her numerous
other PROJECTIONS. "Will you sit down?
Mr.. Graham will be back directly"
"Mr. Graham has offered me a posi-
ton here" said Harwood. May l ask
how long you have been with him?'
"Only a few days." she replied. ~
was employed by Lingard & Co., but
Mr.. Graham offered me almost twice
the salary"
Lingard & Co.. where Graham's
friend was ~bookkeeper! What could
that mean? Certainly it seemed to
connect this young woman directly
| with the plot. But what was the plot?
If Graham knew or suspected Har!
woods identity and his connection
with the Capital Cities game, why
! should he dream of p~ersuading him to
accept a clerical position? Was he so
Incredibly shrewd as to perceive that
HARDWOOD would not dare to refuse and
leave so black a mystery unsolved?
Harwood's reflections had reached
this stage when Graham entered. He
seemed to be in excellent spirits. His
ford face and his big, loose jointed
body radiated a spurious geniality. He
came straight to business and made
Harwood a very ~fattering offer. Elk
cept for a suspicious liberality and a
vagueness as to certain details It look
ed perfectly genuine.
"When do you want me to go to
work." asked Harwood.
fright now" answered Graham, and
then, with a laugh: "You won't have
much to do the balance of this week,