Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-04-20
CHATTER xV-Continued.

CHATTER xV-Continued.
il
fic rolled away in his car. and Hazel
watched him from the window, a trife
puzzled. She recalled BITS remark
at luncheon. In the light of Brooks
explanation, she could see nothing
wrong. On the other hand. she knew
Bin Wagstalf was not prone 20 jump
at rash conclusions. If he objected to
certain manipulations of the Free Gold
sIlning company, his objection was
likely to be based on substantial
grounds. At any rate, she hoped moth
ing disagreeable would come of it.
So she put the whole matter out of
her mind. She dressed, and went
whole-heartedly about her own affairs
Dinner time was drawing close when
she returned home She sat down by
a window that overlooked the street
to watch for Bill. Six passed. The
half-hOur chime struck on the mantel
clock. Hazel grew impatient, PERU
liant, aggrieved. Dinner would be
served in twenty minutes. Still there
was no sign of him. and for lack of
other occupation she went into the hall
and got the evening paper, which the
carrier had just delivered.
a startling headline on the front
page stiffened her to scandalized atten-
tion. Straight across the tops of two
columns it ran, a facetiOus caption:
WILLIAM WAGsTAFF Is A BEAR
Under that the subhead:
Husky Mining Man Tumbles Prices and
Brokers. Whips Four Men in Broad
Street Office. sugs Another on
Change. His Mighty Fists Sub
due Societys Finest. Finally
Lands In Jail.
The body of the article Hazel read
Gn what a sob sister would describe
as a state of mingled emotions.
William Wagstaff is a mining gentleman
from the northern wilds of British Column
bia. He is a big man, a natural-bOrn
fighter. To prove this he inflicted a black
eye and a split lip on Paul Lorimer,
broken nose and sundry bruises on James
l.
ward Quincy Parkinson suffered certain
commissions in the melee. The fracas oc-
CURED in the office of the Free Gold Min
ing Company, 1864 Broad street, at $3.50
this afternoon. While hammering the
brokers a police officer arrived on the
scene and Wagstaff was duly escorted to
the city bastiIe. Prior to the general en-
counter in the Broad street office Wag-
staff walked into the Stock Exchange, and
made statements about the Free Gold Min
ing Company which set all the brokers by
the ears. Lorimer was on the floor, and
received his discolored optic there.
A reporter was present when Wagstam
walked on the floor OF the Stock EX-
change He strobe up to the post where
IOrimer was transacting business.
ct serve notice on you right now" he
said loudly and angrily, shat if you sell
another dollars worth OF Free Gold stock,
I'll put you out of business"
Lorimer appeared to lose his temper,
Some word was passed which further in
Censed Wagstaff. He smote the broker
and the broker smote the floor. Wag
staff's punch would do credit to cham
pion pugilist. from the execution 1t
wrought He Immediately left the Stock
Exchange, and not long afterward Broad
street was electrified by sounds of combat
In the Free Gold office. It is conceded
that Wagstaff had the situation and his
three opponents well in hand when the
COP arrived.
None OF the men concerned would dis
cuss the matter From the remarks drop
ped by Wagstaff. however. 1t appears that
the policy of marketing Free Gold stock
was inaugurated without his knowledge or
consent.
BE that as It may. all sorts OF rumors
are in circulation and Free Gold stock,
which has been sold during the past week
as high as a dollar forty, found few taxi
ers at par when Change closed. There
has been a considerable speculative move
ment in the stock, and the spectators
are beginning to wonder If there IS
screw loose in the company affairs.
Wagstah's case will come up tomorrow
forenoon. A charge of disturbing the
peace was placed against him. He gave
cash bond and was at once released.
When the hearing comes some of the
parties 10 the affair may perchance d.
vulge what lay at the bottom Of the row
Any fine within the power of the court
70 impose is a mere bagatele. compared
TO the distinction of scientifically man
handling four of society's finest in one
afternoon. As one bystander remarked in
the classic phraseology OF the street:
'Wagstaffs a bear"
Inc brokers concerned might consider
fhls to have a double meaning.
Hazel dropped the paper mortified
and wrathful. The city jail seemed
the very Pit itself 20 her. And the
iurii publicity. the lifted eyebrows Of
her friends maddened her in prospect.
Plain street brawling, such as one
might expect from a cabman or a taxi
flanout, not from Q man like her nus
band. She involuntary assigned the
blame 10 him, Not for the cause.-the
cause was g no importance whatever
30 her-but for the act itself Their
best friends! She could hardly realize
ii. Jimmie Brooks. joyial Jimmie, with
a broken nose and sundry bruisesi
And Paul Lorimer. distinguished Paul,
who had the courtly bearing which
was the despair Of his fellows, and the
manner Of a dozen generations OF cul-
sure wherewith 10 charm the women
Of his acquaintance. He with black
eye and a split lip! So the paper
stated It was vulgar. Brutal! The
act of a cave man.
l.